Fermented Nightlife

Tonight we’re breaking down the science of fermentation, showing you the chemical magic behind cider to kimchi and everything in-between.

Co-presented by JCCSF

• Discover fermented food traditions from around the world with a series of talks presented by the JCCSF: Mariko Grady of Aedan Fermented Foods will give a demo and talk about koji, cooked rice inoculated with a fermentation culture, and why it’s so popular in Japan.
   
• Learn how to cut back on food waste with preservation tips from Nicolaus Balla of SMOKEBREAD and Duna.
• Examine The Perennial’s unique kernza sourdough starter and get tips from co-founder Karen Leibowitz on how to use yours at home.
   
• New to this fermentation thing? Get a crash course in fermented food traditions around the world with a panel of experts and check out a series of demos by the enthusiasts at SFFerments.
   
• Golden State Cider’s head cider maker Tim Godfrey will talk about how they make their delicious apple-forward cider from West Coast-grown fruits.
   
• SF Brewcraft will be there for all your home brew needs!
   
• You can’t have an evening celebrating fermentation without tasting some effervescent goods - visit the tables at JCCSF Pop-Ups to try a bite or three and learn how to make miso, dips made from “rescued” produce, and Karen Solomon’s sour dill pickles.
   
• Learn how to source your “scoby” and brew your own kombucha with Health-Ade. Get up close and personal with the microscopic organisms that make fermentation possible with the San Francisco Microscopical Society.
• Plus, discover how they’re being used in non-edible applications: Learn how medical researchers at UCSF are using fermentation to isolate antibiotics and how scientists from Stanford Biophysics can use genetically engineered yeast and bacteria to make useful products for multiple industries. Don’t miss an Academy Update in the planetarium as Dr. Todd Braje, the Academy’s new Curator of Anthropology, talks about the history of abalone fishing in California and how his work in the Channel Islands might help rebuild abalone populations in the region.