NEVADA CITY, Calif., May 14, 2026 — Sierra Commons will premiere a Food Foundry Session featuring celebrity chef Charlie Ayers on Wednesday, June 10, at 2 p.m. PDT on the Sierra Commons YouTube channel. Ayers will be available for live chat Q&A during the premiere.
Ayers is best known as the founding executive chef at Google, where he won a cook-off judged by the company’s original 40 employees and built a culinary operation that grew to serve 4,000 meals daily across 10 campus cafes. Before Silicon Valley, he served as the Grateful Dead’s personal chef throughout the 1980s.
The Food Foundry Sessions are hosted by Mani Niall, Sierra Commons lead food instructor, and connect working food entrepreneurs with industry experts through YouTube premieres and live Q&A. Past guests have included Reem Hassani, co-founder of Numi Tea; food trendologist Kara Nielsen; and food scientist Rachel Zemser of Ala Carte Connections.
“Charlie has fed some of the most creative minds in the world — the Grateful Dead, the team that built Google. The lessons he brings to food entrepreneurs are the real deal.” -Mani Niall
Viewers can subscribe to the Sierra Commons YouTube channel at sierracommons.org/food-speaker-series to receive notification of the June 10 premiere.
Food Entrepreneur Accelerator Course
Sierra Commons is also enrolling students for its next Food Entrepreneur Accelerator Course, beginning June 2. The five-week program covers the fundamentals of launching and growing a food business, including permits, product development, funding, manufacturing scale-up, and retail placement. In-person sessions are held in Grass Valley, with hybrid options available. Scholarships are available. Enrollment and scholarship information are at sierracommons.org.
Pints for a Purpose
The public is invited to support Sierra Commons at Pints for a Purpose, Sunday, May 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. at BrewHaus, 300 Spring St., Nevada City. The event is free and open to the public. BrewHaus will donate $1 per pint to Sierra Commons. The event is an opportunity to connect with local food entrepreneurs and learn more about Sierra Commons programs.
About Sierra Commons
Sierra Commons is a Nevada City-based nonprofit that empowers rural entrepreneurs through practical business education, advising, and community support. Founded in 2010, Sierra Commons serves early-stage rural entrepreneurs through its Business Ignitor, Food Entrepreneur Accelerator, and Forest Entrepreneurship programs. Learn more at sierracommons.org.