In the vibrant culinary landscapes of San Francisco and Los Angeles, where creativity flourishes, we recognize a critical challenge: a rising talent shortage in our kitchens. Many restaurants are struggling to keep their skilled mid-level staff because they’ve overlooked the vital role of training and mentorship. The absence of a proven model for successful apprenticeships has left employers uncertain about investing in the future of our culinary talent.

At Ichyou, we’re here to change the narrative. Inspired by the ginkgo tree’s remarkable resilience, which continues to thrive even after the toughest of conditions, we are committed to nurturing a sustainable workforce. Our apprenticeship programs are designed not just as a quick solution, but as a long-term strategy for renewal in the culinary industry. We aim to restore dignity to work, stability to restaurants, and foster the growth of a skilled workforce that deserves recognition and opportunity. Join us in reshaping the future of California's culinary scene—together, we can cultivate the next generation of restaurant leaders.

The State of Kitchens Today

Restaurants in California’s largest cities are operating on thin margins and thinner pipelines of talent. Line cooks burn out, sous chefs leave the industry, and the career ladder has eroded. At the same time, thousands of skilled and motivated workers remain underutilized — ready to learn, grow, and innovate, but rarely offered a structured path to leadership.

This disinvestment has ripple effects:

• Restaurants struggle to expand, lacking trained managers and creative leaders.
• Workers stagnate, forced into dead-end jobs despite their potential.
• Communities lose vitality, as an entire generation of culinary innovators remains untapped.

The result is an industry that risks lagging behind its own possibilities — unless we invest in renewal.

The Launch Drive: $250,000 for Year One

Ichyou’s $250,000 Launch Drive will fund:

• A pilot apprenticeship program in San Francisco, with wages of $34/hour and benefits from Day 1.
• Restaurant revitalization services that free owners to focus on creativity.
• Partnerships with pioneering restaurants like Noren Izakaya.
• Staff leadership to guide apprenticeships, ensuring rigor and dignity in every placement.

This campaign is more than a fundraiser — it’s proof that apprenticeships can transform the restaurant industry in America’s biggest culinary cities.

Stories Ahead

This blog will follow our journey — sharing apprentice spotlights, partner features, reflections from our board, and soon, video storytelling through the upcoming Ichyou YouTube channel.

Renewal Is Possible

The ginkgo tree reminds us that renewal is not only possible, it is inevitable with the right roots. Today, California’s restaurants are in crisis — but also ripe with potential. By investing in apprenticeships, Ichyou is planting the seeds for resilience, leadership, and innovation that will carry our kitchens into the future.