Home Chefs Serve Up Legal Pop-Ups | San Jose News

San Jose News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 9, 2026 · 1m

Chef Kellie Joe is turning her backyard into a gourmet dining destination, serving garden-fresh pizzas and farm-raised eggs from her own home in Pleasant Hill — all thanks to a groundbreaking pilot program that’s now becoming permanent. This Micro-Enterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) movement is empowering chefs to run intimate, invite-only pop-ups without the burden of traditional restaurant costs, creating unforgettable, personal culinary experiences. From Santa Maria-style BBQ pop-ups in Concord to tea parties across the Bay, MEHKOs are transforming home kitchens into thriving, legal…