Kelsey Wu, a Harvard graduate and current project manager at Salesforce, is making waves in San Francisco by showcasing the city’s vibrant food and beverage industry.
Having grown up in Cupertino with a passion for film, Wu found inspiration in the visually rich storytelling of movies like The Grand Budapest Hotel and In the Mood for Love.
Her artistic journey continues as she now resides in the city, where she’s started a project titled “Stories from San Francisco.” This initiative features TikTok mini documentaries, each offering a glimpse into the lives of local food entrepreneurs.
With videos on establishments like Foreign Cinema, Baklava Story, and Chocolate Covered, Wu’s work has resonated widely, gaining hundreds of thousands of views.
Emphasizing the importance of authentic storytelling, Wu’s videos are devoid of typical influencer tropes.
“I loved the city as a kid,” Wu expressed. “I was so excited to come back. Everyone has a unique story to tell.”
The idea for her project evolved organically after she moved to Duboce Triangle post-graduation. Eager to explore the small businesses and cafés in her new neighborhood, she felt a strong desire to break out of the tech bubble that often surrounds the Bay Area.
Her documentaries blend the stylized artistry reminiscent of culinary series like Chef’s Table and feature a narrative style that echoes the poignant storytelling found in PBS’s Brief but Spectacular and Humans of New York.
Each video showcases Wu’s subjects as they share their personal experiences and the hard work behind their culinary creations, with Wu herself remaining out of both frame and dialogue.
The first documentary she created focused on Kopiku, a small cafe located on Lombard Street, where she captured the spirit of its owner, Adhi, a vibrant and thoughtful figure in the local scene.
“I look for these neighborhood pillars,” Wu noted, further highlighting her commitment to advocating for Asian American workers and entrepreneurs through her work.
“It’s good to reconnect with the people who really make this city San Francisco,” she stated. “I figured it’d be awesome to find some way to support them, be creative, and get back in touch with the camera.”
Utilizing her Canon R6 Mark Two and her father’s high-quality lenses, Wu is able to capture the essence of each story beautifully.
A friend’s thoughtful gift of a DGI Mic set enhances the setup for her conversations, making the videos not only visually compelling but also rich in dialogue.
From the husband-and-wife duo at That’s My Jam to the emerging team at Paper Son and Tano, Wu is committed to documenting the diverse narratives that make up San Francisco’s culinary landscape.
“I’m just enjoying it for now,” she concluded. “It’s that idea of sonder. I’m going to keep on making my videos.”
Through her lens, Kelsey Wu is helping to illuminate the stories that often go unheard, redefining how we understand the fabric of San Francisco’s unique food culture.
image source from：sf
