Our Story
“El Sur”, meaning “the South” in Spanish, specializes in Argentinian-style empanadas. Originally started out of a 1970 Citroen H-van imported from France, El Sur has now grown to a commercial kitchen and cafe in Potrero Hill, and a substantial catering operation serving the entire Bay Area. Our empanadas are handmade with only the best, locally sourced ingredients.
Our Mission
El Sur's mission is to bring people together and create lasting memories over shared, authentic food. Not only are our empanadas handmade, we only use the best ingredients from local purveyors who share our emphasis on quality. After we make them, our empanadas are delivered with speed, reliability, and convenience, directly to your door and ready to bake.
From Our Founder
Marianne is the founder of El Sur. Marianne holds a degree in International Relations from the University of the Pacific and attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. In 2012, she started El Sur, a business inspired by making and eating Argentinian empanadas with her family. She leads El Sur's vision, culture, and development and is active in the SF food scene, and volunteers for La Cocina and CUESA (Center for Urban Education of Sustainable Agriculture).
Our Recipes
Our empanadas are inspired by Argentina and developed with French culinary technique. We prepare our empanadas with the best, locally sourced ingredients, like our beef, sourced from Five Dot Ranch, a Northern California ranch run by a family who has been in the cattle business for seven generations. The dough is made in house, the meat is hand-cut, and each empanada is folded and crimped by hand.
Our Team
Marianne Despres
Founder
Marianne is the founder of El Sur. She is a first-generation American with roots in Argentina and France. Marianne is active in the SF food scene and volunteers for La Cocina and CUESA (Center for Urban Education of Sustainable Agriculture).
Rodrigo Araya
Business Manager
Rodrigo is El Sur’s COO and leads operations at El Sur. He hails from Chile and spent his twenties working and studying in Argentina.
Press
YOUTUBE
HOMEMADE DELICIOUS EMPANADAS AT EL SUR IN THE BAY AREA! | CALIFORNIA LIVE | NBCLA
THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
THE 20 BEST FOOD TRUCKS IN THE BAY AREA
7X7 BAY AREA
THE BIG EAT 2018: 100 DISHES TO DEVOUR IN SAN FRANCISCO
TABLEHOPPER
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT FOR BREAKFAST
KQED
BAY AREA BITES GUIDE TO EMPANADAS IN SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
“IT‘S THE BEST VERSION OF A HOT HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH I CAN IMAGINE. “ - MICHAEL BAUER, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
7X7 BAY AREA
8 SAN FRANCISCO CHEFS PROVE A WOMAN'S PLACE IS AT THE HEAD OF THE KITCHEN
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
THE BAY AREA'S 20 BEST FOOD TRUCKS
SF WEEKLY
EL SUR: EMPANADAS WITH A FRENCH ACCENT - SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
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