Pasta boss

AMANDA FLORES • senior director of operations & founder • Flour + Water Hospitality Group, Bay Area Restaurant Collective
Neighborhood you live in: Oakland

It’s Friday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I work a mix of remote hours and onsite time at our properties to ensure I see all our restaurant managers throughout the week as much as possible. Today, I’m starting my day in the dining room of Penny Roma with a Sightglass Coffee, enjoying the morning calm before the energy builds for lunch. The best perk of working from the Penny dining room is all the snacks.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Twice a year, we invite our 260-plus employees to attend a Town Hall where we share company-wide updates. Other projects I’m working on include refining our operations Playbook for our Flour + Water Pizza Shop growth plans, preparing for a (secret!) late-night menu launch at Flour + Water O.G., and creating a financial training timeline for all leadership. On the Bay Area Restaurant Collective side, we’re finalizing plans for our summer and fall panels and events, including an upcoming volunteer day.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I had breakfast at Tanzie’s in Berkeley last weekend, and I have a feeling I’ll be back again this weekend for the Cara Cara orange salad. Living in Oakland, Sirene has become a go-to for me, especially during their cafe hours during the day. I love grabbing a coffee and pastry and finding a quiet corner to work when I’m remote. Tonight, I’m plotting a return for their oyster happy hour! I’m never not craving Popoca, so that is also top of mind; I love what chef Anthony Salguero is doing there to celebrate Salvadoran cuisine, especially as I’m of Salvadoran descent. I’m also overdue for a visit to Bar Panisse.

How about leisure or culture?
I’ll jump at any excuse to get close to the water, so I love paddleboarding with my pup. It gets me off my screen(s) and brings us both so much joy. We’re so fortunate to have an incredible music scene in the Bay Area, so I’m also trying to hit more concerts this year. I saw Ari Lennox last week, and I’m elated that Thee Sacred Souls is coming to the Greek Theatre in Berkeley in August. The lineup for Stern Grove and Outside Lands this year has me so excited for the warmer months!

Any weekend getaways?
This is my area of expertise! I’m all about the weekend getaway. While this is not the shortest flight, I’m heading to New Orleans for my 40th with some friends in a couple weeks.

What was your last great vacation?
As part of my mission to visit 40 countries before my 40th, I spent 10 days on a solo driving trip exploring the South Island of New Zealand this past March. In addition to an adventurous helicopter ride over Franz Josef Glacier, the Doubtful Sound was one of the most spectacular experiences of my life, so vast and remote! It was a magical reset with some breathtaking views. Most memorable food moments include the bonkers lamb toast at Scroggin Coffee and Eatery in Wanaka, and the crayfish at the Nins Bin shack in Kaikōura!

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I joke that my entire paycheck goes toward travel, but it’s not, not true! It seems like I’m always booking a flight, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Other than that, I did recently purchase some new bedding that I love from the build-your-own-set bundle with Bed Threads.

Where are you donating your time or money?
It’s been so fulfilling to spend time growing the Bay Area Restaurant Collective. We became a nonprofit last year and are seeing so many new opportunities to expand our impact and mission to generate positive and lasting changes within our community.

Photo: Kristen Loken

REAL ESTATE • On the Market

Three properties that came to market in Daly City in the last 30 days.

→ 1453 S Mayfair Ave (Daly City) • 4BR/2.1BA • 1380 SF • Ask: $1.198M • 1956 build w/ parquet originals, vintage bath details • Days on market: 6 • Agent: Laura Bryant, KW Advisor.

→ 36 Zita Mnr (Daly City) • 4BR/3BA • 1587 SF • Ask: $1.25M • yard w/ mature trees, sweeping mountain views from back deck • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Magdalena Visser, Compass.

→ 377 El Dorado Dr (Daly City, above) • 4BR/3BA • 1975 SF • Ask: $1.479M • updated 1961 build w/ separate-entrance adu • Days on the market: 16 • Agent: Brendon Yim, eXp.

REAL ESTATE LINKS: The home of the Power Exchange hits market for $2.38M • Hall of Justice move proposed to revive SoMa • After 10 years, why can’t construction wrap up at 4805 Mission?

RESTAURANTS • The Nines

Dining, Mission District

FOUND’s 9 favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. See also: Nopa, Hayes Valley, Marina, Chinatown, Castro, Inner Sunset, Noe Valley, Inner Richmond, Outer Richmond.

• San Ho Won (Bryant St, above), Corey Lee’s Korean BBQ, charcoal smoke, minimalist style, reserve

Read more

The Skinny: Broad Street Oyster Company, the SoCal-born mini-chain, is kicking off its second anniversary in Ghirardelli Square with a revamped menu. Shedding its LA transplant label and leaning hard into its new role as creative test kitchen, the SF outpost has undergone

Read more

FOUND’s 9 favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. See also: Nopa, Hayes Valley, Marina, Chinatown, Castro, Inner Sunset, Noe Valley, Inner Richmond, Outer Richmond.

• San Ho Won (Bryant St, above), Corey Lee’s Korean BBQ, charcoal smoke, minimalist style, reserve

Read more

• We’re newly on the search for an editorial assistant. It’s a fractional job requiring 5-10 hours per week, and includes organizing FOUND’s editorial calendar, communicating with contributors, updating FOUND’s website, and if you please, some writing. The position is remote, though the ideal candidate will be based in a FOUND city.

• Speaking of, the wheels are turning on new FOUND cities. We’re looking for contributors based in Chicago, New Orleans, Hawaii, plus Sydney and Melbourne. These are very flexible freelance roles that don’t necessarily require a professional writing background — mostly passion about FOUND categories along with impeccable taste. Is that you, or a friend?

• We need a paid social guru to manage a small spend.

If any of these opportunities excite you, drop us a line at found@itsfound.com and tell us a little bit about yourself.

WORK • Wednesday Routine

Peachy keen

ERIN MITTLESTAEDT • CEO • The FruitGuys
Neighborhood you live in: Nob Hill/Russian Hill

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I’m usually at our light-filled office in San Bruno after dropping my boys off at school. The FruitGuys delivers farm-fresh fruit and snacks to offices and schools nationwide, so I’ll often find myself standing in our break room, pulling a banana from the bunch on the table and choosing a snack from our mix. On Wednesdays, I typically visit with our local team and catch up on what’s happening in the office, keeping an eye on the time so I don’t miss a check-in call with one of our teams across the country.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Today, I’m actually headed to Dallas, to visit one of our 11 locations and meet with a client. I was just reading a crop update from one of our farmers: There was a late-season cold snap in the Mid-Atlantic this week, and our Pennsylvania growers are watching their stone fruit (mainly peaches) to see how the crop may be affected. We watch the weather closely because it can have such a direct impact on our farmers, their produce, and ultimately our clients.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
My wife and I have reservations next week at Clementina, a new gluten-free restaurant in the Inner Richmond, and I’m really excited. I also recently went to The Progress, with drinks beforehand at The Social Study, an adorable small bar nearby. The Progress was fun and inventive. None of us were drinking that night, and we all had amazing mocktails along with creative and delicious food. The duck was fantastic.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I have two young boys, so a lot of our activities are outdoors and kid-friendly. We love meeting up with friends for playdates at all the great city parks and playgrounds. Most Saturdays, you can find us in the Presidio at the pond near the Letterman Digital Arts Center after swim class at the Letterman pool. The area around the pond is a hidden gem. The kids can play for hours, running around the rocks by the stream and through the grassy area, and when everyone gets hungry, Pizzeria Avellino is right there for lunch.

One of my other favorite spots is the meadow by the Whale’s Tail in Golden Gate Park, especially when the beer garden is open. There are places for grown-ups to sit and hang out, amazing trees to climb and open areas for the kids to play. Giants games on Sundays are also a unique experience because kids can run the bases after the game.

Any weekend getaways?
So many. We’re lucky in the Bay Area to have quick access to so many different places: Calistoga, Healdsburg, Inverness, Point Reyes. We went to Mendocino for a few days recently during spring break, and it was beautiful. This time of year, everything was so green. The towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg are charming, and the coastline is stunning. There’s the most amazing coffee shop in Mendocino called The Waiting Room. It’s small, but they have an old-school record player, delicious coffee, and almond cake. You have to get the almond cake early before they sell out, and the best part is that it’s gluten-free. We had to convince our boys (who are picky eaters) that they could only have one slice!

What was your last great vacation?
Last summer, our family went to Italy to celebrate my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary. It was my first time in Venice, and even though it was hot and buggy, it was such a unique experience. One of my favorite parts of Venice was riding public transit: Instead of buses, there are boats, and it’s a great way to explore the city. For a unique and expansive view, take a boat over to Hotel Molino Stucky. It’s in Giudecca, so it feels a little separate from the main part of Venice. There’s a rooftop pool, although you need to be a hotel guest and make a reservation to use it. Even if you don’t go for the pool, you can still head up to enjoy the view and the bar.

WORK LINKS: In AI age, everyone is talking to their computers • How to fight AI FOBO • Todd Graves ignored business school advice to build Raising Cane’s • Is Arizona the new Silicon Valley?

RESTAURANTS • First Word

Upper crust

The Skinny: First opened in Berkeley in 2021, Rose Pizzeria is named after the flower garden in its back patio. It quickly earned a following for its distinctively thin and crispy pies, spicy and fermented toppings, and natural wine list. Wife-and-husband owners Alexis Rorabaugh and Gerad Gobel met while working at Bar Agricole, and also toiled together at Soho House in Chicago. Last month, they brought the pizza party to SF with a second location of Rose Pizzeria in the Inner Richmond.

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The Skinny: Sol Bakery owner Marisa Williams grew up in the Haight, then started baking her way through SF: Craftsman and Wolves, Tartine, Neighbor Bakehouse, Mister Jiu’s, Sorrel, and Outerlands. She spent several years mastering croissants in Copenhagen and helped open a sourdough spot in Berlin before swinging back to the Bay, where she launched Sol Bakery as a pop-up in 2024. In April, she debuted a permanent space in NoPa just a stroll across the Panhandle from her childhood home.

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The Skinny: Chef Christopher Kostow, who remains on an extended, fire-related hiatus from his lauded Napa spot Restaurant at Meadowood, got into the bagel business in 2022 with the opening of Loveski Deli at Napa’s Oxbow Public Market. His modern take on Jewish deli fare — in particular. the Montreal-by-way-of-Cali-style bagels — became a hit spawning a Larkspur location, and in March, an outpost in the heart of SF’s Jackson Square.

Read more

• We’re newly on the search for an editorial assistant. It’s a fractional job requiring 5-10 hours per week, and includes organizing FOUND’s editorial calendar, communicating with contributors, updating FOUND’s website, and if you please, some writing. The position is remote, though the ideal candidate will be based in a FOUND city.

• Speaking of, the wheels are turning on new FOUND cities. We’re looking for contributors based in Chicago, New Orleans, Hawaii, plus Sydney and Melbourne. These are very flexible freelance roles that don’t necessarily require a professional writing background — mostly passion about FOUND categories along with impeccable taste. Is that you, or a friend?

• We need a paid social guru to manage a small spend.

If any of these opportunities excite you, drop us a line at found@itsfound.com and tell us a little bit about yourself.

REAL ESTATE • On the Market

Three properties that came to market in San Anselmo in the last 30 days.

→ 355 Butterfield Rd (San Anselmo) • 4BR/2.1BA • 2605 SF • Ask: $1.299M • original owner 1968 build w/ secluded back yard • Days on market: 10 • Agent: Diana Gorsiski, Vanguard.

→ 1199 Butterfield Rd (San Anselmo, above) • 3BR/2BA • 2428 SF • Ask: $2.995M • MCM classic w/ gated drive on half-acre lot • Days on market:13 • Agent: Greg Shumsky, City Real Estate.

→ 57 Summit Rd (San Anselmo) • 5BR/5.1BA • 5316 SF • Ask: $3.14M • resort-style home w/ sweeping view from Mt Tam to SF skyline • Days on the market: 17 • Agent: Radhi Aherni, Outpost Real Estate.

REAL ESTATE LINKS: What a $24M home sale tells us about San Francisco’s comeback • Private club The Bay Club buys its entire Greenwich St block • Long-vacant mansion at 2830 Pacific Ave. changes hands for $27.5M.

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Café

Bagel Brahmin

The Skinny: Chef Christopher Kostow, who remains on an extended, fire-related hiatus from his lauded Napa spot Restaurant at Meadowood, got into the bagel business in 2022 with the opening of Loveski Deli at Napa’s Oxbow Public Market. His modern take on Jewish deli fare — in particular. the Montreal-by-way-of-Cali-style bagels — became a hit spawning a Larkspur location, and in March, an outpost in the heart of SF’s Jackson Square.

The Vibe: The spacious former Postscript Cafe at the corner of Jackson and Montgomery makes for a mellow morning or afternoon pitstop, with ample counter space in the many-windowed front room; more standing space can be found near the service counter. And the place does triple duty as a fancy coffee counter, bagel shop, and deli-café with upscale grab-and-go items.

The Food: Kostow knows his way around a bagel, and the version here is dense, flavorful, and chewy. Options are fairly straightforward (the Everything bagels are extra seed-y), but the unique picks include the gluten-free Everything, and the “Famous” Yeast bagels, which are crusted in cheesy-delicious nutritional yeast. This could easily become your new favorite bagel.

Bagel sandwich options include avocado and radish with pea shoots and miso-vegetable cream cheese; heirloom tomato with plain cream cheese, olive oil, and Jacobsen salt; smoked salmon with onion spread, capers and dill; and pastrami, egg, and cheese with harissa mayo. Among regular sandwich options is a terrific tuna melt on griddled rye, and a chopped Reuben, mostly what you’d expect aside from the hard left turn that is an addition of kimchee. And true to its Jewish deli stylings, there’s an excellent matzoh ball soup on offer, too.

The refrigerator case offers delights including fresh crudité packed in jars with the housemade soybean hummus, tuna salad and chickpea salad along with fresh green salads, and Kostow’s perfect version of an egg salad sandwich on Japanese milk bread.

The Drink: Baristas from Postscript have stayed on to make top-notch coffee drinks, and there are also rich smoothies available like the Marine Layer, featuring blueberries, banana, pineapple, blue spirulina, almond butter, almond milk, sea moss gel, hemp seeds, vanilla, coconut probiotic, and cream.

Why It’s FOUND: You aren’t going to find a better bagel downtown, or possibly anywhere in town. FiDi denizens now have a great new morning or midday option that is the opposite of the generic and bland soup-and-sandwich spots on every block. Also, don’t sleep on the malted chocolate chip cookies.–Jay Barmann

→ Loveski Deli (FiDi) • 499 Jackson St • Mon-Fri 7a-7p, Sat-Sun 8a-5p.

GOODS & SERVICES LINKS: Bottle shop Full Proof opens in the Castro • Smart beds are getting too chatty • How AI is reshaping the fragrance industry • 50 things for spring • Which sunglasses tribe are you?

GETAWAYS • Los Angeles

Fresh dynamism

Chef Marcus Jernmark has said that dinner at his new restaurant Lielle is neither a tasting menu nor a Nordic interpretation of California produce. At a moment when controversy swirls around a certain high-profile Nordic tasting menu in Los Angeles, it turned out to be a prescient stance.

On a bland stretch of Pico in the space that used to house Bicyclette (and Mantzke a flight up), the restaurant is easy to miss, the building’s upstairs windows still dark. Down the few steps into the souterrain-like entrance, though, it’s all soft lighting and earth tones, sleek and inviting, serious and friendly.

The Nordic influences at Lielle are indeed subtle, like a delicate hint of pine in a proudly Californian salad — served ever so warm — of artichokes and citrus. Jernmark’s resume includes stops at Frantzen in Stockholm and Per Se and Aquavit in New York. His understanding of Southern California produce is powerfully apparent; I’m not aware of anywhere else you can enjoy peak-season grilled artichokes, smoky and tender against the brightness of oro blanco and astringency of ruby red grapefruit. Sheets of black truffle and lardo draped across the dish bind everything together with earthiness and luxury.

The ample truffle isn’t a supplement, and that spirit of generosity suffuses the four-course progression, from the unlisted amuse-bouches — house-made, 36-hour fermented sourdough, stunningly light and fluffy for a whole wheat bread, served with butter and radishes — to the whole grilled abalone, perched atop a pile of silken, buttery grains of rice and a deep mushroom sauce.

The generosity stopped me from springing for some supplements: delicate chawanmushi with a concentrated matsutake mushroom dashi, and a spaghetti all’assesina (tangles of delicate, scorched pasta in a subtle uni sauce, topped with pearly raw shrimp “cocktail”). But even without any additions, the core meal is beyond sufficient. It ends with a dessert both pristine and satisfying: a lobe of sea buckthorn sorbet swimming in an airy oolong tea cream, on crunchy candied pepitas. It’s playful, thoughtful, a little Nordic, a little Californian, and absolutely moreish.

A hushed temple to gastronomy, this isn’t. It is, however, an exceptionally refined restaurant in a warm and comfortable cellar-like room, with ’80s soft rock and ’90s hip hop bumping a few notches above respectability. The music and ambient conviviality, absorbed by the cork-lined barrel vaults overhead, allow the meal to be both intimate, private, and revelrous. Service is attentive and familiar, with chefs coming out of the kitchen to deliver courses, and possibly a snippet of advice, such as Jernmark’s to sweep “a scarpetta of bread” through the vinaigrette of the artichoke dish.

The kitchen also promises dynamism. In its first month of operation, a squab dish has transformed from slices of breast arrayed across a plate with the bird’s heart brashly skewered on a spear of bay leaves to a humbler plating of the whole breast, gently pink and juicy, served atop grilled spinach hiding a chewy beet.

Ultimately, Lielle is bringing a fine dining experience to Los Angeles that’s otherwise hard to find. It’s wildly creative and warm, and at $150 per, rather inoffensively priced. –Oliver Erteman

→ Lielle (Los Angeles) • 9575 W Pico Blvd • Tue-Sat 530-9p • Reserve.

GETAWAYS LINKS: Shasta County’s showstopping Burney Falls now requires reservations • Ojai favorite Ojai Rotie expanding to Carprinteria • Why Las Vegas buffet culture is dying.

RESTAURANTS • The Nines

Dining, SoMa

FOUND’s 9 favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. See also: Nopa, Hayes Valley, Marina, Chinatown, Castro, Inner Sunset, Noe Valley, Inner Richmond, Outer Richmond.

• Kona’s Street Market (Third St, above), Pacific Cocktail Haven spin-off, cocktails and highballs, solid NA list, walk-ins only

Read more

• Belotti (College Ave), Northern Italian icon, handmade pastas and Nonna’s sauces, reserve

• Wood Tavern (College Ave), always-packed American brasserie w/ long list of regulars, perfectly seared steaks, proper charcuterie, local oysters, killer burger, reserve

• À Côté (College Ave), Mediterranean stalwart for shared plates, dim lighting, romantic backyard patio, standby mussels-and-frites special served w/ two glasses of wine, reserve

• Ramen Shop (College Ave, above), hyper-seasonal bowls of high-end noodles from team of Chez Panisse alum, stellar cocktails/beer/sake/highballs, reserve

• Pucquio (College Ave), vibrant Peruvian ceviches, traditional Andean flavors, reserve

• Yimm (College Ave), Thai comfort food rooted in family recipes, weird-but-fun cocktails, walk-ins only

• Southie (College Ave), Wood Tavern’s casual lunch sibling, some of the best sandwiches in town, walk-ins only

• Oken (Claremont Ave), trendy newcomer for Korean-Japanese fusion from team behind Ok’s Deli, wagyu kalbi short rib ssam, oxtail jigae, DIY hamachi handroll set, reserve

• Sfizio (Claremont Ave), humble, handmade, seasonal pasta dishes all under $20, mostly walk-ins, text (510) 229-8365 to request reservation

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MILAN MARTIN • founder & CEO • The Free Spirits Company
Neighborhood you live in: Mill Valley

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
We are The Free Spirits Company, and we make non-alcoholic spirits and cocktails. So, normally, if I told you that our team gets together on Wednesday mornings for some cocktails, you might call for an intervention. In our case, a Wednesday morning round of Negronis is both par for the course and a communal, uplifting, healthy ritual.

What’s on the agenda for today?
In all of our spirits and cocktails we use a bespoke blend of spices and extracts to replicate the warming “burn” of alcohol. It’s the element of a cocktail that makes it a slow sipper, and signals ‘adult beverage.’ We’re in the throes of innovating that system of natural ingredients to even more convincingly convey an alcoholic beverage, without the headache of the alcohol.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
There are too many to love, but one of our favorite experiences is cocktails and snacks at Malibu Farm in Tiburon.

How about a little leisure or culture?
Oh man, have you seen the lineup at Stern Grove this summer? The Violent Femmes, Public Enemy, Al Green…? Or even just catching a random weekday show at The Sweetwater Music Hall? We love live music and there’s plenty of it in the Bay!

Any weekend getaways?
We just spent the weekend on Coronado Island in San Diego. It’s pretty magical. The Hotel Del Coronado — amazing cocktail program — and the local restaurant scene was rad. We ate at an amazing Italian place called Rosemary Trattoria. Amazing pasta dishes (and NA cocktails).

What was your last great vacation?
We spent ski week down in Cabo San Lucas and had the opportunity to eat at Flora Farms in San Jose del Cabo, a farm to table restaurant owned by the Green family who moved to Cabo from SF back in the ‘90s. A beautiful spot, extraordinary food and a wonderful overall vibe.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I’m a recovering guitar player who’s picked up the drums in the past several years. I can’t say I’m “good” but I enjoy the heck out of playing and I just picked up a pretty rad electric drum kit from the good folks at Bananas at Large in San Rafael.

Where are you donating your time or money?
We shelter dogs and work with both the Marin Humane Society and with a senior dog rescue in the Mission called Muttville. We’re dog people and want to save ALL of them so the least we can do is give them a cozy place to sleep, some yummy food and some love while they find their forever homes.

Subscribe now

• We’re newly on the search for an editorial assistant. It’s a fractional job requiring 5-10 hours per week, and includes organizing FOUND’s editorial calendar, communicating with contributors, updating FOUND’s website, and if you please, some writing. The position is remote, though the ideal candidate will be based in a FOUND city.

• Speaking of, the wheels are turning on new FOUND cities. We’re looking for contributors based in Chicago, New Orleans, Hawaii, plus Sydney and Melbourne. These are very flexible freelance roles that don’t necessarily require a professional writing background — mostly passion about FOUND categories along with impeccable taste. Is that you, or a friend?

• We need a paid social guru to manage a small spend.

If any of these opportunities excite you, drop us a line at found@itsfound.com and tell us a little bit about yourself.

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Sponsor

Meet The Clock from BALMUDA

Meet The Clock by BALMUDA, designed to move with your day, helping you switch on and off — from focus to rest, seamlessly. Soft illumination and gentle chimes guide your day. Time is felt, not chased. ✨

The Relax Mode transforms your space into a sanctuary of time with immersive sound settings:

• pattering rain and distant thunder ⛈️

• the creak of a boat on a river 🛶

• a fireplace crackling 🔥

• a lingering guitar 🪕

• relaxing forest sounds 🌳

• a morning in Milan 🌆

Start your day with a gentle Alarm and boost your focus with the Timer Mode.

→ Learn more and sign up for a discount [spon]

YOUR BRAND HERE: Do you own or represent a FOUND-worthy brand that might benefit from heightened exposure to our very attractive audience? Hit reply or drop us a line at sales@itsfound.com, and we’ll get to work on your next great sponsorship campaign.

WORK • Wednesday Routine

Best things

MILAN MARTIN • founder & CEO • The Free Spirits Company
Neighborhood you live in: Mill Valley

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
We are The Free Spirits Company, and we make non-alcoholic spirits and cocktails. So, normally, if I told you that our team gets together on Wednesday mornings for some cocktails, you might call for an intervention. In our case, a Wednesday morning round of Negronis is both par for the course and a communal, uplifting, healthy ritual.

What’s on the agenda for today?
In all of our spirits and cocktails we use a bespoke blend of spices and extracts to replicate the warming “burn” of alcohol. It’s the element of a cocktail that makes it a slow sipper, and signals ‘adult beverage.’ We’re in the throes of innovating that system of natural ingredients to even more convincingly convey an alcoholic beverage, without the headache of the alcohol.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
There are too many to love, but one of our favorite experiences is cocktails and snacks at Malibu Farm in Tiburon.

How about a little leisure or culture?
Oh man, have you seen the lineup at Stern Grove this summer? The Violent Femmes, Public Enemy, Al Green…? Or even just catching a random weekday show at The Sweetwater Music Hall? We love live music and there’s plenty of it in the Bay!

Any weekend getaways?
We just spent the weekend on Coronado Island in San Diego. It’s pretty magical. The Hotel Del Coronado — amazing cocktail program — and the local restaurant scene was rad. We ate at an amazing Italian place called Rosemary Trattoria. Amazing pasta dishes (and NA cocktails).

What was your last great vacation?
We spent ski week down in Cabo San Lucas and had the opportunity to eat at Flora Farms in San Jose del Cabo, a farm to table restaurant owned by the Green family who moved to Cabo from SF back in the ‘90s. A beautiful spot, extraordinary food and a wonderful overall vibe.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I’m a recovering guitar player who’s picked up the drums in the past several years. I can’t say I’m “good” but I enjoy the heck out of playing and I just picked up a pretty rad electric drum kit from the good folks at Bananas at Large in San Rafael.

Where are you donating your time or money?
We shelter dogs and work with both the Marin Humane Society and with a senior dog rescue in the Mission called Muttville. We’re dog people and want to save ALL of them so the least we can do is give them a cozy place to sleep, some yummy food and some love while they find their forever homes.

WORK LINKS: Semafor says it’s launching Davos by the Bay • Mark Cuban‘s career advice for kids • Pioneering search engine Ask.com shuts down after 30 years.

RESTAURANTS • The Nines

Dining, Rockridge

FOUND’s 9 favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. See also: Nopa, Hayes Valley, Marina, Chinatown, Castro, Inner Sunset, Noe Valley, Inner Richmond, Outer Richmond.

• Belotti (College Ave), Northern Italian icon, handmade pastas and Nonna’s sauces, reserve

Read more

My first visit to Californios quickly made clear why it’s so beloved by both the city and its peers. Chef and owner Val Cantu delivers a masterclass in flavor, crafting a menu that gives both sides of the border its due — the soulful depth of Mexico’s culinary heritage meets the brightest, freshest local ingredients of California. The result feels at once nostalgic and strikingly inventive.

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Food Folk, a narrow retail space on the Inner Richmond’s bustling Clement St., might have one of San Francisco’s most idiosyncratic selections of goods. Opened as a specialty foods shop in December, the business has expanded its offerings by leaps and bounds since then.

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→ 2117 Los Altos Dr (San Mateo, above) • 4BR/2BA • 1720 SF • Ask: $1.93M • fully remodeled 1961 build w/ detached flex structures • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Eric McCafferty, Golden Gate Sotheby’s.

→ 511 Yale Dr (San Mateo) • 3BR/2BA • 1650 SF • Ask: $2.495M • single-level 1941 build w/ views of Mt. Diablo • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Lina Yang, KW Advisors.

→ 430 Hillsborough Blvd (San Mateo) • 4BR/3.1BA • 2830 SF • Ask: $4.595M • classic San Mateo Park mcm • Days on the market: 11 • Agent: Serena Conti, Compass.

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Three properties that came to market in San Mateo in the last 30 days.

→ 2117 Los Altos Dr (San Mateo, above) • 4BR/2BA • 1720 SF • Ask: $1.93M • fully remodeled 1961 build w/ detached flex structures • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Eric McCafferty, Golden Gate Sotheby’s.

→ 511 Yale Dr (San Mateo) • 3BR/2BA • 1650 SF • Ask: $2.495M • single-level 1941 build w/ views of Mt. Diablo • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Lina Yang, KW Advisors.

→ 430 Hillsborough Blvd (San Mateo) • 4BR/3.1BA • 2830 SF • Ask: $4.595M • classic San Mateo Park mcm • Days on the market: 11 • Agent: Serena Conti, Compass.

REAL ESTATE LINKS: Empty nesters are flocking to SF • Race to build downtown SF’s next tower intensifies • Ghirardelli Square sold to Embrace Real Estate.

GOODS & SERVICES • The Nines

Bottle shops

The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best in the Bay Area and surrounds. Paid subscribers have access to the complete Nines archive.

• Bitters & Bottles (NoPa), deep selection of well-priced gin, rum, and whiskey, as well as artisan cordials, bitters, more

• Swirl (Castro, above), wine shop and wine bar w/ sandwiches, also features full spirits selection

• Ales Unlimited (Pacific Heights), craft beer store w/ full, high-end booze array

• D&M Wines & Liquors (Pacific Heights), hard-to-find bottles, rare Champagnes, fair prices

• Cask (Downtown), fine scotches and bourbons, local distillers

• Healthy Spirits (multiple locations), bourbon, mezcal, and tequila specialists, beer offerings are also good

• The Whisky Shop (Union Square), longtime purveyor of rare, very high-end Scotch, Irish whiskey, American bourbon

• PlumpJack Wine & Spirits (Cow Hollow & Noe Valley), Gavin Newsom’s wine and spirit business, in operation for over 30 years

• San Francisco Tequila Shop (Bernal Heights), unassuming corner store w/ SF’s best selection of agave spirits

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GOODS & SERVICES LINKS: At SF auction, Grateful Dead memorabilia prices soar above expectations • SF’s first Crocs shop lands at Stonestown • Bed Bath & Beyond can’t quit CA • Retailers could close more than 40K stores over next 5 years • Chris Black talks taste.

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop

Spice is life

Food Folk, a narrow retail space on the Inner Richmond’s bustling Clement St., might have one of San Francisco’s most idiosyncratic selections of goods. Opened as a specialty foods shop in December, the business has expanded its offerings by leaps and bounds since then.

But one thing’s remained the same: owners Kevin and Sam Elmore are intensely passionate about each and every item on the sales floor, from a $14 bag of chips made with organic heirloom potatoes and double-fried in rice oil (“they taste like potatoes straight from the farm,” Kevin notes) to a vintage cheese board he insists you remember to treat with wood-preserving oils.

This is the place to assemble the greatest, most indulgent gift basket ever, a welcome to the HOA present, perhaps, or an “I’m sorry I missed your dinner party” gesture. A2 sheep’s milk labneh that can otherwise only be found in Los Angeles is across the shop from small-batch, Savannah-made Greg’s Famous Hot Sauce (the secret to its flavor? Squid ink, Kevin says). Crocheted potholders made by a neighborhood resident hang from a shelf, next to an unusual tin of oysters, a 1950s bakelite mug, and three different flavored versions of MSG.

The entire shop feels like a peek into the Elmores’ minds — this is truly a place they’d be shopping if they didn’t already own the business. And though it’s tiny (300 SF or so), it’s made for lingering, with a delicious surprise in every nook and cranny. –Eve Batey

→ Shop: Food Folk (Inner Richmond) • 210 Clement St • Wed-Sat 10a-6p, Sun 9a-5p.

GETAWAYS LINKS: Avianca launching SFO-GUA (Guatemala) service starting in July • In Honolulu, Pagoda Hotel unveils new look… checking out the yakitori omakase at newly opened Yakitori Torishin • United’s campaign to snap up struggling airlines.

LOST & FOUND • Behind the Paywall

→ A handful of favorite Bay Area restaurants from new subscribers: House of Prime Rib (Van Ness) • Pomet (Oakland) • Saul’s (Berkeley) • Raymond’s (Point Richmond).

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MATTHEW ACCARRINO • athlete & chef • Mattina & SPQR
Neighborhood you live and work in: Pacific Heights

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Hopefully serene! Both restaurants are open for dinner only on Wednesday, so hopefully I’m out at my other endeavor: cycling, getting a good long training ride in before work.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Working on rolling out more piadina topping options at Mattina — it’s a flatbread of sorts with Italian history, though we make it our own. Right now we use it for our ‘Ladies’ night’ menu on Tuesdays at Mattina with a spritz for just $22. We also use this format for our weekday lunch menu on Thursdays and Fridays with a salad and dessert for $26, so, good deals!

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Planning to take the cable car over to the Embarcadero, and then take a ferry to Sausalito to meet some friends for drinks and calamari at The Spinnaker, and pizza at Poggio. It’s a fun way to mix up a night out and get some great views of SF.

How about a little leisure or culture?
All spring long, I enjoy participating in mixed-surface bike races in the Grasshopper Adventure Series. The latest was up in Monte Rio where we raced over a 90-mile course and I cooked lunch for all 300 racers after (grain and vegetable salads, pesto pasta, and meatballs). A fun day! If you are into awesome bike rides, these are great events with a solid community feel and there are some who just ride and make it an epic day as opposed to ‘racing,’ so try one out!

Any weekend getaways?
Recently made it up to Napa for the weekend and stayed at Stanly Ranch, an incredible property featuring Bear, an innovative (but fun) onsite restaurant. We took a trip up the road to Stateline Road Smokehouse and visited friends at Hill Family Estate. Then a bike ride up to Yountville with a stop by Kollar Chocolates for some CA-inspired treats with unique filling flavors like wild fennel, red wine, and pine.

What was your last great vacation?
I took a trip to Chicago recently. It’d been a few years! It was fun to stay at the Peninsula Hotel (a classic luxe-but-approachable stay) and get a drink at the CloudBar at 360, way up high in the Hancock Tower. I also met friends for dinner at Lyra (Greek restaurant at Fulton Market), and dined at the bar at Nic & Junior’s, a tucked-away but sleek restaurant with some South American accents and a great happy hour.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
My new Ventum racing bike. I spend a dozen hours or more on it a week!

What bar do you always recommend?
Drinks with friends at Bar Iris.

Where are you donating your time or money?
King Ridge Foundation, which supports at-risk and vulnerable youth via charitable donations to the Levi’s GranFondo bike race.

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Life cycle

MATTHEW ACCARRINO • athlete & chef • Mattina & SPQR
Neighborhood you live and work in: Pacific Heights

It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Hopefully serene! Both restaurants are open for dinner only on Wednesday, so hopefully I’m out at my other endeavor: cycling, getting a good long training ride in before work.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Working on rolling out more piadina topping options at Mattina — it’s a flatbread of sorts with Italian history, though we make it our own. Right now we use it for our ‘Ladies’ night’ menu on Tuesdays at Mattina with a spritz for just $22. We also use this format for our weekday lunch menu on Thursdays and Fridays with a salad and dessert for $26, so, good deals!

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Planning to take the cable car over to the Embarcadero, and then take a ferry to Sausalito to meet some friends for drinks and calamari at The Spinnaker, and pizza at Poggio. It’s a fun way to mix up a night out and get some great views of SF.

How about a little leisure or culture?
All spring long, I enjoy participating in mixed-surface bike races in the Grasshopper Adventure Series. The latest was up in Monte Rio where we raced over a 90-mile course and I cooked lunch for all 300 racers after (grain and vegetable salads, pesto pasta, and meatballs). A fun day! If you are into awesome bike rides, these are great events with a solid community feel and there are some who just ride and make it an epic day as opposed to ‘racing,’ so try one out!

Any weekend getaways?
Recently made it up to Napa for the weekend and stayed at Stanly Ranch, an incredible property featuring Bear, an innovative (but fun) onsite restaurant. We took a trip up the road to Stateline Road Smokehouse and visited friends at Hill Family Estate. Then a bike ride up to Yountville with a stop by Kollar Chocolates for some CA-inspired treats with unique filling flavors like wild fennel, red wine, and pine.

What was your last great vacation?
I took a trip to Chicago recently. It’d been a few years! It was fun to stay at the Peninsula Hotel (a classic luxe-but-approachable stay) and get a drink at the CloudBar at 360, way up high in the Hancock Tower. I also met friends for dinner at Lyra (Greek restaurant at Fulton Market), and dined at the bar at Nic & Junior’s, a tucked-away but sleek restaurant with some South American accents and a great happy hour.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
My new Ventum racing bike. I spend a dozen hours or more on it a week!

What bar do you always recommend?
Drinks with friends at Bar Iris.

Where are you donating your time or money?
King Ridge Foundation, which supports at-risk and vulnerable youth via charitable donations to the Levi’s GranFondo bike race.

WORK LINKS: Silicon Valley Bank units rebranded under First Citizens • Success comes when you stop trying to be a workplace star • Trading work for grad school is harder than it used to be • Has Silicon Valley forgotten what normal people want? • Should your board appoint a bot?

GOODS & SERVICES • The Nines

Plant shops

The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best in the Bay Area and surrounds. Paid subscribers have access to the complete Nines archive.

• Sloat Garden Center (multiple locations), SF’s workhorse nursery, most unique varieties at the Outer Sunset flagship

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The Skinny: New FiDi izakaya TBD is a bit of a full circle moment: After nearly two decades of eating across San Francisco, one of my few regrets is never making it to the original Akikos, a Folsom St. omakase trailblazer opened by the Lee family way back in 1987. Son Ray Lee took over the business in 2009, the same year I interned for a nearby cookbook publisher, trudging past this restaurant every day. I didn’t exactly have omakase budget back then, and in 2023 Lee moved Akikos to a glittering high-rise in the East Cut, soon after he opened the exclusive Friends Only in Nob Hill. But now Lee has turned the former Akikos space into TBD, with Hina Yakitori chef Tommy Cleary running this grill.

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The new SF restaurants we’re looking forward to the most in the coming months

• Lawrence (SoMa), Brandon Rice’s Ernest follow-up will be higher end, he says, but don’t call it fine dining

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