Living in California, we’re suckers for a good road trip up or down the coast. The breadth and diversity of regions within reasonable driving distance of the Bay Area is staggering, and we don’t take for granted the ability to jump in the car and be sipping Rosé in wine country or gazing up at a sea of redwoods within the hour.
Regardless of where we end up, we always return to SF with renewed inspiration and appreciation for all that’s within reach across the West Coast. This summer and fall, we’re channeling that energy into a West Coast Road Trip pop-up series at our three core restaurants in SF: Flour + Water, Penny Roma, and Flour + Water Pizzeria. During July, August, and October, three different restaurants are collaborating with our teams to bring a taste of their respective destinations to our hometown.
Translation: We somehow convinced our favorite people (!) from our favorite places (!!) to come hang and cook with us (!!!).
The series kicks off on Tuesday, July 15 with Portland’s Xiao Ye at our O.G. Flour + Water in the Mission. Xiao Ye chef Louis Lin and partner Jolyn Chen have created a truly special pasta tasting menu with our chef de cuisine Aaron Shapiro that showcases Lin’s first-gen American cuisine. Xiao Ye has been a go-to of ours since we visited PDX back in November 2023, and we’ve been dreaming about this dinner (and chef Louis’ tomato toast) for months.
Next up, on Monday, August 4, the Central Coast meets the Bay Area with Los Olivos’ Bar Le Côte popping up at Penny Roma. We’re not holding back for this family-style, dinner party that celebrates coastal seafood and summer ingredients from visiting chef + co-owner Brad Mathews and our Penny Roma chef de cuisine Rachel Orner. Reservations open on Resy this week, and you better believe BLC’s scallop crudo + savory basque caviar cheesecake will be in tow.
And because we can’t give away all our secrets, Flour + Water Pizzeria will wrap the series in October with a restaurant partner to be revealed in September. (Hint: They may be coming in from Southern California.)
P.S. Want to be first in line to hear about these dinners + future events? Sign up for our restaurant mailing list.
Photo Credits: Xiao Ye - Christie Goshe for portrait; Josh Chang for tomato toast || Bar Le Côte - Anya McInroy for portrait; John Troxell for scallop crudo