David White and Sean Quigley
Curious about what goes into opening a restaurant? Each month we'll be checking in on the build-out process of flour + water, a new restaurant project that is underway in the Mission. The hardhat will highlight the unique coups and complications when opening a restaurant in San Francisco. This section will be written by Erin Archuleta, tablehopper intern and half of the talent behind local outfit Ichi Catering.
David Steele and David White are in the hunter-gatherer phase of the build-out of their soon-to-be Mission-neighborhood restaurant flour + water.
In the past marathon month, David W's crews have completed all their permitting and initial build-out hopes, and are now in the final stages of sheetrocking, mudding, and taping. David W. assures me that "once the sheet rock is done, it's a major milestone in any (building) project." David's also been sourcing some great equipment for repurpose at local restaurant auctions.
Most equipment will be repurposed, but the Mugnaini wood-fired oven will be specially hand-built just for the kitchen. An expert wood-fired oven craftsman, Michael Fairholme, is coming next week by way of Arizona and New York to build the gorgeous Italian stone oven at 20th and Harrison.
An exclusive tablehopper.com scoop is the announcement that painter Jessica Niello was chosen as the winner of the flour + water mural contest. Per our October announcement, Jessica will be collaborating with designer Sean Quigley (whom you may know from Paxton Gate and Paxton Gate's Curiosities for Kids) to create a large wall mural in the restaurant. As the winner, flour + water will also host her SF Open Studios event in conjunction with ArtSpan, purchasing her a full-page ad in the Open Studios Guide. Her work bears a like-minded approach to Sean's aesthetic, focusing on science, the natural world, and taxidermy. She is a neighbor to the restaurant, with studio space at 17th and Mission Streets. Jessica is currently showing work at Bell Jar and the new NOPA gallery and boutique, The Perish Trust.
Next month, we'll be checking back in with David Steele and David White on their exciting Italian wine list, as well as the story behind their house wine. In the coming week, both Davids will be L.A.- and Vegas-bound, eating some delicious meals for food and wine inspiration at some of Batali's joints, as well as other Italian notables: Pizzeria and Osteria Mozza, Angelini Osteria, Casa Bianca, Fiamma Trattoria, Enoteca San Marco, B+B Ristorante and Carnevino, Nora's Wine Bar & Osteria, and Trattoria del Lupo.
We wish David White a wonderful wedding in India, and may all the interior work be completed before his plane takes off with him and his tuxedo (and small bites at all those restaurants will ensure it fits!). Flour + Water
