Where Legacy Meets Launch: Inside Edible San Francisco’s Relaunch Party
At Café Sebastian inside the Transamerica Pyramid—one of SF's most iconic silhouettes—the symbolism wrote itself. Last Thursday's Edible San Francisco relaunch party for the New Guard issue couldn't have picked a better stage: the building that defined yesterday's skyline hosting the voices shaping tomorrow's.
The room became a living version of the magazine's theme. PR veterans who launched the Mission's first bistros swapped cards with founders of immersive experiences. Sommeliers from omakase speakeasies mixed with ale craft breweries. Old Guard, meet New Guard—over celebratory cocktails in a pyramid that's watched this city reinvent itself for decades.
AF&Co founder Andrew Freeman and Landline’s owner Tony Leo. Photo courtesy of Heath Photos.
7×7 Founder Heather Hartle, Foodwise Executive Director Christine Farren, and Nish Nadaraja. Photo courtesy of Heath Photos.
Café Sebastian owner Brad Kilgore and writer Adrian Spinelli. Photo courtesy of Heath Photos.
Six sponsors turned the pyramid into a tasting menu of San Francisco's evolution. Wine poured alongside Aviation Gin and Blade and Bow Bourbon—established names sharing space with the city's new beverage guard. The charcuterie boxes from Golden Gate Meat Company drew clusters of conversation, and MadLab Kakigori’s desserts drew gasps—miniature versions of the magazine's front and back covers transformed into edible art.
Miniature versions of Madlab Kakigori’s strawberry and spicy mango desserts. Photo courtesy of Heath Photos.
Elegant charcuterie boxes by Golden Gate Meats. Photo courtesy of Heath Photos.
Then came the evening's most literal metaphor: Bruce Cole, who built Edible San Francisco from scratch, literally passing the microphone to Melody Saradpon and Tony Garnicki—Edible San Francisco’s new owners. The gesture was brief, unfussy, perfect. No long speeches about legacy—just the physical act of handing over what you've built to those who'll make it bigger.
From left to right: Café Sebastian owner Bradley Kilgore, Bruce Cole, Tony Garnicki, Melody Saradpon, Heather Hartle. Photo courtesy of Heath Photos.
Even the soundtrack understood the assignment. The playlist moved from Cleo Sol to Kaytranada, ¿Téo? to Sault—each transition honoring what came before while pushing toward what's next. Curated by Melody, our Editor-in-Chief: listen on Spotify here.
As the night wound down with MadLab's theatrical finish, the pyramid had proven its point: San Francisco's food scene isn't dying. It's evolving. And on Thursday night, we all got a taste of what’s to come.
