Culinary Partners

Founded on San Francisco’s Chestnut Street in 2004, A16 is an acclaimed restaurant named after the autostrada that runs from Puglia, the home of burrata, to Naples, the heart of pizza country. Renowned for its focus on Southern Italian cuisine, A16 takes its pizza craft seriously, incorporating techniques from the birthplace of pizza napoletana. Their salads, pizzas, and main courses feature ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, Jimmy Nardello peppers, Mediterranean oregano, California basil, and the richest mozzarella and burrata.

 

Owned and operated by award-winning wine director Shelley Lindgren, A16 has expanded its family-owned, family-friendly ethos beyond its original location. With additional restaurants in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood and partner locations in Tokyo and Yokohama, A16 continues to be a beloved destination for both locals and food enthusiasts. Each location offers seasonal menus and award-winning Italian wine lists, featuring Italy’s most renowned producers.

 

A16 adheres to the Vera Pizza Napoletana (VPN) requirements, ensuring their pizzas meet the gold standard for Neapolitan pizza. They source local produce and collaborate with local artisans for their ceramics, paintings, and murals, bringing a touch of Southern Italy to the San Francisco Bay Area. The classic recipes of A16 are celebrated in their cookbook, A16 Food+Wine, which won the IACP Book of the Year and the Julia Child First Book category.

 

A16 generously provided the culinary offerings for last year's event, ensuring that guests enjoyed an authentic taste of Southern Italy while sampling exceptional wines at the Grand Tasting.