Chef Gayle Pirie Of Foreign Cinema Restaurant, San Francisco’s 24-Year-Old Cultural & Culinary Hub

Hosted by Kerry Diamond
Produced by Catherine Baker and Jenna Sadhu
Edited by Jenna Sadhu
Music by Tralala, “All Fired Up”

Gayle Pirie has been co-owner and co-executive chef of San Francisco’s iconic restaurant Foreign Cinema for more than two decades. In today’s episode, she talks with host Kerry Diamond about how she and her husband took over the struggling business after the dot-com bubble popped, and made it into a restaurant that reflected their own passion for food and the arts. Foreign Cinema’s name comes from the 35-millimeter films they show every night, starting at dusk, on the outdoor patio; diners can sit outside and watch while enjoying favorites from Gayle and John’s local, seasonal California-Mediterranean menu. 

Gayle also talks about her friends and mentors— Alice Waters of Chez Panisse and Edible Schoolyard and the late Judy Rodgers of Zuni Cafe—and shares her take on life in San Francisco right now. 

Thank you to OpenTable for supporting this episode. 

Radio Cherry Bombe is a production of The Cherry Bombe Podcast Network. Subscribe to our newsletter and check out past episodes and transcripts here. 

More on Gayle: Instagram, Foreign Cinema, website