On The Pass 120. Thomas McNaughton + Ryan Pollnow: Building Culture & Community
How do you build a great partnership? And how does that partnership foster a strong company culture—one that extends beyond your guests to include your entire team? Our next guests have mastered this balance, creating a thriving hospitality group while continuing to expand their portfolio of offerings.
In this episode of On The Pass, we’re joined by two culinary visionaries who have helped shape San Francisco’s dining scene—Thomas McNaughton and Ryan Pollnow, partners and co-executive chefs of Flour + Water Hospitality Group. Renowned for their dedication to craft, sustainability, and culture-driven leadership, Thomas and Ryan oversee an impressive portfolio, including Flour + Water Pasta Shop and Penny Roma in the Mission District, as well as Flour + Water Pizzeria and Flour + Water Foods.
Together, they pull back the curtain on their dynamic partnership and share the philosophies that guide their decision-making—whether it's building a thriving restaurant culture, championing regenerative agriculture, or redefining what it means to make high-quality, organic pasta accessible to all. We also dive into their approach to leadership, the evolution of Flour + Water, and how their team continues to push the boundaries of Italian-inspired cuisine.
And as a special treat, On The Pass listeners get 15% off Flour + Water Foods’ organic dried pasta with promo code ONTHEPASS (one use per customer). Trust us, their regeneratively sourced, organic pasta is something truly special—you don’t want to miss out!
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