The Piccino Presidio Story

Founder/Owner

Margherita was born and raised in Tuscany, Italy, and brings the colors and flavors of that world to the table — literally — at Piccino. She discovered profound resonance in the rich farming community of the Bay Area; seeking out sustainable ranching practices, supporting fishermen that harvest with respect for the health of fisheries, and buying from farmers that practice agriculture as if life depended on it—which it does! In 2018, a long held desire to grow produce on our own farm was fulfilled: Piccino Fields in Healdsburg became a reality in 2018, supplying the restaurant with the freshest produce to this very day. This love for food and these important values continue to inspire Margherita’s work, and drive her steadfast commitment to deliver the highest level of hospitality that is true to her heart.

Founder/Owner

All of Sher’s paths led to Piccino. Midwest born but grew up in the Northwest but left her heart in Rome. Her lifelong loves of food and art, the city of San Francisco, cooking for friends, and the art of the table. Seeking something that would combine these passions into something creative that would also give back to the community, Sher found a kindred spirit in Margherita. They bonded over the farmers market and a shared obsession with shelling beans; over coffee they hatched the crazy idea of opening their own place, made it a reality in 2006, and have never turned back. Sher continues to find fulfillment and joy in these simple pleasures—seeing the season’s first sunflowers, favas, tomatoes, and figs, cooking shelling beans from the restaurant’s own Piccino Fields, and serving simple, beautiful fare to Piccino’s customers.

Culinary Director

A native to the Bay Area, Daniella has spent her entire life in the restaurant business. A self-declared restaurant brat, her family owned a family-style Italian restaurant which she was raised around. After a short stint working at an elementary school, Daniella realized food was her passion and followed her heart to New York to attend the Culinary Institute of America. From there, she took a job working for Michael Tusk which greatly enhanced her love, skills, and passion for regional Italian food. After honing her talents at a couple other San Francisco restaurants, Daniella found a home at Piccino cooking seasonal, super-fresh food rooted in the Italian tradition.

Executive Chef 

Dayvi Ortiz's culinary journey began at the tender age of 17, when he took on the role of a dishwasher at Fog City Diner. Despite the humble nature of his initial position, Dayvi developed a passion and admiration for the industry. His childhood spent on a farm fostered an appreciation for seasonal ingredients, shaping his understanding of their significance in culinary artistry and cultural traditions. Driven by his growing passion, Dayvi ventured into the kitchen, eagerly learning from experienced professionals. His managerial role at Gitane Restaurant and Bar under Bridget Batson and Patrick Kelly provided a solid foundation. He further refined his skills at Café Claude and Gaspar Brasserie, renowned establishments in the San Francisco Bay Area. Reuniting with Chef Patrick Kelly at Restaurant Lure+Till, Dayvi ascended to the position of Executive Chef. This role allowed him to showcase his culinary creativity and develop innovative dishes. Subsequently, as Executive Chef at Sessions at the Presidio, Dayvi continued his culinary excellence, contributing to the vibrant culinary landscape of San Francisco's Presidio.

Beverage Director

Tyler has been in restaurants for the past decade, but his wine career took off when coming to Piccino 7 years ago. Learning from a multitude of fantastic mentors and years of hard studying, Tyler honed his wine knowledge eventually working his way up to Beverage Director in 2021. Tyler has dedicated himself to finding great producers from all over Italy and France. His passion is geared toward wine makers who put their heart and soul into the vines themselves, and promote biodiversity and low intervention winemaking — and think of themselves as farmers first. He believes that great wine starts in the field. His program hopes to reflect what he finds important in wines and the people who make them.

Partner

Sean is a lifelong hospitality professional and accomplished entrepreneur, with a diverse background in restaurant and entertainment development & management, spanning 30+ years. In addition to Sean’s partnership with Piccino Group, he has either founded or held key executive positions in some of the top hospitality organizations in the nation such as Thirtyone Madison (Wish bar & lounge, Mighty and Mercer), Morgans Hotel Group, and Joie de Vivre Hospitality (Phoenix Hotel, Chambers eat+drink). He has created and managed a variety of concepts, ranging from intimate cafes and bistros to multimillion dollar clubs and restaurant properties. Sean has been consistently recruited to guide numerous high-profile projects from initial inspiration to fully operational venues - including concept development, buildout, pre-opening and on-going operations. Sean is also a founding board member and past Chairman of the California Music and Culture Association.

Events Manager

Randalyn is a 20+ year hospitality veteran. Her professional career has included time spent as a concierge, travel agent, executive assistant, and corporate and personal event planner. Prior to joining Piccino Group, Randalyn was responsible for event curation at Terrapin Crossroads for Phil & Jill Lesh and before that, Randalyn worked with Traci de Jardin at her restaurants in the Presidio Commissary & Arguello. Randalyn is passionate about helping people. She is a connector who loves to bring people together. In and out of her professional life, she often finds herself planning fun and exciting events for the people around her. She specializes in personalizing individual and memorable events for each client and approaching the most stressful event situations with grace and style. When not juggling a full roster of events and parties, Randalyn loves trying new restaurants, hiking, live music, and wine tasting. In her down time, you’ll find her exploring in Marin with her beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Marley.