It’s a massive undertaking to help manage a restaurant with Three MICHELIN Stars. Davide Franco will be the newest to do so.
Joining Quince as Director of Hospitality, he brings with him nearly two decades of experience working in MICHELIN-Starred restaurants across Italy and in London.
Raised in Puglia’s Trani, Franco left home to pursue his dreams at some of the most delicious MICHELIN-Starred restaurants. His beyond-impressive resume includes Villa Feltrinelli (Two Stars), Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (Two Stars), Hélène Darroze at The Connaught (Three Stars), Core by Clare Smyth (Three Stars) and Piazza Duomo (Three Stars), among others.
Joining the Quince team six years after he initially imagined, Davide’s story is one of patience and passion.
Sometimes, life gives a glimpse of what’s to come many years before it’s the right time. Calling San Francisco “one of the most exciting cities in the world from a culinary perspective,” he had made it his goal to move there.
In 2019, Franco made a trip to California and got a taste of that dream. He landed three job interviews and found that he felt most at home in Quince. He reminisces, “walking into the dining room, it immediately felt like a familiar place.”
Just as he was gearing up to join the Quince team, COVID-19 hit, which pushed him back to Italy. While the talented hospitality director was delighting diners back in his home country, he also happily welcomed a son with his wife. In the back of his mind, he still kept his dream of working at Quince alive.
In 2024, a perfect opportunity came to light. Quince held a collaborative dinner with Piazza Duomo that sparked new life into his California calling. Franco says, “speaking with Chef Michael and Lindsay Tusk and understanding the future vision of the restaurant reignited my American dream.”
He was brought on full-time, and by joining the team, Franco gets to live out his passion both professionally and personally. “I’m very much looking forward to the energy and adrenaline. I’m excited about the diversity and quality of restaurants, exploring Napa Valley wines and immersing myself in American culture.” He smiles, “I love their open-minded approach to dining and enthusiasm for experimenting with food and wine.”
In his role, Franco plans on keeping the core of the restaurant the same, stating, “I want to fully understand and immerse myself in the philosophy of Chef Michael and Lindsay and help Quince continue to thrive—adding a touch of Italian flair.”
What seemed like a long delay for his American dream actually ended up being perfect timing. Because of the six-year-long wait, this time, coming along for the ride are two of Franco’s biggest supporters: his wife Nadisha and their three-year-old son Cesare. He concludes, “with them, this experience will be even more meaningful.”
Hero image: Letizia Cigliutti / Davide Franco
