Comfort Collective: Chez Panisse and Sobre Mesa Alums Team Up to Launch New Southern-Inspired Pop-Up | Eater SF

"There's an undeniable joy in the food, drinks, and vibe at Comfort Collective, the monthly pop-up co-founded by Christian Washington and Sadé Stamps: their mission is to create comfortable, intentional spaces for Black, brown, queer, and trans people while nourishing body and soul and honoring ancestry through food and libations. I experienced menus that go deep on small ideas — multi-course dinners (tickets sold via social media or at the door) that have included an Edna Lewis–themed night featuring a pan-fried eels-and-scallops dish from Lewis, oyster mushroom ragu over polenta with collard greens and a poached egg, seafood gumbo, and “granny’s sewing tin” shortbreads and ginger snaps — alongside rotating highlights such as jerk chicken with allspice yogurt and herb salad, a pork-stuffed patty, shrimp in escovitch, and skillet corn cakes with harissa butter. Stamps’ cocktail program is built to pair with Washington’s food and often leans on rum and agave (examples: the rum-forward Hoochie Coochie Mane with cherimoya, pineapple, Campari, and lime; the mezcal-infused Spice Gworl with guajillo and lime; and the inventive Saweetea with vodka, honeybush tea, sweet potato pot liquor, and lemon milk wash). Their approach reflects Washington’s CIA training and experience at Chez Panisse and Stamps’s tenure as beverage director at Sobre Mesa, plus mentorship from Sarah Kirnon, and they emphasize sourcing from trusted farms, caring for their crew, and creating joy in every aspect of the project." - Dianne de Guzman