Finn Stern
DAYTRIP | Oakland, CA
november 2022
Growing up in Washington, D.C., it seems only natural that Finn Stern developed an affinity for politics. After graduating college with a degree in food studies, Stern moved to California to pursue a career as an environmental agriculture lobbyist. Burnt out from his job in politics, he couldn’t help but recall memories of his time working the line at Restaurant Nora during high school. Chef Nora Pouillon’s emphasis on organic ingredients and farm-to-table mindset left a lasting impression on Stern, and he set out to combine his two passions.
In 2016, Stern moved to the Bay Area, where he joined the pastry team at Standard Fare. It was during this time that he met his eventual business and life partner Stella Dennig on the dance floor of Starline Social Club. In 2020, the duo started their own catering service, Finn + Stella Cater. Finding fun in the chaos, Stern and Dennig decided to open their own restaurant in Oakland. With its disco ball and house party vibes, DAYTRIP brings a high-energy and playful take on the dining experience with Stern focusing on fermentation-driven shared plates, like his celery salad with aged sheep's milk cheese and lemon verbena oil.
Although no longer a lobbyist, politics still influence Stern’s, and by extension DAYTRIP’s, ethos. He believes restaurants should embrace their political capital and spread awareness of agriculture’s impact on our world. He has also dedicated himself to fostering a staff-focused environment with an equal tip pool, flexible hours, and a higher average starting salary. Stern wants to expand DAYTRIP’s message by creating a strong community among the Bay Area restaurants to share resources and ideas to make the industry more sustainable.
2022 StarChefs San Francisco-Oakland Rising Stars Award Winner
