About

Yes, but what does it feel like to eat there?

StretchyHead is a collection of fictional stories set in real bars and restaurants in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Each story is an emotional restaurant review, describing a real place through fiction.

Will the cocktails break your heart?  Will the ice cream make you call your mother?

Every story is written by Ian Tuttle and illustrated by Jason Toney.

StretchyHead has been featured on live radio broadcasts, the San Francisco Chronicle’s online food column, literary journals, readings, and numerous blogs.

f.a.q.

“Why is it called StretchyHead?”

–The project started as a weekly online post. I needed a title when I wasn’t sure what exactly I was doing just yet. I knew it would revolve around restaurants, food, and drink. One of my favorite foods is Udon, and I was inspired by a yelp review that described the perfect Udon noodle: “chewy and stretchy.” Also, the concept revolves around different narrators  for every place, all springing from a single author’s head. Hence, the portmanteau: StretchyHead.

“Did you work directly with the restaurants / bars?”

–No. They didn’t know about it until the book was published. Well, occasionally a place would find it on the internet. A few of the stories aren’t necessarily flattering, and I was concerned that an establishment wouldn’t like it, but even the “bad” stories were received with gratitude and delight.

“Who made the actual book?”

–PAC Books, in San Francisco, published the book. It was manufactured by 1984 Printing in Oakland, CA, using recycled paper and soy-based inks.

“Can I request a story?”

–Yes. I wrote one story a week for about 18 months (from October 2009 to February 2011), and towards the end of the project almost all of the stories were by request from fans. If you have a place in mind, get in touch with me. Perhaps there will be a Volume II some day…

Credits

Interior book illustrations by Jason Toney.

Remarks / Reviews page photography by Ian Tuttle.

Gallery and Main page photography by Christine Zona.

Website by Dawn Andres.