Chef's Perfect Day in San Francisco

By Chef Joji Sumi

Chef Joji Sumi | Through the Kitchen Window

A Damn Good Dim Sum Pop-Up

Chef Joji Sumi is the creator of the monthly pop-up dim sum restaurant called "Through The Kitchen Window." From San Francisco to the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, Joji partners with an ever-changing group of star chefs to create a night of small plate dishes that are wheeled around the dining room on a dim sum cart.

Chef Joji Sumi

Sumi returns to Mezze where he worked as the executive chef before moving to San Francisco.

The Traveling Pop-up

Through the Kitchen Window takes place each month at a new location. This one was at Mezze Restaurant in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Team of Star Chefs

Chef Sumi teams up with local chefs to create a night of dim sum dishes.

Traditional Dim Sum

The dishes range from traditional to creative.

Sumi showing chefs the Grilled DBJ

Sumi makes a one-bite sandwich of duck liver with strawberry jam on brioche bread.

Local Farm Eggs

Dim Sum Cart

The dishes are wheeled out on dim sum carts.

It Takes a Village

A rare case where you'll see many chefs in the kitchen working on different dishes at the same time.

Pork Bun

Duck Wings

The duck wings are made with a honey and miso sauce.

Octopus & Chicken Sausage

The octopus and chicken sausage is made with fregola, peas, and yogurt.

Shorty’s Pork Gyoza

Chicken Fried Sweetbreads

Fried sweetbreads are served with a local farm egg and ham.

Roasted Pig Head

The whole pig head is served with Peking pancakes, scallions and a peanut sauce.

Chef Sumi brings the pig head to the table.

Unique Menus Each Pop-up

Since Sumi works with new chefs each time, the menu will vary at every pop-up.

Joji calls it a "casual dim sum dining experience." But the dishes are not limited to classic Chinese dim sum and range from steamed mussels to a 'Grilled DBJ' made with duck liver and jam and served on a brioche. He goes on to say, "We create a range of dishes like huitlacoche dumplings with green garlic broth, fried duck wings with miso dip, and a whole pig's head with crepes and hoisin sauce. Guests can also expect to hear 90s hip hop beats and they can expect to eat... a lot."

www.throughthekitchenwindowsf.com

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Chef Joji Sumi's San Francisco Guide

“I love exploring the quieter neighborhoods of San Francisco. In places like Outer Richmond and Outer Sunset, there are so many good restaurants, bars, and coffee shops.”

— Chef Joji Sumi

COFFEE + BREAKFAST

Croissant at Tartine Bakery | Photo Credit: Pauline Mak [flickr]

Tartine Bakery

"They are a master of many things, but a plain croissant and drip coffee is my standard order."

Joji's ProTip: "The best thing to do is go late morning on a weekday when the line isn’t wrapping around the block."

600 Guerrero Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
T: 415.487.2600 | www.tartinebakery.com

Alemany Farmers Market | Photo Credit: James Cohen [flickr]

FARMERS MARKET

Alemany Farmers Market

"If I get a Saturday morning off from work, the Alemany Farmers Market is where I go. It has an incredible variety of produce and is very affordable."

100 Alemany Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94110
T: 415.647.9423

FOOD MARKET

Photograph courtesy of Duc Loi Market

Duc Loi Market

"This is the place to go for Asian ingredients."

Banh Mi | Photograph courtesy of Duc Loi Market

Joji's Pro Tip: "They make a really solid banh mi."

2200 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
T: 415.551.1772 | www.ducloimarket.com

LUNCH

Photograph courtesy of Marla Bakery

SANDWICHES | Marla Bakery

"Chefs Amy Brown and Joe Wolf do a great lunch menu."

Joji's Pro Tip: "The items are seasonal, but any of their sandwiches on their house-made bread are the things to get."

3619 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
T: 415.742.4379 | www.marlabakery.com

Photograph courtesy of Nopalito

MEXICAN | Nopalito

"Few things are better than the carnitas tacos and a spicy Michelada."

306 Broderick Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
T: 415.437.0303 | www.nopalitosf.com

Photographs courtesy of Mama Ji's

DIM SUM | Mama Ji's

"This is one of my favorite dim sum places. You can’t go wrong with their Shanghai dumplings, crispy eggplant or fish with chiles and Sichuan pepper."

4416 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
T: 415.626.4416 | www.mamajissf.com

ASIAN | Hawker Eats

"This is a small, no frills izakaya / ramen spot in Outer Richmond."

Joji's Pro Tip: "Their Kung Fu Chicken ramen is the perfect dish on a foggy San Francisco day."

1650 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
T: 415.221.6288

AFTERNOON SWEETS

Kouign-amann at B. Patisserie | Photograph courtesy of B. Patisserie

B. Patisserie

"Hands down, come here for their kouign-amann (a round flakey Breton cake) or just about anything else for that matter."

2821 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
T: 415.440.1700 | bpatisserie.com

LATE AFTERNOON BEER

The Pizza Place on Noriega

"This is a great stop for a beer. It's a causal local spot just a few blocks from the beach with a good beer selection and a really chill atmosphere."

3901 Noriega Street, San Francisco, CA 94122
T: 415.759.5752 | www.pizzaplacesf.com

DINNER

Photograph courtesy of The Progress

The Progress

"The best thing about it is that their menu changes frequently so you can try new creative dishes every time you go."

Photograph courtesy of The Progress

Joji's Pro Tip: "They offer a multi-course, family style meal in their dining room, but I prefer to sit at the bar for drinks and a la carte dishes."

1525 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
T: 415.673.1294 | theprogress-sf.com

Pizza Hacker

"This is my go to pizza place in the city. My two favorites are the 'Go Vinny' (with marinated onions, Mama Lil’s pickled goat horn peppers, house-made hot Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and fresh mozzarella) and the 'Rocket Man' (with arugula, garlic, fresh mozzarella, farm egg, lemon juice, and chili paste)."

3299 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
T: 415.874.5585 | thepizzahacker.com

Photo Credit: Evan Blaser [flickr]

LATE NIGHT

Nopa

"This is the best spot for a post-work burger and drink. The food and the service are always great and their cocktails are unmatched."

560 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
T: 415.864.8643 | www.nopasf.com

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