On mission
HARRISON CHENEY • Sons & Daughters
WORK • Friday Routine
HARRISON CHENEY • executive chef & co-owner • Sons & Daughters
Neighborhood you work in: The Mission
It’s Friday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I’m the chef at Sons & Daughters, and we just recently moved to our new home on 18th St. in the Mission District. Two months in, and we feel settled — I couldn’t be happier in our new space.
What’s on the agenda for today?
A lot of farm deliveries, and meat and fish comes in, so it’s always important that we’re very hands-on. I’m also working on a sweet snack to hit the menu, with a cream made from pineapple weed, preserved strawberries, and crabapple juice that’s been aging in oak since last year — my sous chef Alex and I are trying to perfect an oat cracker that can be served on top of it, so fingers crossed, it’ll hit the menu soon.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
A few weeks back, we had a long weekend off, and my wife, daughter, and I ambitiously turned up to Flour + Water (our new neighbors) at 830p on a Saturday. Luckily, they squeezed us in. Great staff, delicious pasta, and a relaxed environment — we’ll definitely be going back. This past weekend, we grabbed a sandwich from The Boys Deli on Polk Street, walked to the water and ate it there — amazing.
How about a little leisure or culture?
My daughter is a huge Warriors fan, and loves to match jerseys. She also tries to chant the loudest “WARRRIOOOOOORSSS,” so any time at Chase Center is great. Last year, we went to see The Lumineers and Tom Odell there: truly incredible, my wife and I were in awe.
I love walking in the city with my girls. We walk everywhere we go, and cover quite a lot of the city on a Sunday. On one of the hotter days late last year, we walked through Golden Gate Park to the Sutro Baths, right up to the Golden Gate Bridge. We left feeling very tired, but very grateful to live in this amazing city.
Any weekend getaways?
We’ve been invited to do a collaboration dinner in LA at the end of February with a true chef legend, Josiah Citrin at Melisse, and I’m very excited to cook together and also to explore Los Angeles.
What was your last great vacation?
Last year, we took our daughter Isla to London for the first time. We stayed at The Dorchester Collection’s 45 Park Lane and she grew a whole new London Girl persona. It was amazing for her to see where I grew up, and to show her things that are special to me from my childhood. We spent the week walking and shopping and ate some incredible Middle Eastern food, Indian food, and of course, a traditional British roast.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
When we moved restaurants, it almost tripled my commute. I wanted to make sure that my journey to work wasn’t only fast, but sustainable — so I bought an Aventon Level 3 E-Bike. The freedom it’s given me to take a simple bike ride to the beach or around the park to clear my head has been game-changing.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I love the Cartier store near Union Square. The level of customer service is completely unmatched: the staff is friendly and down to earth, and truly make you feel special during the whole experience. It’s not a store we visit every day, but saving it for the special moments is exciting.