Meet Chef Joe And His Duboce Triangle Culinary Salon

Meet Chef Joe And His Duboce Triangle Culinary SalonPhoto: Courtesy of Joe Wittenbrook
Jennie Butler
Published on September 16, 2015

Ever notice that peculiar window display with two sock monkeys near Duboce Park?  

It's not a private residence or a commercial storefront. It's actually a tiny cooking school, called Joe's Culinary Salon.

Unlike Le Cordon Bleu SF and the SF Cooking School, Chef Joe's Culinary Salon has no formal enrollment, curriculum or diplomas. It's just a place to learn to produce simple, yet restaurant-quality dishes from a range of cuisines. This month, for example, patrons can take a knife skills class, master the essentials of Thai cuisine or learn to whip up a "one-dish wonder." 

Wittenbrook (center) teaching a class at the Culinary Salon. (Photo: Chef Joe's Culinary Salon/Facebook)

Every class is taught by Wittenbrook, a seasoned chef who's lived at 16 Sanchez for 23 years. Originally from Cleveland, Wittenbrook moved to SF at age 21 for culinary school, and has since led kitchens all over the city. Most notably, he's run the culinary programs at the Opera House, the Swiss Consulate and Chevron's former headquarters on Market Street. 

Wittenbrook originally bought the space as a place to create and store his art installations, which he's been displaying in the front window since the mid-'90s. He opened Joe's Culinary Salon seven years ago, and has been growing his business ever since. 

"I like this so much more than working in restaurants," Wittenbrook said. "It's slow-paced so you can get into the details. It's so enjoyable because you're making connections with people. They're having a good time, so I end up having a good time." 

Every class includes eight people (never more than 12), who divide into teams to make three or four dishes. After about two hours of cooking and hands-on instruction, the whole group, including Wittenbrook and his assistant, sit down to enjoy what they've created. 

Photo: Chef Joe's Culinary Salon/Facebook

"It feels like being in the Marais in Paris, this little place," Wittenbrook said. "You're together, but completely separate from the outside world."

All the classes at the Culinary Salon are hands-on, and range from $95 to $125 per person (except 1.5-hour demo classes, which are $65). Chef Joe also hosts private events. For more information on the lineup, check out this month's schedule.