Stephen Rademaker

Our shop is throw-a-rock, break-a-window close to Brown Sugar Kitchen. I started working for Tanya and Phil when a friend asked if I could help fix their smoker. We’re a good match—I like to eat and they like to cook and be great hosts. And they’re very understanding of my needs as an oddball. When Brown Sugar Kitchen opened, it didn’t take long for there to be a line around the corner. There’s a longing for good food here, and Brown Sugar Kitchen helps fill that need. The restaurant was a precursor to the Oakland food revolution. It’s amazing how many restaurants have opened here in the past few years. Brown Sugar Kitchen sent a message to other restaurateurs that they could succeed here.