Mission Chinese Food Pops Up at Frankie’s 457

I’m a huge supporter of Mission Chinese Food and was one of the first writers to cover the openings in San Francisco (2010) and New York (2012). I was even the first paying customer through the door at the latter!

Not only do I love the imagination behind this restaurant, but the charitable business model is something all restaurants should adopt. The San Francisco location alone has raised over $253,000 for the SF-Marin Food Bank by donating just 75 cents per entree to feeding the hungry.

While the MCF team solidifies a new location in NY, they’ve been hosting pop-up dinners in the carriage house at Frankie’s 457 in Brooklyn. $40 gets you eight full courses comprised of the restaurant’s greatest hits and some new ventures. There are dinners scheduled for June 16-18, 23 and 25, with more dates to be added in July. Visit MCF for more info and check out these photos for a taste of what to expect (click for full slideshow view).

: Enter through the Frankie’s driveway for Mission Chinese Food.

: MCF has a sense of place here!

: A typical pop-up menu, which is a steal for $40.

: A subtly flavored rice porridge with catfish begins the meal.

: A cold trio of smashed cucumbers, Szechuan giardiniera and charred eggplant preps the palate for the heat ahead.

: Chicken wings are served Chengdong style: spicy and numbing.

: Mapo tofu keeps the brace of heat going.

: Fried rice with salt cod and Chinese sausage is a light version of the Americanized Chinese staple.

: Thrice cooked Tennessee bacon is served with slivers of bitter melon and chewy rice cakes.

: A bonus course of ramen noodles with peanut and soy was a nice surprise.

: Market greens are brushed with smoked oyster sauce and Frankie’s olive oil and then topped with sesame and pumpkin seeds. It’s served over ice, so refreshing.