Joji Sumi, Chef
Chef Joji Sumi is solidly committed to sourcing local ingredients from the surrounding region and partnering with like-minded farms in our community. His “farm to table” philosophy translates to procuring the best-quality produce, meats, cheeses and other local foods to create a superior product for Mezze Bistro guests. Sumi has daily dialog with many farmers and makes a concerted effort to bring his kitchen staff to the farms to help with seasonal harvests and participate in the butchering of the food that is on his changing menus.
Sumi came to Mezze Bistro + Bar in October 2007 after working as head baker and pastry chef for Midland Country Club in Michigan. His 15-plus years of culinary experience include positions ranging from line cook and sous chef to head chef. Over the past few years, the Japanese-American chef has developed the Mezze Bistro + Bar menu to reflect his background, blending classic French technique with the influences of his Asian heritage.
Sumi is increasingly inspired by the availability of fresh seasonal ingredients in the Berkshire region. The changing of the seasons provides him with a natural backdrop for an interesting and ever-evolving menu at Mezze Bistro + Bar.
Nancy Thomas,
Co-founder + Proprietor
Nancy Thomas, local food advocate and restaurateur, grew up in Oklahoma City with a Moroccan mother and Oklahoman father who truly valued hospitality. Her family inspiration led her to a life in the restaurant industry beginning in 1984. She has explored the world of food from the far off Mediterranean Sea and the panhandle of Texas to a variety of cities on the East Coast until she landed in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.
Thomas’ vision led her to founding Mezze Bistro + Bar in its first location on Water Street in Wiliamstown in 1996. The success of Mezze Bistro + Bar led to the birth of Mezze Catering in 1999, which continues to allow the restaurant group to bring the original Mezze dining experience to guests throughout the region. In 2001, Thomas opened Eleven at MASS MoCA, her second restaurant, housed at the nation’s largest contemporary arts center. Reincarnated as Café Latino at MASS MoCA several years later, the restaurant served patrons for eight years at its museum location. In 2007, Allium Restaurant + Bar was opened in Great Barrington and has been well received with accolades and great reviews.
Thomas is dedicated to creating extraordinary dining experiences reminiscent of her childhood memories. She is an advocate for shaping a community of sustainable agriculture and, with her restaurants and catering company, has created a means by which consumers can lay down values with their dollars and support the local economy. Committed to the local food movement, Thomas maintains that cooking should be based on the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that are produced locally and sustainably.
Thomas is the co-author of The Great Tiki Drink Book and contributor to Caribbean Cocktails with Jennifer Trainer Thompson (both published by Ten Speed Press.) She is a board member of Berkshire Grown the Berkshire Visitors Bureau, Berkshire Creative and 1Berkshire.
Bo Peabody, Co-founder
Bo Peabody is an expert in consumer-oriented businesses and forward-thinking cultural movements as well as a well-known technology and media entrepreneur. His first company, Tripod — one of the original social networks — was the eighth largest website on the Internet when it was sold to Lycos (1998.) His second company, Village Ventures — an early stage venture capital firm — pioneered the new global trend toward smaller funds. Peabody also co-founded Streetmail (1998, now called Everyday Health), VoodooVox (2000), Health Guru (2004) and UplayMe (2006.) An advocate for building community and supporting the local economy, Peabody co-owns Mezze Restaurant Group with partner Nancy Thomas.
Peabody is featured regularly in major business and consumer publications, and has received numerous honors. He wrote a book for entrepreneurs called Lucky or Smart?, which was published by Random House in January 2005. He speaks about technology and entrepreneurship at conferences and business schools across the globe.
A graduate of Williams College, Peabody resides New York City and Williamstown, MA, and is on the board of The Academy at Charlemont.
