About Me
I am a chef, entrepreneur and culinary consultant living in NYC. An avid culinarian, I’ve accumulated over a decade of working in, and running commercial kitchens in Israel and Manhattan. I found my calling working in top Israeli restaurants, while obtaining a Law-IT degree . Upon graduation, I decided to pursue my passion rather than what I’d studied. This decision came during a 5 month trip of India. What followed was, coming to NY to attend The C.I.A (The Culinary Institute of America), of which I’m a deans list honored graduate.
Following graduation from the Culinary Institute of America, I immediately landed an executive chef position, created and implemented the culinary aspect of Unwined, a lounge and bar specializing in food and wine pairing in Manhattan’s Upper west side, opened in 2006. A year later I took position of executive chef of BarVespa, an Italian lounge and assagini bar Manhattan’s Upper East Side. In addition, I have held many private dining events, tasting menus, private cooking classes and lectures on various culinary topics; food and wine pairing, specific cuisines, cooking methods, cheese and more…
My culinary passions are: the chemistry of cooking and pursuit of culinary history, which has so much to do with how our world turned out; discovery of countries, trade-ways, occupations and colonizations…all leading amongst other things, to unique and eclectic culinary creations.
Having grown up in my beloved Yugoslavian grandmother’s kitchen, it was her home cooking that has inspired me to specialize in Eastern European/Balkan cuisine. The historic background of this eclectic cuisine comes from the two major occupations of eastern Europe which lasted until the break of World War One – The Ottoman empire which reigned south of the Danube river and the Austro-Hungarian empire which took hold of the countries north of the river.
Hence…
Combining my love for Balkan cuisine and the fascinating history, traditions and customs of the Balkans, lead to the opening of Saro , a Balkan bistro named after my grandmother Sarah Elhalal on November 30th 2010 in NYC’s Lower East Side!
Beyond this new venture, I enjoy taking friends on culinary adventures throughout New York City as well as in my own kitchen at home. I find my peace running long distance, practicing yoga and snowboarding whenever possible.
Therfore, this blog will feature my review of those bars and restaurants that I deem exceptional, and also… recipes, anecdotes, famous quotes, jokes…
