Episode 96: Erez Komarovsky; Nicholas Stefanelli

Andrew welcomes one of the founders of modern Israeli cuisine, Erez Komarovsky, to New York City, where he recently opened his first US restaurant, Mint Kitchen. The two discuss Komarovsky's culinary awakening in Tel Aviv, his development in Paris and San Francisco, and his storied, multifaceted career in Israel.In our second interview, Andrew visits with Nicholas Stefanelli of Washington DC's Masseria and Officina. They track how Stefanelli migrated from baseball to fashion to cooking, the similarities and differences between the two sides of his heritage (Italian and Greek), food history and its place in contemporary dining, and restaurant management.Visit the official Andrew Talks to Chefs website to explore past episodes, join our mailing list, leave a voicemail or comment, and keep up with Andrew's blog.Here's a thought: If you like what you hear, please tell your chef-fascinated friends, subscribe to Andrew Talks to Chefs (it's free) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher, follow us on your favorite social media platforms @ChefPodcast, and/or rate or review us on Apple's Podcast store. Thanks for listening! THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.We'd love if you followed us on Instagram. Please also follow Andrew's real-time journal of the travel, research, writing, and production of/for his next book The Opening (working title), which will track four restaurants in different parts of the U.S. from inception to launch.For Andrew's writing, dining, and personal adventures, follow along at his personal feed.Thank you for listening—please don't hesitate to reach out with any feedback and/or suggestions!