I was inspired to pursue a culinary career at a young age. When I moved to the U.S., I took hotel and restaurant management courses at New York Technical College. In 1998, I had the opportunity to work in France at the prestigious Hotel de France. Later, I ventured into the NYC restaurant scene, and served as a pastry chef at the Russian Tea Room. I received two gold medals from the Salon of Culinary Art of the Societe Culinaire Philanthropique. After stints at the Glen Oaks Country Club, City Hall, La Grenouille, and Gascogne Bistro, I ventured out and opened my own restaurant in Staten Island. In seven years, Alor Cafe has transformed into a fine dining and music venue. Today, I am the proud father of three, living with my wife in Brooklyn. As a business owner, I enjoy supporting my community. I also love that the accessibility of Staten Island offers feasible ownership while staying tapped into the city vibe. Recently, I’ve split from my longtime partner but I’m ready for the next phase. I’m currently working on the ‘Better Burger’ Project as a member of the Chefs of America foundation. I’ve taken on this task with an interest of showing the Staten Island area that healthy, sustainable eating is a wise choice and where the restaurant market is trending toward.