Eli Zabar is the founder of an ever-evolving gourmet food empire in New York City. His empire includes a marketplace, bakery, cafe and wine bars.
The youngest son of Louis and Lillian Zabar, founders of the landmark delicatessen on New York's Upper West Side, Eli Zabar has made a career for himself by pursuing what interests him and following his instincts and passions. He has let his business evolve organically, finding inspiration in the food halls and open-air markets of Europe and in simply prepared dishes that use the finest ingredients available. Although he tried his hand at teaching and real estate, his first love has always been the world of gourmet food.
Beginning with a small shop on Madison Avenue, selling pots, pans, and packaged foods, Zabar's world has evolved over the course of 35 years to include E.A.T, a gourmet deli, café, and caterer; Eli's Bread, one of the largest artisanal wholesale bakeries in the United States; Eli's Vinegar Factory, an ever-changing food hall that serves a weekend brunch New Yorker's have come to call "the best"; and Eli's Manhattan, his 20,000 sq. ft. flagship store.
In 2002, he opened TASTE, a restaurant and wine bar, which was followed by W.I.N.E., a boutique wine store that reflects Zabar's preference for affordable wines from lesser-known producers. In August 2008, he partnered with the Peconic Land Trust to reopen the historic Amagansett Farmers Market on Long Island.
Eli Zabar is a graduate of Columbia University.
When people come to me I always tell them don't do it the way I did it, go out and work for somebody. In fact I did work for somebody. I worked for a number of people. I got fired from every job I ever had. Every single job I ever had I got fired from. I worked in the field. I worked in hospit...(Full transcript available to logged in subscribers.).
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