Name: Zia Sheikh
Age: 31
Residence: Staten Island, NY
Email: ZSheikhCC@gmail.com
Education: Art Institute of NYC ('04)
Current Restaurant: North End Grill (NY, NY)
Past Experience: ABC Kitchen (NY, NY)
Tabla (NY, NY)
Zahav (Philadelphia, PA)
10 Arts by Eric Ripert (Philadelphia, PA)
CrossBar (NY, NY)
Mercer Kitchen (NY, NY)
The Frog & The Peach (New Brunswick, NJ)
Hilton Hotels (Short Hills, NJ & Staten Island, NY)
Richmond County Yacht Club (Staten Island, NY)
Favorite Restaurant: Au Pied de Cochon (Montreal, Quebec)
Cooking Style: Nose-to-tail, seasonal, local, fresh, with global influences
Favorite Ingredients: Asparagus, Winter Squashes, Tomatoes, Pomegranate, Foie Gras, Duck, Corn, Kalonji, Fennel, Pork, Eggs, Berries
Least Favorite: Bananas
"Mei Lai" = arrival of beauty
I guess let me introduce myself first. My name is Zia Sheikh and I live in NYC. I am a professional cook, and have a tremendous passion for all types of food and drink.
So what is the purpose of this blog?
The most common questions people ask me are "What do you like to cook?", "Have you eaten anywhere interesting recently?", "What's your favorite restaurant?", "What places do you recommend?". I started this blog to finally answer all of those questions, and to clear up a lot of misconceptions about the food industry.
In the past few years the food industry has really changed, gaining so much more media attention, and with it dining trends have changed. People are becoming more educated about food and where it comes from, what they put into their bodies, eating locally, and fresh.
I want this blog to be open for discussion. I am an avid food lover, and understand how professional kitchens work, but in no way am I a critic. In no way, shape, or form do I believe my opinions are the only ones that matter. I want to hear from you, friends and strangers, on your thoughts about food, the hospitality industry, and your experiences.
I encourage you to email me or leave comments on what you think about the website and content. Feel free to friend me on facebook as well. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy contributing!
