Chef & Sommelier · New York
La cuisine.L’amour.La vie.
For Chef & Sommelier Kfir, every meal is a journey. Inspired by his culinary travels and visits to wineries around the world, he creates experiences that begin with captivating sights and aromas, unfold through the flavors of his kitchen, and come together with thoughtfully paired wines. Every detail reflects his passion for bringing food, wine, and people together.
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La cuisine. L’amour.
La vie.
Private chef and personal chef services in New York City. Dinner parties, private events and wine pairings, crafted for your table since 2003.
Meet Chef Kfir
Born and raised in Israel, Chef Kfir Ben-Ari found inspiration in the seasons and produce of the Mediterranean. He trained in classic French technique at the renowned school of Paul Bocuse in Lyon, then moved to New York to cook with Chef Daniel Boulud.
Executive Chef in New York since 2003 and a certified sommelier (SSA) since 2012, he now works as a private chef in New York City, bringing that same devotion to private dinner parties, events and consulting.
The Journey
“It was a bottle of Maucaillou 1996 that inspired me to become a sommelier.”
Roots
Raised on the seasons and produce of the Mediterranean.
Training
Classic French technique at the school of Paul Bocuse.
Daniel Boulud
Where his love affair with foie gras began.
Nine years
Running the Meatpacking District restaurant and discovering wine.
Rendezvous
His own restaurant: southeastern French with Middle Eastern accents.
Since 2018
Cooking for private families in New York and Southampton.
Pedigree
Two names shaped the way Chef Kfir cooks: the father of modern French cuisine, and New York’s great French chef.
With Chef Paul Bocuse · Receiving his diploma
Lyon, France
Today Institut Lyfe
Chef Kfir studied classic French technique at Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, today known as Institut Lyfe, and received his diploma from Chef Paul Bocuse himself. Monsieur Paul, the man many called the pope of French cuisine, remains the foundation of everything Kfir cooks.
With Chef Daniel Boulud & Chef Marcus Samuelsson
New York City
Restaurant Daniel
In New York, Kfir cooked for Chef Daniel Boulud at Daniel, one of the city’s great French dining rooms. Years later Chef Boulud joined him again, this time for a soirée at Kfir’s own restaurant.
Inspiration
Chef Francis Mallmann, the Argentine master of open-fire cooking, never taught Kfir in a kitchen. He taught him anyway: through years of reading his books and eating at his restaurants around the world.
Patience, smoke and flame.
The Taboon
That fire lives in Kfir’s woodfire taboon. Breads straight from the flame, slow roasts, whole fish and vegetables charred to sweetness: the taboon brings the warmth of the Mediterranean to every table he cooks for.
Signature
His love affair with foie gras began in France. Today it is his signature: foie gras creations built on classic French technique, finished with a Mediterranean touch and paired, the way only a sommelier would, with the right glass.
Behind the Pass
From the market to the grill, the fish counter to the last garnish. Chef Kfir cooks every course himself.
Kfir’s Cuisine
A French trained private chef in NYC, Chef Kfir moves easily between French, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Kosher, Pan Latin and Asian kitchens, and many more. He is also an accomplished bread baker and dessert maker, so every course, from the first loaf to the last bite, is made by his hands.
Bread
From the Sea
Dessert
Services
Private chef services in NYC for dinner parties, private events, cooking classes and wine. Contact Chef Kfir to check his availability for your date.
Long term engagements with private families, cooking at home and traveling as needed.
Dinner parties and celebrations, planned and cooked around your occasion.
Hands on lessons in French, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Pan Latin, Asian cooking and bread baking.
Sommelier pairings plus culinary and wine consulting for your project.
Gourmet Menus
Private chef dinner party menus in French, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Kosher, Pan Latin and Asian styles, written for your guests.
In the Kitchen
Every dinner begins long before the first plate. A glimpse behind the pass, from the flame to the final pour.
The Sommelier
A certified sommelier (SSA) since 2012 and a private sommelier for his own dinners, Chef Kfir pairs every menu himself, with a soft spot for French and local wines. Expect him at the table, sharing what is in the glass and why it belongs there.
Off the pass
Markets at dawn, plates at midnight, and a few unforgettable guests along the way.
