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For some chefs, living is the best training. Just ask David Katz, chef /owner of Philadelphia's Mémé Restaurant. Katz grew up in a Moroccan Jewish family, whose table overflowed with wonderful food and whose home was warmed by the spirit of hospitality.
But good eating became an important part of his life even outside the house. At 11, he spent his summers accompanying his mother to work at Menz, a restaurant in Cape May County, NJ.
The restaurant's executive chef noticed the boy's burgeoning curiosity, so he taught young David how to shuck clams, peel shrimp, and bread fish. By 13, David was washing dishes. By 14, he was a line cook. He stayed at Menz until he was 17. On his journey toward becoming a chef, Katz learned to put money in his pocket and passion in his soul by seeking out great places to cook under mentors that inspired. In Squaw Valley, California, David cooked at Plumpjack under the tutelage of Chef Joe Lakavage. Then it was back to Philadelphia, just in time to launch Salt, a short-lived but highly acclaimed hotspot run by Chef Vernon Moralis.
There were a few more stops along the way, including a stint at Pollo Rosso under the inspired Chef Corbin Evans before he was lured to helm the launch of M in Philadelphia's Morris House Hotel. That's where he was finally recognized by Philadelphia Inquirer Restaurant Critic Craig Laban, "Katz's approach is minimalist but very effective. He presents a New American menu that changes with the seasons. The flavors aren't overly exotic. The compositions aren't contrived. But Katz's food shows the value of focus, distilling a pair of good ideas on each plate into vivid flavors that put the spotlight on good ingredients".
On September 29th, David opened Mémé (pronounced MAY-may), a casual restaurant, located at 22nd and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia. Named for his grandmother, the restaurant will allow him to welcome his guests the way his family welcomed theirs. Intimate and warm, with just 40 seats, David wants Mémé to offer the warmth and personality you might feel dining in his home. This seems appropriate, since David, his wife Catherine, and their son Ezra will be living in the neighborhood.
