Pastisio (Greek Beef & Pasta Bake)

Chef Eli realized his passion for cooking as a youngster observing his mother perform magic in the kitchen. “A dash of salt, a sprinkle of pepper, and a whole lotta of love” she would say. As an adult, Eli attended the Institute Hotelier Cezar Ritz and Les Roches Hotel Management School, two of the finest hospitality schools in Switzerland where he learned at the hands of the most reputable chefs in the world. Eli took his newly founded eloquence in cooking and perfected it by roaming the world and working with prestigious hotels and launching new ones including Raffles Dubai, Armani Hotel and many others.

Eli Berchan met his wife, Stephanie, when they were little children running through the grapevine fields in their little hometown in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. A love affair for the sea, for the food, and for each other was born and they tied the knot. A common dream of opening a family-owned restaurant moved their love nest to the beautiful Los Angeles.
They now own and operate Sumac Cuisine in the heart of Hollywood offering a menu inspired by songs of the Mediterranean and voices of its cities. Now Chef Eli’s homage to fresh, organic, and locally grown ingredients cooked with passion and served with love can be found on CookUnity.

Read more