Moshe Wendel facts for kids

Moshe Wendel is an American chef. He is famous for his new and exciting ways of cooking kosher food. He used to own a restaurant called Pardes Restaurant in Boerum Hill, a neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Becoming a Chef

Moshe Wendel learned to cook in a special program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also worked in French restaurants in the Philadelphia area, like Django and La Bohème. He even cooked in the South of France!

In 2008, Moshe and his wife, Shana, started following Jewish kosher rules. This meant they needed to cook food in a special way. Because of this, they moved to the New York area. There were more chances for kosher chefs there. Moshe worked at a restaurant called Mosaica in New Jersey. Later, he helped open Basil Pizza & Wine Bar in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. This restaurant was known for serving fancy, modern food that was also kosher.

The Forward newspaper said that Moshe Wendel is one of the "small group of chefs" who have made kosher dining much better. They said these restaurants are as good as other non-kosher restaurants nearby.

Opening Pardes Restaurant

Moshe Wendel opened his own restaurant, Pardes, in October 2010. He started it with his wife, Shana. He told a reporter that Pardes was "just like any Brooklyn bistro, it just happens to be kosher." A bistro is a small, informal restaurant. He described Pardes as a "seasonal, progressive, French" kosher bistro. This means the menu changed with the seasons, and it offered new ideas inspired by French cooking.

Moshe gives a lot of credit to his wife, Shana. She managed the restaurant. She encouraged him to make kosher food that was just as good as the non-kosher food he used to cook. They both learned in France how important it is to use the best quality ingredients. This is key to making delicious food.

Moshe Wendel has become a great example for younger chefs who want to cook kosher food.