Ring in the New Year with a conversation with renown restaurateur Narsai David about food, cooking, wine, restaurants and his life as a world class chef and restaurateur…plus some bonus discussion about his Assyrian heritage.
Narsai David is a restaurateur, winemaker, author, food columnist, PBS television host, KCBS Radio Food and Wine Editor, (San Francisco); President: Assyrian Aid Society of America; Berkeley Community Fund; Past President, Berkeley Repertory Theatre; President Emeritus, Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association; Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer, Association of Fundraising Professionals, 2004; co-founder and host of numerous annual charity fundraising efforts, including Alameda County Meals-on-Wheels, the Eukel Teaters Trust, and the Taylor Family Foundation.
“In 1970, Narsai began a catering business. Among his first clients was Bill Graham, the legendary San Francisco rock impresario, for whom Narsai catered events for all major bands including The Rolling Stones. David catered the backstage meals for the many bands who appeared, and stage and sound crews at the California Jam concert in 1974. He has since catered many special events, some for the British Royal Family on their visits to San Francisco.
In 1972, he opened his restaurant, Narsai's, in the upscale community of Kensington, on the northern tip of Berkeley.[ The restaurant was described by The New York Times as having one of the finest wine cellars in the world. Narsai's Market was opened next door, from 1978 until 1985. Narsai's restaurant closed in 1986. On the shelves at Narsai's Market were many imported and gourmet products, several of which are still made exclusively for him using his own recipes and bearing his distinctive label.
David owns one vineyard in the Napa Valley, Narsai David Estates, and produces his own Cuvée and Cabernet Sauvignon.
In the 1980s until the 1990s, he had a food and cooking column in the San Francisco Chronicle. He is the KCBS Food and Wine Editor; and has appeared on radio and television.”