Over the decades, Eli Zabar has built a mini‑empire on the Upper East Side that includes Eli’s Market, an artisan bread bakery, a wine shop, and restaurants, all driven by his obsessive pursuit of quality and what satisfies him. He is the youngest son of Louis and Lillian Zabar, founders of Zabar’s on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. In 1973, he struck out on his own, opening E.A.T., a gourmet food shop and café on Madison Avenue, inspired by the grand food halls he admired in London and Paris.

Episode Description

Jack and Annie open with a Virtuoso Week highlights reel, including Jack's biggest tip for the Fashion Week of Travel to not sleep - "The real business is done on the dance floor and the bar…People do business with people, not products.” 

Favorite finds include mocktail bars and islands in Saudi Arabia; Barbara Muckermann on hiring archivists for Kempinski and finding out they invented wine by the glass; TCS around the world plane journeys; the ever-growing train travel trend (so excited for Aurora Australis in Australia); and more.

Then, a delicious interview with Eli Zabar, whose Upper East Side empire has been feeding New Yorkers for over 50 years. 

• How “being the ultimate editor” guides his curatorial instincts (“the biggest mistake is listening to the customer"), and how he brings intentionality to every loaf of bread, wine pairing, and sandwich. "I'm not looking for the best, I'm looking for what satisfies me, what I find pleasing."
• How Eli's editing instinct compares to the need for department stores to revolutionize and have a voice/be an editor ("Are you the Barneys of food?" Jack asks) 
• Eli's thoughts on wine ("I don't like the cabernet or merlot grape, so I don't sell anything that has those grapes in it") and restaurants ("I love small places where it's one person's notion and they're doing it the way that I like") 
• Eli gives some of his favorite hotels and Jack tries to be a matchmaker with new options for him - but it's tough when he loves his own bed so much. We might get him to The Arts Club in London. 
• Musings on how to attract younger customers and what his twin sons are doing (even though they disagree on bagels) 
• The secret to marriage with Devon Fredericks, the original owner of Loaves and Fishes in the Hamptons 
• What Eli thinks are the two best sandwiches of all time.

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