My earliest memories are of sitting in a high chair in the kitchen while my mother, Ziva, cooked. In fact, most of my memories of childhood are in the kitchen. I guess that’s why I decided that the kitchen is where I belong as an adult. I never even considered a different career.
After cooking complex dishes at some famous high-end restaurants in Israel, Europe, New York City and Seattle, I have come full circle back to the simple food of my mother’s kitchen and the cultural melting pot of my homeland. Not only is my mom a huge inspiration for WHAT I cook but also HOW I cook: focused on the ingredients. By applying techniques from my professional training, I coax light textures and balanced, yet full, flavors from simple healthy ingredients.
My goal is to bring locally-made, authentic flavors found in Mediterranean homes and street stalls to the families of the Pacific Northwest. And, my clever wife, Jody, is the perfect partner to help make this dream a reality.
Together, in 2015, we created ZIVA to produce small-batch traditional Mediterranean Foods!
We would love to meet you at a farmers market to thank you personally for your interest and support.
Tomer Shneor
Jody Haynes, Ziva Shneor, Tomer Shneor