Sarma Melngailis

Sarma Melngailis

Sarma Melngailis is a renowned American businesswoman, chef, and author. She is best known for her contributions to the raw food movement and her role as the former owner of the now-closed Pure Food and Wine restaurant in New York City.

Early Life and Education

Melngailis was born in Massachusetts and raised in Newton, Massachusetts. She attended the University of Pennsylvania where she earned a degree in Economics and Finance. After her graduation, she worked in investment banking before deciding to pursue her passion for food and enrolling at the French Culinary Institute.

Career

Melngailis' career in the food industry began at the French Culinary Institute. After her graduation, she worked at several high-end restaurants in New York City before discovering the raw food movement. She was inspired by the health benefits and unique flavors of raw food and decided to open her own restaurant, Pure Food and Wine, in 2004. The restaurant quickly gained popularity and was known for its innovative and delicious raw food dishes.

In addition to running her restaurant, Melngailis also authored several books on raw food, including Raw Food/Real World and Living Raw Food. These books have been instrumental in popularizing the raw food movement and have inspired many people to incorporate more raw foods into their diets.

Controversies

Despite her success, Melngailis' career has been marred by controversy. In 2016, she was arrested and charged with stealing millions of dollars from her restaurant and failing to pay her employees. She pleaded guilty to these charges and was sentenced to four months in jail and five years of probation.

Personal Life

Melngailis was married to Anthony Strangis, who was also implicated in the financial scandal involving Pure Food and Wine. They divorced in 2017.

Legacy

Despite the controversies, Melngailis' impact on the raw food movement cannot be denied. Her restaurant, Pure Food and Wine, was one of the first of its kind and helped to popularize raw food cuisine. Her books continue to inspire those interested in raw food and healthy eating.

See Also

• Raw Foodism
• Veganism
• Pure Food and Wine
• French Culinary Institute

External Links

• New York Times Article on Sarma Melngailis
• Eater Article on Sarma Melngailis