Alon Shaya and June Hersh in Conversation with The Sporkful’s Dan Pashman: Memories of a Good Meal

Alon Shaya, Chef and Co-Founder, Pomegranate Hospitality (New Orleans: Saba, Saba’s Lounge, Safta’s Table; Denver: Safta), Author, Shaya: An Odyssey of Food, My Journey Back to Israel; Author, Memories of a Good Meal: Recipes of Resilience Inspired by Stories of WWII Survival (coming October 2026).

Alon Shaya is the multiple James Beard Award-winning chef and co-founder of Pomegranate Hospitality. He was born in Israel, raised in Philadelphia, and is now a proud New Orleanian. His food spans continents and cultures, from his modern Israeli restaurants Saba (New Orleans) and Safta (Denver) to Safta’s Table (New Orleans), a neighborhood Mediterranean all-day café. His restaurants Saba and Safta have both been recognized by the esteemed Michelin Guide as some of the best restaurants in their respective cities.

In 2021, Alon spearheaded the Rescued Recipes initiative with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, based on his collaboration and deep friendship with the Holocaust survivor Steven Fenves. To date, Rescued Recipes has raised over a million dollars. A passionate philanthropist, he also co-founded the Shaya Barnett Foundation with his mentor and high school home economics teacher, Donna Barnett, to provide culinary education and resources to high school students.

Alon is also the co-author of Shaya: An Odyssey of Food, My Journey Back to Israel, a memoir-style cookbook exploring his personal journey of survival and culinary discovery. He has been recognized by Southern Living as one of the “50 People Who Are Changing the South” and by The Forward as one of the “50 Most Influential Jews in America.” He lives in New Orleans with his family.