Well, my first love was LEGO, and I was 3 years old.
The first thing that astounded me most was the endless worlds I could create. Fascinated by
the simple technique and the smart design, the parts just kept on moving and clicking, and
new ideas kept on coming. I realized I was getting better at figuring out complex mechanisms
and solving problems more easily and instantly.

My dream was to become a LEGO engineer, you know, become one of those the guys who
invented the models and write the building guides – it was all I could think about! To this day I like to treat myself every year with a new Lego Technic model just for fun, all for myself.
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The second time I fell in love was when I was 6; Mama Sima took me to the cinema for the
first time to watch the movie 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' (The good ol’ 1990’s one, not the recent abomination!).
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It was love at first sight. That’s where I realized the immense power films had when watched
together in a movie theater: Watching and rewatching the same movie up to 30 times,
indulging on every new detail, shot, angle or text – I was obsessed.

As far as I was concerned, movies became the portal from and to everything cool in this
world. It formed as an index of infinite ideas, possibilities and realities. In an instant, film and cinema had become a major part of my life and somehow intertwined and affected everything I’ve touched since.

The third time was a classic.
It was when I was 12, and her name was Anat.
Yes, just like the cliché beginning of any comforting rom–com, Anat was the most beautiful girl in my class.

Wide–eyed and starstruck, I thought the only chance of getting her attention was with my guitar skills.

**Enter plot twist**
Very quickly I fell in love head to toe – but actually with the guitar.
It was then that I decided to dedicate my life to music. "I shall become a rock star!", I
envisioned myself, and realized that it was more than a teenage whim, but a true life
aspiration.
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I started taking a few classes with a music teacher, and with fire in every bone in my body, I found myself practicing 4–6 hours a day.
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At the age of 14, I started my very first band.I found pure joy in writing music, playing alongside talented musicians, scheduling gigs, rehearsals, one on one practices and jam sessions, and of course making sure we kick major ass on stage. I really love the stage; performing for people and making them happy is where the magic
really happens.

The fourth time came my way at the age of 21 and it was completely by chance. Although I
loved food my entire life (my belly can attest to that!) and have mastered the art of 'Pizza–Pita', from a young age, cooking as a career never really crossed my mind.
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While I was getting ready to move to California and pursue music, a friend suggested I take
up culinary at Haddasa Collage. Calculating all the factors, the inevitable, final decision had been made: “Why the hell not?!”
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Two weeks in, I had already been accepted to an internship at a high–end restaurant, and two months later I realized that California was not going to happen – I was too deep in love.
The kitchen gave me a new meaning to life. I experienced the immaculate combination of
beauty on the one hand, and technique and order, on the other. Add to that teamwork,
competition, and a touch of perfectionism – I was HOOKED.

I absorbed every piece of information I could about cooking, produce, techniques, and history; I spent my last dime on cookbooks and eating out in restaurants to explore and experiment. I showed myself into the perfect rabbit hole: the more I learned, that much more I had to know. Cooking just came naturally, I could easily "see into the Matrix" of ingredients, flavors, associations; it was like everything suddenly made sense, and I was wearing my own skin. My new dream was becoming an international chef, representing my heritage abroad with pride at a successful restaurant. From here on out- resting was no option until my I got there – and got there I did.

The fifth element
The signs were there all along – Tiny but meaningful moments where my love interests brushed with one another, at times by sheer coincidence, other times out of clear intention.
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At the age of 64, it finally hit me I don’t have to choose a single path to follow. Why not utilize and enjoy all my skills, together or apart? All those years of training, learning and growing have led me to this interdisciplinary moment. I can express my creativity in more than one medium, hold a lifestyle that allows me to melt the borders and interconnect all my loves together; these, combined, make me whole.

And just like that… the greatest love of my life presented itself to me – Freedom!
The freedom to express, explore, create, and own whatever domain I choose to touch. I am talking full–on, all–out sensory experiences: Edible art installations, a TV performance that connects culinary, preforming arts and pop culture, or a whole concept design of a hotel or a restaurant: menu, music, design, DNA, culture, experience – a living and breathing interactive mega installment, if you will. That being said, creation in and of itself isn’t enough: the most important part is the having the ability to pass knowledge onwards, to teach, educate, and be my true self, as such. Creating multi layered content isn’t just what I do –it’s who I AM – what defines me as a human, a hopeless romantic, a lover.
And I've only just begun….