Allan Ben

Allan describes himself as a serial entrepreneur. He can’t help but create something from nothing. Whatever he turns his hand to there’s always something new to create and conceptualize.

He was raised in Israel to artist parents, so art has always coursed through his veins.  As a child he was drawn to photography and even had his own dark room where he developed his own photos. Seeing the blank paper develop into a photo is still something that feels like magic years later. After moving to the US and attending the School of Visual Arts, he opened a photography studio. Then, in 2004, he published “Art And Cook: Love Food, Live Design and Dream Art,” a cookbook that disrupted the literary and culinary landscape. The rest, as they say, is history.

Food, travel and photography have helped Allan shape the Art and Cook vision. He constantly is learning about different cultures and trying different foods, truly immersing himself in these cultures. Anthony Bourdain said it best: “Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life—and travel—leaves marks on you.”

What are you surprisingly good at?
I can train dogs. With my military background I easily can get a German Shepard to walk beside me without a leash, and learn and heed to all my commands.  
Another little-known fact is, I can do hair. I can easily cut beautiful layers and have mastered balayage.  My parents were celebrity hair stylists in Israel.

What’s your favorite food memory?
 Smelling all the fresh spices from the open-air markets in Morocco. Memories of the smells and colors always evoke a feeling of bliss and contentment. 

What’s your can’t live without Art and Cook product? 
Our citrus reamer that I created in 2007 for an Oscar’s gift bag. I truly think of it as a piece of art. We also will be doing a reissue of this product which I’m very excited about.