About Momed:<\/strong><\/p>\nMomed, owned by Alex Sarkissian and short for “Modern Mediterranean,” offers a fresh take on the diverse flavors of the Mediterranean basin, emphasizing seasonality and sustainable ingredients. Since opening its doors in 2014, Momed Atwater Village has become a cherished dining destination in Los Angeles, known for its warm ambiance, inventive cuisine, and commitment to community. With Chef Vartan Abgaryan now at the helm, Momed continues to push culinary boundaries while honoring its Mediterranean roots.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nAbout Chef Vartan Abgaryan:<\/strong><\/p>\nAs a child growing up in Los Angeles, Vartan Abgaryan was deeply moved by the way his family\u2019s Armenian American culture celebrated all occasions, both happy and somber, with food. Inspired by the pure joy of cooking and how food brought many generations together, Abgaryan decidedly embarked on a career in the culinary realm. Educated at Le Cordon Bleu, Abgaryan graduated in 2004 and went on to cook at the famed Andre Soltner restaurant Lutece <\/em>for one and a half years. In 2006, he moved back to the West Coast to be closer to his family, where he worked at Red Pearl Kitchen<\/em>, followed by three years as Executive Chef at A Restaurant<\/em> in Newport Beach. He then headed inland to accept the position of Executive Chef at Public Kitchen and Bar<\/em> at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where he received 2-stars from the Los Angeles Times<\/em> food critic and was mentioned as a \u2018Restaurant to Watch\u2019 in\u00a0Esquire<\/em>\u00a0magazine by Food Writer and Critic John Mariani.<\/p>\nIn 2012, Abgaryan joined the Eastside\u2019s iconic Cliff\u2019s Edge<\/em> as Executive Chef. Here, he successfully took the eight-year-old neighborhood restaurant and made it relevant again. At Cliff\u2019s Edge<\/em>, Abgaryan became known for his highly seasonal approach to ingredients and his stunning presentation of dishes \u2013\u00a0Eater Los Angeles\u2019<\/em>\u00a0Matthew Kang commented that his dishes were \u201camong the most beautiful plating in the city.\u201d In 2014, Cliff\u2019s Edge<\/em> was awarded three stars by\u00a0LA Weekly\u2019s <\/em>Restaurant Critic, Besha Rodell.<\/p>\nAfter a successful run, he elevated his role, quite literally, by opening 71Above<\/em> \u2013 the highest restaurant west of the Mississippi, in July 2016. Since opening, the restaurant has received great critical acclaim and put Abgaryan on L.A.\u2019s culinary heat map. Under his hand, 71Above <\/em>was awarded 3-stars by\u00a0LA Weekly<\/em>, and\u00a0Los Angeles Magazine<\/em>\u00a0named it \u2018one of the Top Ten New Restaurants of 2016,\u2019 with Critic Patrick Kuh remarking that \u201cthe experience is luxury that reflects on-point execution.\u201d\u00a0The Los Angeles Times\u2019<\/em>\u00a0beloved Jonathan Gold called his Suckling Pig dish \u201csomething out of a charcuterie dream.\u201d<\/p>\nAfter serving over 300 diners a night at elaborate helicopter-hovering heights, Abgaryan had become one of the city\u2019s most talented and respected chefs. When an opportunity presented itself to bring a refined culinary experience to Abbot Kinney Boulevard, considered by many to be \u201cAmerica\u2019s coolest block,\u201d he took it. Abgaryan\u2019s culinary endeavor, Yours Truly<\/em>, with partners Dave Reiss (formerly of Salt Air) and Paul Pruitt (Founder of New School), allowed him to focus less on the number of guests and work within a more intimate dinner setting. Continuing to build dishes blending flavors from many cultures, Abgaryan\u2019s dinner menu exhibited a multi-cultural approach to each dish, combining ingredients from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.<\/p>\nIn February 2023, Abgaryan took on a new challenge as the Chef at Momed in Atwater Village, where he continues to bring his creative vision and dedication to seasonal, culturally rich cuisine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Owner Alex Sarkissian and Chef Vartan Abgaryan Celebrate Momed Atwater Village \u2019s 10th Anniversary With Four Renowned Chefs & Monthlong Immigrant Chef Dinner Series Celebrate Momed Atwater Village \u2019s 10th Anniversary with Immigrant Chef Dinner Series Momed in Atwater Village is turning ten this September, and to celebrate a decade of culinary excellence, Owner Alex […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":29722,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8236,8240,8251,8247],"tags":[11488,11487,11484,11490,11489,11486,11485],"class_list":{"0":"post-29714","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-food-drink","8":"category-mixology","9":"category-more-stories","10":"category-socal-news","11":"tag-chef-nakul-mahendro","12":"tag-chef-susan-yoon","13":"tag-chef-vartan-abgaryan","14":"tag-chef-vivian-ku","15":"tag-chef-wesley-avila","16":"tag-immigrant-chef-series","17":"tag-momed-in-atwater-village"},"yoast_head":"\n
Monthlong Immigrant Chef Series: Celebrate Momed Atwater Village\u2019s 10th Anniversary With Four Renowned Chefs - Daily Ovation<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n