From growing up in an Armenian household surrounded by food to working in some of New York’s most respected kitchens, Ararat El-Rawi’s journey to opening Café Little Armenia is a story of culture, grit, and craft. We talk about how a small COVID pop-up outside his Brooklyn apartment evolved into one of Greenpoint’s most soulful neighborhood restaurants, driven by a deep respect for hospitality and the belief in getting “better today than yesterday.”

In this episode, Ararat reflects on building a restaurant that feels like home, the realities of turning passion into a business, and why success is measured not just in revenue but in the people who sit at your tables. It’s a conversation about authenticity, community, and the long road toward finding your place in the food world.