Check Out Orcun Malkoclar’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Orcun Malkoclar.

Hi Orcun, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
My culinary journey is filled with passion due to my family! Growing up in a quaint beach town in Turkey with a father who brought musicians into our home and a mother who created beautiful meals every night created a truly magical experience. Love for food, flowers, and music blossomed from such a young age. 

My journey took an exciting turn when I traveled to Italy at the age of 14 and took my first cooking class. The fact that our instructor only shared the ingredients but not the measurements showed me how to use intuition and creativity in the kitchen. From there, I dedicated myself to learning and honing my culinary skills in various California restaurants, where I was exposed to a diverse range of ethnic flavors and fusion. 

Now, I have the opportunity to share my passion and create a beautiful space where I can provide smiles and flavors from all around the world. My enthusiasm for food, flowers, and music brings people together through the power of taste and ambiance. 

United Bowl Nation is here to keep spreading those flavors and smiles! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Cooking and learning to find my culinary taste is not a struggle. Rather it is constant search for expansion, finding answers, solutions, and expressions in the kitchen. Learning the characteristics of each spice, how they blend together and unite harmoniously on a plate is a journey by itself. Macrobiotic principles and Ayurvedic and ethnic cuisine techniques take a while to digest and create. We eat with our eyes first; hence, I focus on color, harmony, and contrast on the plate. Learning proper timing, when to slow down and when to speed up, celebrating the missing ingredient/s, and providing the best flavors given the circumstance took decades to learn and implement. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I draw and paint every menu item before it gets created on the plate. I focus on the five elements and the seasons. I specialize in Silk Road cooking principles, why we eat, why we eat, and how the cultures shared techniques and flavors across the centuries. I have a curious mind and constantly strive to explore new ideas, flavors, and techniques. 

What matters most to you? Why?
Smiles and flavors. Hospitality is based on these two principles. The love of food and people. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: unitedbowlnationla

Image Credits
Orcun Malkoclar