Sam Michael Braverman

Bushwick, Brooklyn

Lori Jayne is truly doing something special. This restaurant sits inside Alphaville, a long-standing Bushwick dive bar. From the outside, you would never guess Sam Braverman and his team are cooking some of the city's most thoughtful Steak au Poivre. But inside tickets are flowing. They check all the boxes, from quality of ingredients to flavor to eating tender steak with chopsticks at the bar. Not to mention, they are open LATE. Steak au Poivre at 1 AM? Yes, please. When you make 80 steaks during service, you know you’re doing something right.

Full name, age, where are you from?

Sam Michael Braverman, 31, New York City

What is your title and where do you work?  

Chef-Owner @ Lori Jayne (140 Wilson Ave)

What inspired you to work in the food industry?

My mom, who the restaurant is named for, as well as great foods I ate in nyc + abroad up and the people who made them.

What is your biggest customer pet peeve?

Asking for ketchup/smuggle in bottled sauce or order well done meat. We make good sauces from scratch that we're proud of, and we buy good meat and cook it how we believe is best.

What is your most blissful food moment?

When you eat something that takes you back to a time/place/feeling in your past while also exciting you for the future. Food can be the best.

What dish do you want to perfect in the kitchen?
The Perfect Pastrami doesn't exist yet.

If you could shout out a colleague or friend in the industry who would it be and why?

Chef Tony Bacon at HenHouse, Jorge @ Bordertown, Francis @ Bad for Business, and Leslie Hong. All hardworking chefs and hospitality professionals who I respect and commune with/have or will collaborate with. They each pour their whole selves and their unique perspectives and backgrounds into everything they produce.

What is the best food city?

New York, Tokyo, Madrid, NOLA, can't choose. eh, NYC.

How do you relax outside of work?

Still figuring that out, but mostly -- Good and bad horror + other movies with my Partner and cat, playing in rock bands with my best friends and family, walking around places far from my house and eating more good food.

What is your astrology sign (including moon and rising)?
Had to google this, my bday is December 19th -> Sagitartius Sun, Scorpio Moon, Pieces Rising