Born in California’s Bay Area, Ben grew up with a healthy appreciation for all the wonderful flavors surrounding him. He has fond memories of standing by his mother as she learned to prepare lumpia from a Filipino friend, and fresh salsas from a Mexican coworker. After dabbling for a stint in theater and procuring his degree at a school in London, he decided he could no longer deny his palate’s yearnings and started pursuing a career in food and wine. He spent a few years working for a New York restaurant group, first as server then as trainer/manager and somewhere along the way stumbled upon a part-time gig at a neighborhood wine shop in Brooklyn. Inspired by the myriad bottles and fascinating old-world traditions, Ben’s thirst for wine knowledge ultimately led to a full-time career and life’s passion. He currently is buying partner for that very same wine shop, Slope Cellars, in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood. In addition to laboring over filling the shelves with esoteric and delicious wines, Ben does freelance chef work and, of course, consults on food and wine pairings.
