Meet the Sommelier: MIKE KALAMPOUKAS of Nerai in New York City

Mike Kalampoukas is twenty-eight years old and has worked in the hospitality business for a little over ten years. He started working in restaurants in order to make a little money during school break and that is where he found his passion for the business, the food, the different people he would meet, and the pace of the restaurant world.

Kalampoukas also came to understand that a large part of the dining experience is wine and spirits. He had been a wine lover from an early age as his grandfather used to make his own wine and he always enjoyed having a glass with his siblings when he was as young as ten years old. Kalampoukas was lucky to be born in Greece, a country that has a culture that celebrates wine as an essential part of the meal and of life. He has carried that ideology to the States, and he continues to celebrate the beauty and depth of wine with his career at Nerai.

Kalampoukas commented, "The passion have for wine and spirits seems never ending. I try to read about wine and spirits and experience a different taste every day. My interest drove me to the International Culinary Center where I participated in an intensive wine course. I became a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommelier's about a year ago. As a Sommelier I am delighted to put my knowledge into practice."

Broadwayworld.com had the opportunity to interview Mike Kalampoukas about his career as a sommelier and Nerai in New York City.

What special personal qualities or talents have enhanced your career?

I believe some of my personal qualities are my dedication, my attention to detail, humility and above all hard work.

Who have been some of your professional mentors or individuals that have inspired your work?

One the people that influenced my career as a Sommelier was a colleague of mine who encouraged me to become certified. Another really important person that was influential was Scott Carney, Dean of Wine Studies at the International Culinary Center. He is a knowledgeable, humble and vibrant teacher that made learning an interactive and exciting experience.

Tell us a little about your travel experiences as a sommelier. This can be local, regional or international.

Traveling is a large part of my career as a Sommelier, I have experienced various climates and tepidity of different regions, but most importantly I have been able to meet and talk with different wine makers about their process, obstacles, and flavor profiles. I have traveled to the Finger Lakes, and also have traveled to Greece where I visited a handful of wineries in Santorini and Kefalonia. In Northern Greece I visited wineries in Naousa, Rapsani in the foothills of Mount Olympus and Epanomi in Thessaloniki.

Why do you find your career as a sommelier so rewarding?

I find my career so rewarding because I can introduce people to new wines, engage in conversations and most importantly enhance someone's dining experience by offering unique options and providing outstanding service.

What is one of your favorite meals and what wine would you select for it?

As a Greek, born and raised, I am a big fan of Mediterranean cuisine and obviously a large part of this cuisine is seafood. One of my favorite meals is whole white fish, simply cooked with olive oil and lemon that I like to pair with another favorite of mine, Assyrtiko. Assyrtiko is a grape variety grown mainly in the island of Santorini and it produces light to medium bodied,crisp wines with notes of lemon curd, underripe peach and pronounced minerality. This variety pairs really well with shellfish and simply prepared fish.

Tell us a little about the restaurant or organization that you currently work with.

Nerai offers a contemporary twist on sophisticated Greek dining in the heart of the city. Featuring a lively bar, beautifully decorated dining rooms. Flavorful seafood focused dishes and extraordinary drinks are stripped down to their simple essence, and then presented beautifully. Our wine list offers a large variety of Greek wines as well as selected wines from the rest of the world. Our polished service team pays attention to each individual guest, striving to make their experience outstanding. Nerai provides our guests with a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of New York City.

Nerai is located at 55 East 54th Street (between Park Ave. and Madison Ave.), New York, NY, 10022. Call (212) 759-5554 or visit www.nerainyc.com.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Nerai

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