REBECCA KIRHOFFER | GENERAL MANAGER & CO-PROPRIETOR
REBECCA KIRHOFFER IS EDUCATED BOTH AS A DESIGNER AND AS A CHEF, AND SHE MANAGED ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S TOP CORPORATE DINING PROGRAMS. ALL THREE AREAS OF EXPERTISE WERE NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY PUT TOGETHER A GREAT RESTAURANT – REBECCAS – WITH HER HUSBAND AND PARTNER REZA KHORSHIDI.
KIRHOFFER STUDIED DESIGN AT NEW YORK’S SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS, AND WORKED HER OFF HOURS IN RESTAURANTS. SHE CAME TO SEE THAT HER FUTURE WAS IN RESTAURANTS AND SUBSEQUENTLY GRADUATED FROM THE NEW YORK RESTAURANT SCHOOL.
HER FIRST PROFESSIONAL POSITION WAS CHEF OF THE BREAKFAST CLUB AT NEW YORK’S FAMED ‘21’ CLUB, STAYING TWO YEARS, AFTER WHICH SHE LAUNCHED HERSELF AS A PRIVATE CHEF FOR CORPORATE AND PRIVATE CLIENTS. ONE OF HER CLIENTS WAS FINANCIER SANFORD WEILL, WHO INVITED HER TO TAKE OVER THE CORPORATE DINING FACILITY AT SMITH BARNEY. AT SMITH BARNEY SHE MET REZA KHORSHIDI, AND TOGETHER THEY DREAMT OF THEIR RESTAURANT IDEAL, A PLACE WITH FRESH AMERICAN CUISINE, A PEACEFUL SETTING AND SEAMLESS SERVICE. THEY OPENED REBECCAS IN GREENWICH, CT (WHERE REBECCA HAD GROWN UP) IN DECEMBER 1997, AND THE REST IS HISTORY.