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Narsai Michael David was born on June 26,1936 in South Bend, Indiana to Michael Khanno David of Marbisho, Turkey and Shulamith Sayad from the town of Ada, Urmia in northern Iran. Both parents had fled the Middle East as refugees from the First World War. They met and were married in Chicago. They moved to Turlock, California where Narsai completed high school in 1953. His father died when Narsai was fifteen, leaving two other sons, both younger. Narsai enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley with two scholarships, majoring in mathematics and pre-med courses. During college he supported himself by working in restaurants, then opening a plastic fabricating business and a print shop. In 1959 he took a job as manager of the Potluck Restaurant in Berkeley, California eventually becoming a partner. In 1970 he began a catering business. Among his first clients was Bill Graham, San Francisco "rock" impresario for whom Narsai catered events for all major bands including The Rolling Stones. He has since catered a number of special events, some for the British Royal Family on their visits to San Francisco. In 1972 he opened his restaurant, Narsai's in Kensington on the northern tip of Berkeley. The Restaurant boasted one of the finest wine cellars in the world. He owns two vineyards in the Napa Valley from which he eventually plans to produce his own wines. Narsai's wine list was described by The New York Times as one of the ten fines in the World. On the shelves at Narsai's Market were many imported and gourmet products, several of which are still made exclusively for him using his own recipes and bearing his distinctive label. He currently makes regular appearances on radio as Food and Wine editor of KCBS radio, he files daily reports 7 days a week. His involvement in community affairs began early when, as a founding member of the Arts and Crafts Co-op and one of its first presidents, a large brick Victorian building was turned into a retail outlet where artists and consumers could meet. In 1964 he married Venus Petcoff, who is of Bulgarian ancestry and is a registered Public Health nurse in the Oakland School System. Their son, Daniel Narsai David was born in 1965 and worked alongside his father developing his own specialties such as the preparation of the fine variety of caviars which appeared on the menu. While Daniel was still a grade school student, his father chaired a committee for the School Board on reorganization of the 4th through 6th grades. He was a founding member of the Board of the Berkeley Repertory Theater, a non-profit organization and in 1981 became President of the Board. A new 400 seat theater was built and the Company is today one of only three Equity theaters in Northern California, and has rapidly developed into an important regional theater. Mr. David has also been actively involved with the Assyrian Church. Ordained a 'Qaruya" (reader)in 1949 at the age of 13, he became a "Hoop-id-yuk-na" (sub-Deacon) at 15 and finally at 18 he was ordained a Shamasha (Deacon). He helped build the "Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church of the East and of the Assyrians" in San Francisco. Before the Assyrian community could afford a priest he received a special dispensation from Mar Shimun allowing him to preach. Though his schedule is full, in 1973 he became involved with a group of people working on the idea of promoting the Assyrian identity through the Arts and has since become the first president of the Assyrian Foundation For The Arts. His own comments about this organization and its plans to place an Assyrian Monument in public, describe the Foundation's aims best; I feel it is high time that the Assyrians in America are recognized by a permanent monument that will stand as a memorial to the great accomplishments of such a noble race. Assyrians have contributed to the well being of America for the better part of a century but remain unknown and unrecognized. This project, with the sculpture erected by an Assyrian sculptor, cuts across all religious and political lines and as such should bring together all Assyrians in achieving a common goal. Radio/Television Event Food and Wine Editor, KCBS Radio, San Francisco, California, 1990 to Present Resident Chef, "Morning on 2," KTVU TV, Oakland, California, 1987-1996 "The Culinary Connection", Walt Disney World, Weekly Television Food Feature Syndicated Nationally Food Talk Show, "Narsai & Company" and "The KCBS Saturday Kitchen", KCBS Radio, San Francisco, California, 1984-1990 Television Chef Host, "Over Easy," PBS, 273 stations nationwide, 1977-1984 Newspapers Columnist San Francisco Chronicle Food Section titled "California Cuisine" 1984-1995 Busniess Associations The Potluck Restaurant, Berkeley, California - Partner 1959-1970 Narsai's Restaurant and Catering - 1970-1986 Narsai's Market & Wholesale Bakery, 1978-1985 Narsai's Cafe at I. Magnin, 1981-1995 Narsai's Specialty Foods, 1974 to Present Books Publishing Monday Night at Narsai's - Simon and Schuster 1987 The Menu - David Thomas Publishing 1992 The Menu - David Thomas Publishing 1994 Wine Judging Events Los Angeles County Fair, 1970-1985 Community Services Roles President of the Board, Assyrian Aid Society of America President of the Board, Pacific Coast Farmer's Market Association Chair, Awards Committee, Berkeley Community Fund Host, Annual Narsai Toast to the Arts, Berkeley Repertory Theater Host, Alameda County Meals on Wheels Annual Dinner Host, Eukel Teacher's Trust Annual Dinner, Walnut Creek Host, Berkeley Community Fund Annual Awards Dinner Host, Berkeley Symphony Orchestra Annual Fund-raising Wine Tasting Co-Host, Taylor Family Foundation Day in the Park, Lafayette Founding Member, Hunger Awareness Project, San Francisco Honorary Chair, VNA Hospice Annual Wine Tasting Fund-raiser, Berkeley Copy Rights by Author - Authorized for publishing on this Web page. Updated April 28, 1997 Return to the Profiles Page Return to Home Page