38 JUNE 2 0 1 9
FOOD + DRINK
Island
Ingredients
BY MAX PARROT
@MWPARROTT
“Chopped” champion Nicholas Poulmentis is a purist when
it comes to his ingredients – particular enough to walk out
of a job at the Astoria restaurant Akrotiri Seafood Taverna,
where he designed the menu.
“I stopped associating with
that place because they
wouldn’t provide the
proper ingredients,” he
said of his former employer.
The Greek chef’s new
project is called Oli.Vine, a contemporary
Mediterranean restaurant that opened
up on April 4 at 36-03 Ditmars Blvd. in
Astoria.
Poulmentis, who was born in New
York City to Greek parents, left the U.S.
when he was a year old to live on the
Greek island of Kythira. Ever-inspired
by his culinary upbringing on the
