Shereen Arazm
Encyclopedia
Shereen Arazm is a nightclub
and restaurant
promoter and owner. Arazm conducts business as a partner of the Dolce Group, whose other partners include Mike Malin. Other minority owners include Ashton Kutcher
.
Arazm was born to a Scottish-born
mother and an Iranian
businessman. After high school, Arazm attended university
, during which time she began to work as a waitress at Terroni Restaurant in Toronto (a brand she later imported to Los Angeles
. After saving enough money for tuition, Arazm moved to New York City
in 1993 and enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
. Arazm dropped out of AADA after two weeks' of study and took on work at various nightclubs, including China Club, Limelight, and Prohibition.
After failed attempts to purchase a restaurant in New York, Arazm moved to Los Angeles in 2000 and opened first venue, Concorde in 2003. The name of the restaurant was chosen by minority investor Paris Hilton
. Concord received early notoriety soon after opening when Jennifer Lopez
hosted Ben Affleck
’s 31st birthday party at the venue in September 2003.
Her second venue, El Centro Bar and Lounge, opened in 2004, with the 10,000 sq.ft. Geisha House restaurant opening later that year. Other Los Angeles-area restaurants operated by Arazm and the Dolce Group include Bella, Shag (site of Vanity Fair
’s 2005 Oscar party), Parc (2007), Central, and Wonderland. Geisha House has been estimated to be worth US$10 million; Concorde, was estimated to pull in US$1.5 million a year in 2004–2005; and Shag, Parc, and Central each involved investments of US$10 million.
In 2008, Arazm opened Terroni in Los Angeles. Not only was the restaurant named after the Toronto enterprise, she also brought Terroni Canada owner Cosimo Mammoliti into the L.A. operation. Together, Arazm and Mammoliti invested over US$1 million to open Terroni L.A.
Arazm's career was featured on an episode of the Canadian Slice Channel program, Women on Top, in 2007. That same year, LA Times Magazine
named Arazm one of the four top entertainment hosts in Los Angeles. In February 2010, Food Network Canada
announced that Arazm would be the "resident judge" on Top Chef Canada
.
Arazm is married to a Oren Koules (who was also one of her business partners), which whom she had a daughter, Sam, in 2008.
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
and restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
promoter and owner. Arazm conducts business as a partner of the Dolce Group, whose other partners include Mike Malin. Other minority owners include Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
.
Arazm was born to a Scottish-born
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
mother and an Iranian
Iranian peoples
The Iranian peoples are an Indo-European ethnic-linguistic group, consisting of the speakers of Iranian languages, a major branch of the Indo-European language family, as such forming a branch of Indo-European-speaking peoples...
businessman. After high school, Arazm attended university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, during which time she began to work as a waitress at Terroni Restaurant in Toronto (a brand she later imported to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. After saving enough money for tuition, Arazm moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1993 and enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with facilities located in Manhattan, New York City – at 120 Madison Avenue, in a landmark building designed by noted architect Stanford White as the original Colony Club – and in Hollywood, California...
. Arazm dropped out of AADA after two weeks' of study and took on work at various nightclubs, including China Club, Limelight, and Prohibition.
After failed attempts to purchase a restaurant in New York, Arazm moved to Los Angeles in 2000 and opened first venue, Concorde in 2003. The name of the restaurant was chosen by minority investor Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton
Paris Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
. Concord received early notoriety soon after opening when Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
hosted Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck
Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...
’s 31st birthday party at the venue in September 2003.
Her second venue, El Centro Bar and Lounge, opened in 2004, with the 10,000 sq.ft. Geisha House restaurant opening later that year. Other Los Angeles-area restaurants operated by Arazm and the Dolce Group include Bella, Shag (site of Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
’s 2005 Oscar party), Parc (2007), Central, and Wonderland. Geisha House has been estimated to be worth US$10 million; Concorde, was estimated to pull in US$1.5 million a year in 2004–2005; and Shag, Parc, and Central each involved investments of US$10 million.
In 2008, Arazm opened Terroni in Los Angeles. Not only was the restaurant named after the Toronto enterprise, she also brought Terroni Canada owner Cosimo Mammoliti into the L.A. operation. Together, Arazm and Mammoliti invested over US$1 million to open Terroni L.A.
Arazm's career was featured on an episode of the Canadian Slice Channel program, Women on Top, in 2007. That same year, LA Times Magazine
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
named Arazm one of the four top entertainment hosts in Los Angeles. In February 2010, Food Network Canada
Food Network Canada
Food Network is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel with programming related to food, cooking, cuisine, and the food industry. Food Network is a joint venture between Shaw Media, Corus Entertainment, and Scripps Networks Interactive....
announced that Arazm would be the "resident judge" on Top Chef Canada
Top Chef Canada
Top Chef Canada is a reality competition show. The first season premiered on April 11, 2011 on Food Network Canada. The first season consisted of 13 episodes, with 16 contestants vying for a grand prize of $100,000 and a GE Monogram kitchen valued at $30,000. Contestants will shop at Loblaws...
.
Arazm is married to a Oren Koules (who was also one of her business partners), which whom she had a daughter, Sam, in 2008.
External Links
- Dolce Group official website.
- Top Chef Canada official website.
- Shereen Arazm at the Chef and Restaurant Database.