Toni ElkhouriToni Elkhouri

Chef/ Co-Owner of Cedar’s Café, Melbourne Florida, is a 2-time winner of the James Beard Blended Burger Contest, a James Beard Policy Bootcamp & sustainability member, Active in the International Parabere Forum which improves gastronomy with women’s visions as well as the Slow food movement. Food sustainability, tradition & sourcing are a vital part of what she does in the kitchen. Along with being Fortunate enough to train in some of the best kitchens world wide, she has also competed and won numerous awards for her unique culinary style. Having come into the business after her father, the late Antoun Elkhouri, started in the hopes my mother, Marlene Elkhouri a trained chef, could share her passion for Northern Lebanese food with their beloved community of Brevard. Her mother keeps the traditional aspect & Toni takes on a more progressive approach. 

Growing up in a large food-centric family that shared the love of knowledge, travel & culture, helped form the vision that good food is something that brings people together & breaks stereotypes & boundaries.  Her parents, who immigrated from North Lebanon in the late ’70s, in all accounts lived/live the American dream through hard work & dedication, even while bringing differently. These traits were not missed by their children (all 5 of them), being different is what make a person who they are. When creating a dish, she tries to take the same approach, express herself, the ingredient/recipe & the backstory while also having fun with it and using sustainable & locally sourced ingredients. 

Food, like America, is about embracing different ideas, learning & taking the best elements of a culture to help elevate your final product. The hope she has, for every dish she creates, is that it is not just enjoy it but  that it will also invoke feeling & thought. 

Toni also have master’s degrees in political science & history, she worked in the nonprofit development sector before following her passion. Her joy is helping people find their love of food & making it accessible, as well as mentoring and advocating for women & minority Chef in the Kitchens, Promoting local chefs to work together and help each other grow in the industry while showcasing local producers.