As your Restaurant & Bar Consulting Team , we are here to build your hospitality success from day one.

- Savory Hospitality Team  -

Salar Sheik

Principal & Founder 

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A 20+ year veteran of the food and beverage world, Salar brings extensive experience and success in leading winning hospitality teams. A seasoned expert in all aspects of the hospitality world, including but not limited to management, acquisition, development, and financing, he has advanced and overseen the strategic business plans of numerous fine dine, high volume, quick service, and multi-unit food and beverage outlets across the Western United States. 

(My art is in my hospitality, my knowledge is in my understanding.) -Salar

Ted Hopson

Consulting Director of Culinary Arts

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As a chef, restaurateur, and media personality, Ted Hopson brings a wealth of talent and experience to any project, from menu planning to kitchen staff training to restaurant concept development. As a leading influencer in the culinary world and owner of his own highly acclaimed successful restaurant, The Bellwether in Los Angeles, Hopson’s organizational and operating skills, combined with his unique and creative palate, provides him with the insight necessary to create and develop successful culinary teams.

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Nicole Moshfegh, Psy.D.

Senior Consulting Psychologist

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Dr. Nicole Moshfegh, or “Dr. M” as her clients refer to her, is a licensed clinical psychologist with a background in organizational and business consulting.  Dr. M has over 10 years of training and experience in clinical and business psychology working with a variety of organizations ranging from universities and healthcare industries to restaurants and family-owned businesses. 

Diane Brandes

Retail & Restaurant Real Estate Leasing Consultant 

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Diane Brandes is a Real Estate Leasing Consultant specializing in development and mixed-use projects nationwide, working with both developers and institutional owners.

Diane plays a key role in defining and executing retail and restaurant leasing strategies, focusing on competitive retail positioning and optimal use selection for each project. Additionally, she supports the strategic expansion and growth of restaurant hospitality groups.

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Payman Bahmani

Bar Consultant

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Los Angeles native, Payman Bahmani started out as a lawyer but quickly realized he’d rather practice at a different type of bar.  His passion for craft cocktails eventually took him around the world, working in numerous bars on the World’s 50 Best list like Please Don’t Tell in NYC, Ounce in Taipei, 28 HongKong Street in Singapore, and OSTERIA MOZZA, a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in LA. 

Payman's cocktails are also featured in the 2011 and 2014 editions of Gary Regan’d Annual Manual for Bartenders, as well as the award winning book “Amaro” by Brad Thomas Parsons.

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Liam Baer

Bar Consultant

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Born and raised in Boston, Liam fell in love with cocktails when he had his first Manhattan back in 2002. He decided to follow this love and transition from a career in tech, where he cut his teeth in NYC working at some of the most notable bars in the city including Apotheke, Weather Up, and The Richardson. His skills eventually took him across the world to Taipei where he lead an intimate, no menu cocktail bar called Ounce, a perennial resident on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. 

Liam’s cocktails have been featured in numerous online publications and books, including the celebrated Gaz Regan’s 101 Best Cocktails and Brad Thomas Parsons’ award-winning “Amaro".

Ann-Marie Verdi

Consulting Director of Operations

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Verdi’s on-going passion for hospitality and the culinary arts has led her to many spotlighted events, articles and publications. From managing the floor to directing her own renown restaurant in Los Angeles, Ann-Marie Verdi is a powerhouse when it comes to hospitality management. Her in-depth knowledge of behind the bar operations and the inner workings of a successful restaurant team make her a key component in any consulting project.