Sanaa Abourezk

Sanaa Abourezk is a renowned chef, author, nutrition expert, and restaurateur who owns and operates Sanaa's 8th Street Gourmet, a Mediterranean restaurant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.12 Born in Damascus, Syria, Sanaa holds a master's degree in nutrition from California State Polytech University and a degree in Agriculture Engineering from Damascus University.2

Career and Accomplishments

Sanaa's culinary journey began after moving to Sioux Falls with her husband over twenty years ago. Initially hosting popular dinner parties featuring her authentic Mediterranean cooking, she eventually opened her restaurant, Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean, which has been a thriving staple in Sioux Falls for nearly two decades.1

Her restaurant stands out in the Midwest for its focus on Mediterranean cuisine, offering a unique alternative to the region's typical meat-and-potato fare.4 Despite not serving burgers or fries, Sanaa's restaurant has gained significant popularity and even maintained strong sales during the challenging year of 2020.1

Recognition and Expertise

Sanaa's culinary skills and expertise have earned her recognition beyond Sioux Falls:

• She is a finalist for the Best Chef Midwest Award from the James Beard Foundation.6
• Her restaurant is known for being highly vegan and vegetarian-friendly, attracting customers from far and wide.1
• Sanaa is also an author and blogger, sharing her knowledge of Middle Eastern cuisine and nutrition.5

Future Plans

Sanaa is exploring opportunities to expand her business into wholesale and retail markets. She envisions having her meals packaged, frozen, and sold in stores across the country.1 To prepare for this expansion, she participated in the CO.STARTERS Core program hosted by Startup Sioux Falls, which helped her understand the steps needed to scale her business.1

Sanaa Abourezk's LinkedIn username is indeed "sanaacooks," reflecting her passion for cooking and sharing her culinary expertise.23