User:Akermans/Klime Kovaceski

"Chef Klime Kovaceski hails from Ohrid, Macedonia, where he underwent three years of academic culinary training before completing culinary school in the Croatian town of Opatija. Kovaceski then returned to Macedonia to work as executive chef in The Skópje Hotel on Ohrid Lake, where he was responsible for putting out 200-300 daily al à carte meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At age 24, Kovaceski moved to Amsterdam to run the kitchen of the prestigious dining establishment Jama. He was subsequently chosen to open a second Jama location in Miami, Florida, and moved to the Sunshine State in 1984. Kovaceski served as executive chef at the Miami Jama for 10 years. In 1994, Kovaceski opened his own restaurant, the Crystal Café, in Miami Beach. Kovaceski’s signature dishes developed especially for this venture focused on a lean, modern take on Old World classics. The restaurant quickly became one of the most acclaimed eateries in South Florida. Klime sold the restaurant in 2004, and held executive chef/GM positions in California and Louisiana before coming to Charlotte, North Carolina to run the kitchen at Mez. As executive chef at Mez in the Epicentre in downtown Charlotte, Kovaceski offers a seasonal menu of diverse specialties inspired by his global experience. Under his lead, Mez was chosen as the 2009 “Best of the Best” best new restaurant by Charlotte Magazine & Charlotte Observer and was awarded best hot dish at "Taste of the Nation" 2009 & 2010. Additionally, Kovaceski offers his expertise as a consultant and has worked with restaurants across the United States."