my story
I am Ilana Saraf, the owner and founder of Ilana and Co., based in the South End of Boston.
I make things by hand: I mix and stitch. From granola to placemats, my love of working with my hands in the act of creation infuses all that I produce.
Ilana and Co. is an organic transition in a career that has included being a restauranteur, caterer, artist, and owner of a prepared meal business. My professional food journey has taken me from my San Francisco origins to North Carolina and now back to my urban roots here in Boston.
MIXING: You can find me riding my bright red bike through the streets and alleys of Boston in search of ingredients from the local farm and food scene to create my signature food items. From Copley Square Farmer’s Market to the Boston Public Market to the markets of Chinatown, I fill my bike baskets with honey, maple syrup, eggs, nuts, dried fruit, grains, seeds, fresh nutmeg, crystallized ginger, and flaky sea salt.
I love seeing all my food ingredients arranged on the counter in front of me, so I can begin the process of creating: measuring, chopping, melting, blending, and toasting. I love my tools: my smooth marble counters, large wooden boards, and enormous stainless-steel bowls. By hand, I mix, package, and label my products for your delight.
“I make things by hand: I mix and stitch . . . my love of working with my hands in the act of creation infuses all that I produce.”
