Chef Orçun Malkoclar
Chef Orçun: Where Ancient Wisdom Meets Edible Poetry
A Culinary Alchemist of Seasons, Stories, and Spice
Born into a home where the table was a sacred stage for both elegance and emotion, Chef Orçun’s culinary journey began between his father’s musical soirées and the serene beauty of his mother’s meticulously composed meals. A pharmacist by training and an artist by spirit, she treated every dish as a living artwork—where colors, textures, and aromas danced in ritual harmony. In their household, food wasn’t simply served—it was revered.
From this rich inheritance of taste and culture emerged a chef whose mission is to revive the ancient, reinterpret the traditional, and reimagine the future—through food. With roots in Ottoman opulence, Sephardic endurance, and the aromatic path of the Silk Spice Route, Chef Orçun invites diners to savor not just flavors, but stories.
The Art of Nourishment: Seasonal. Regional. Sacred.
For Chef Orçun, true luxury lies in simplicity. Guided by the rhythm of nature and shaped by his studies in macrobiotic principles, his cuisine celebrates what is local, seasonal, and vibrantly alive. Nothing is wasted—not a stem, not a peel, not a story.
Each ingredient is honored. Each dish, a layered tale of place and ritual. He turns bones into soulful broths, bruised fruit into fermented elixirs, and humble vegetables into edible poetry. His approach is circular, mindful, and generous—mirroring the cycles of the Earth itself.
Spice as Story. Food as Medicine.
To Chef Orçun, spices are memory, medicine, and mythology. Inspired by the healing kitchens of the ancient world, his menus feature fermented foods, restorative herbs, and gut-loving grains. Each plate is both feast and pharmacy—designed to awaken the senses and restore the spirit.
Whether it’s cumin whispering secrets of Mesopotamia, saffron evoking the splendor of Persian royalty, or sumac adding a Levantine tang, every bite is a tale of alchemy—where flavor and function become one.
From East to West, Past to Plate
Rooted in the traditions of Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisine, Chef Orçun is an alchemist of both flavor and feeling. His menus blend Sephardic spice blends, Ottoman delicacies, and macrobiotic principles—woven together with vibrant, playful artistry on the plate.
Drawing inspiration from the caravan trails of the Silk Road and the innovations of the modern kitchen, he creates at the crossroads of tradition and technology. This is where grandmother wisdom meets fermentation jars, where poetry lives in pickles, and where a single dish might transport you across continents.
Whether you’re seated at his table or simply reading his story, Chef Orçun invites you to experience food as ritual, nourishment, and joy.
Now, as Founder of United Bowl Nation in Marina del Rey, Chef Orçun blends Ottoman heritage, Mediterranean flavors, and macrobiotic principles to create dishes that are both nourishing and poetic. His restaurant has garnered praise for its vibrant, health-conscious menu and inviting waterfront ambiance.
Come with curiosity. Come with an appetite. Most of all—come as you are. Let food nourish the body, and let character season the soul.
Welcome to the world of Chef Orçun.
