"Moshik was kicked out, but Asaf is not happy about it"
When two of his close friends found themselves at the heart of a publicized conflict, chef Tomer Agai presents his perspective from behind the scenes. On Moshik's radical loyalty, the interests of television, and his personal journey from the spotlight and the service of Santa Katarina back to home and family. mako Eats - Rita Goldstein hosts the people responsible for everything tasty in Israel.
Tomer Agai (51), a father of three and in a relationship, is a veteran chef with a rich resume in Tel Aviv restaurants. He lives in Jaffa. Agai worked with chef Haim Cohen on establishing the Yafo-Tel Aviv restaurant, worked under Yonatan Roshfeld at Herbert Samuel, and in 2015 opened the Mediterranean restaurant Santa Katarina in the Great Synagogue complex in Tel Aviv. The restaurant was a resounding success in its early years, and Agai also participated in a season of Chef Games. In September 2024, the restaurant closed, to the surprise of the public and critics, following millions in debt, and Agai moved on to several temporary projects. These days he is opening a spacious restaurant in Rishon LeZion.
On Personal and Professional Life
"I'm in a period where my personal life is very much on the table right now. Raising small children and all that. I have a 25-year-old son that I raised at Santa Katarina, but now it's chapter two," says Agai. He recalls how the restaurant became a second home for his son: "The hostesses raised him. He did homework at the bar, a private tutor would come to the restaurant, he would come after school to eat with his friends."
When asked how many chefs lose their family while chasing a career, Tomer replies: "My friends—my clique—do a good job in this area too. Whether it's Moshik, Asaf, or Yossi, they don't give up on family."
On Television Beefs
Addressing the publicized conflicts in the industry, Agai notes: "Television is a wild horse. It does what it wants, and you are part of the game. I was also hurt when they announced they weren't continuing with me on 'Chef Games' after the war started. But I didn't hold a grudge. I understand that decisions are made based on interests that belong only to television. It's a cruel field."
Regarding Moshik's situation, he is blunt: "With all due respect, he is an icon. He's been on the show for 12 years. Moshik is a personal friend, and I know how radical his loyalty was. He was simply kicked out, and it's unpleasant." However, he doesn't believe Asaf was behind it: "I don't think it was in Asaf's interest, and I don't think Asaf is happy about it now."
Lessons from the Kitchen
Recalling his time with Yonatan Roshfeld, Tomer admits: "He is a gifted genius, a very extreme person. We threw plates at each other—that was a different time." It was his meeting with Haim Cohen that changed his management style. "Once, I lashed out at a 24-year-old waitress who broke a basket of glasses. Haim pulled me aside and said: 'You are trying to build her, and you are destroying her.' He taught me that a chef shouldn't just demand readiness by 12:00, but should build people up."
Life After Santa Katarina
Closing Santa Katarina after October 7 was a huge challenge. "Like jumping off a cliff. I had no idea who I was without that place. But I think the restaurant became irrelevant—it relied on tourists, who are mostly gone now."
Today, Agai looks to the future with optimism, despite the industry crisis. "I earn less money than ever, but I feel the richest I've ever been. I live in Jaffa near the sea, I put on tefillin every morning, I cook with my sous-chef Zohar, and I return home to my family. I realized that the applause should come from your children, your wife, and your father, not from a million other people."
