Chef Rob moved to NYC to find work in an ambitious restaurant after a year stint, post college graduation, in Ann Arbor at the Grange Kitchen and Bar, where he fell in love with fresh produce and French technique. He landed a job and Jean Georges as the poissonniere. To make end meet, he began a second job on his days off at Roberta’s, the best restaurant he could find near his apartment. And he kind of drifted towards pizza after that. A few years in, when he thought that he was ready for management, he was hired at Speedy Romeo, a neighborhood pizza place in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. He was shortly promoted from sous to CDC, and stayed with them for about 6 years, helping to open and operate their second location in the Lower East Side.

Rob and his sister, Emi, decided to go out on their own in 2020, and opened Public Display of Affection, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, wood fired restaurant that specializes in seasonal vegetables and crispy, Neapolitan pizza.

Nowadays, Rob splits time between NYC and LA, operating a meal prep service in both cities and working as a private chef and food and beverage consultant.