Who is Jack's Wife Freda? Dean and Maya Jankelowitz tell us this, and more.

Jack's Wife Freda, SoHo
Credit: JWF

There are some places you just walk by in Manhattan and the energy from inside just radiates out onto the sidewalk. There is one newcomer to the restaurant scene that is all kinds of special. On a crisp fall day, take a stroll down Lafayette Street in SoHo and you will take pause at Jack's Wife Freda. The jovial downtowners enjoying their bowls of matzo ball soup and munching on some zucchini chips will be hard to miss. Everyone at any time of day is just so happy to snag a seat and be part of the energy that has taken up residence at 224 Lafayette. I had to know who was responsible for such a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. Dean and Maya Jankelowitz are a great team that set out to open a place where there wasn't an attitude, reservations weren't required, and it was just an easy, delicious option. After sparks flew and love ignited between the two restauranteurs, Dean proposed at Cafe Mogador, a lot of other cool stuff happened, and then they opened JWF together. Amazing? Oh, yes. They are truly what New York City is all about - making dreams come true, one amazing meal at a time. More about this delicious couple below. By LAUREN SAIGER

Whole Fish and New York Strip Steak
Credit: Jack's Wife Freda

Q:  Husband/wife duo Dean and Maya – how did you two lovebirds meet?
During quick smoke breaks while working at Balthazar and long shifts staring at one another across the room.

Q:  What was your first meal together?
At Mamoun's Falafel on MacDougal. We sat in a tiny booth and I remember tons of tahini sauce being involved.

Q:  Food trend you wish would go away?
Pretense.

Q:  What is your favorite place to travel together/vacation together?
Tel Aviv, Israel

Q:  What relation does actress Piper Perabo have with the restaurant?
Piper is a dear friend, inspiration, and investor. 

Q:  What was your inspiration when starting Jack's Wife Freda? 
Numinosity (a word that discovered us), engaging in a dream, giving and creating, joining the fabric of downtown culture, food, expression, and our livelihood.

Q:  Tell us about the name – who is Jack's Wife Freda?
Freda being my dear grandmother & Jack who happened to be her husband. But it's more, Jack's Wife Freda is all of us - a feeling, a way we live.

Brunch at Jack's Wife Freda
Photo: JWF

Q:  How did you choose the menu?  What are your favorite items?
The menu reflects what we love to eat - simple, clean, well prepared food, things from our childhoods, taste we acquired on adventures and what we would love to find in a nyc cafe'. 
Maya's favorites: Poached eggs with haloumi, greek salad and whole fish.
Dean's favorites:  Peri-peri chicken, peri-peri chicken, and peri-peri chicken. 

Q:  What are your other favorite local spots in the neighborhood?
Cafe Gitane (242 Mott Streer nr. Prince St.) & Whole Foods (95 East Houston Street nr. Bowery).