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How Personal Chef Ivan Bodnar Went From Banquets to His Own Business

 Introduction So you want to know how Ivan Bodnar went from setting up tables at banquet halls to operating his own kitchen and business? It all started with a love for cooking that began when he was just a little kid. He would create dishes out of anything he could find at his grandparent’s farm, and the rest is history! Ivan has come a long way since those early days, and he now uses his passion for cooking to inspire others. He teaches cooking classes and hosts private events, showcasing his skills as a personal chef. If you’re looking for an amazing culinary experience, Ivan is the perfect chef for you! How Ivan Bodnar's Passion for Cooking Started You probably know by now that personal chefs are all the rage. But what you may not know is that many of these chefs started out their careers doing something completely different. Take Ivan Bodnar, for example. He started out as a banquet hall server, setting up tables and making sure everything was running smoothly. But his passi...
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Ivan Bodnar's American Dream: From Setting Up Tables to Running His Own Business

Being able to provide for his family with the sweat of his brow was one of Ivan Bodnar’s top priorities, and he set out from Ukraine to make it happen. From working as a dishwasher in Boston to setting up tables at banquets and weddings, Bodnar hustled hard to get by in the United States. Eventually, he saved enough money to buy his own food truck, and now, he’s running Ivan’s Kitchen! We talked with Bodnar about what it was like setting up tables in Boston to running his own business today. Here’s what he had to say...




Getting his start in the catering industry

In 2009, when Ivan Bodnar got his start in hospitality, he couldn’t have known that he was beginning a journey that would take him from working odd jobs at local banquets and wedding receptions to operating his own business. At first, it was just another job—one of many kitchen gigs he took on while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in hospitality management.



The challenges he faced during those early years

It was difficult not having any connections or even speaking English, he said. There was one time I couldn’t get a job as a dishwasher because I didn’t have a Social Security number or green card. Bodnar says he had to start small and work his way up from unpaid internships until he could afford business school.


Opening his first restaurant

In 2017, Bodnar opened his first restaurant in downtown Waterbury, called 27. It was a bold move for a chef who’d never run a business before. But he'd been thinking about it for years. For over a decade he worked in kitchens across Connecticut and New York City, cooking for big crowds and putting himself through school.



Starting a food truck business

Many people don’t think they can own their own business. They look at everyone who is successful and think, Oh, I wish I could do that. But if you are willing to work hard for what you want and create opportunities for yourself, it is possible. Before you start your food truck business, there are a few things you need to know about owning a food truck business. These include where to get good deals on used trucks and how much money it takes to get started.


Looking towards the future of Corvino Supper Club

We're going through a rebranding process and as part of that, we need to come up with a tagline for our business. Something along these lines would be ideal: Eating by candlelight since 2005. We have a few ideas, but don't have anything we're really stuck on just yet.


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