Inspiring Conversations with Ifat Lahyani of KORIELA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ifat Lahyani.

Hi Ifat, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My Story

Some of my earliest memories are of a home where the door was always open. My mother was always baking, always cooking, and always making sure there was enough food for anyone who walked through our door. The aromas that filled our home are still with me today.

For years, I thought her secret ingredient was hidden somewhere in her recipes. As I grew older, I realized it wasn’t a spice at all—it was love.

Feeding people was my mother’s love language, and today it is mine.

I truly believe that food has the power to bring people together. It gathers people around one table, creates memories, celebrates life’s happiest moments, offers comfort during the hardest ones, and sometimes even helps us heal. Looking back, I don’t think I chose this profession—I believe this profession chose me.

When I realized that food and hospitality were my calling, I decided to pursue them professionally. I studied French pastry at Le Cordon Bleu and continued my culinary education in Israel, where I refined my skills and developed my own style. I later opened my own pastry and catering business, creating celebrations and unforgettable experiences through food for more than a decade.

Life, however, had other plans.

I lost both of my parents while I was still in my twenties. Years later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Israel. After my family moved to Cincinnati, this became the place where I healed. Recovery wasn’t only about medicine. Returning to the kitchen—baking, cooking, and creating again—became part of my healing. It reminded me of who I was and gave me the strength to dream again.

Throughout that journey, my husband, Nadav, never stopped believing in me. When I questioned whether I could build another business after everything we had been through, he simply looked at me and said, “You dream, and I’ll make it happen.” Those words gave me the courage to begin again.

Together with our children—Noam, Agam, Shoham, Yogev, and Liam—we started with small catering events. One event led to another, and then another. Everything grew through word of mouth. Before long, what started as a few small events became a thriving catering business, and eventually it became clear that we needed a permanent home—a place where I could create the pastries I love, prepare the Mediterranean food that reminds me of home, and welcome people with the warmth I grew up with.

That dream became Koriela.

The name carries my family’s story. Before I got married, my last name was Koriel. My father had a special nickname for my mother. Every time he came home from work, he would smile and ask, “Koriela, will you make me a little coffee?” She would laugh and lovingly call him Don Corleone in return. When I opened my first business in Israel more than ten years ago, I wanted both of them to always be part of it. That’s how the name Koriela was born. Even though people sometimes find it difficult to pronounce, I have never considered changing it. It isn’t just the name of my business—it’s part of my family’s story, and every time someone says it, my parents are remembered.

Today, Koriela is much more than a bakery or a catering company. It is a place built on resilience, family, hospitality, and love. Every pastry, every meal, and every celebration carries forward the legacy my parents created around our family table. Everything we make is prepared with the same ingredient my mother taught me all those years ago—the one that can never be written into a recipe: love.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I believe every challenge has shaped who I am today.

Losing both of my parents while I was still in my twenties changed my life forever. Years later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Israel. After my family moved to Cincinnati, this became the place where I healed. Recovery wasn’t only about medicine. Returning to the kitchen—baking, cooking, and creating again—became part of my healing. It reminded me of who I was and gave me the courage to dream again.

Starting over in a new country brought a completely different challenge. I wasn’t learning how to become a pastry chef or an entrepreneur—I had already built a successful pastry and catering business in Israel. The challenge was finding the courage to begin again, earning people’s trust in a new community, and rebuilding everything from the ground up.

Opening Koriela wasn’t just about opening another bakery. It was about building a home. A place where people could gather, celebrate, slow down, and feel cared for through food. We built everything from the ground up—from designing a commercial kitchen and sourcing the right equipment to meeting kosher certification standards and creating a business that truly reflects my values.

Like every small business owner, we’ve faced construction delays, equipment failures, unexpected expenses, and countless moments when giving up would have been the easier choice. But every challenge reminded me why I started.

One of my biggest challenges has been refusing to compromise. Whether it’s the quality of the ingredients, the level of hospitality, or maintaining the highest kosher standards, I want Koriela to reflect exactly who I am. It often takes more time, more effort, and more resources—but I wouldn’t build it any other way.

Today, when I look around Koriela, I don’t see the obstacles anymore. I see the people we’ve met, the community that embraced us, and the dream that once felt impossible becoming reality. Every challenge became another ingredient in our story.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about KORIELA ?
KORIELA is a modern kosher bakery and culinary studio built around craftsmanship, creativity, and exceptional hospitality. We specialize in French pastries, artisan desserts, custom celebration cakes, elevated Mediterranean cuisine, and thoughtfully curated events.

What makes Koriela unique is that we don’t believe in standard menus or one-size-fits-all experiences. Every event, every dessert table, and every menu is designed specifically for the people we’re serving. Whether it’s an intimate dinner for ten or a wedding for hundreds of guests, we approach every celebration with the same attention to detail.

I’m passionate about combining classical French pastry techniques with the bold flavors of the Mediterranean while maintaining the highest kosher standards. It’s important to me that our guests never feel they have to choose between exceptional quality, beautiful presentation, and kosher food—they deserve all three.

I’m also incredibly proud that Koriela has grown beyond catering. Today we’re creating a destination where people can stop in for coffee and pastries, celebrate special occasions, discover handcrafted desserts, or simply enjoy a beautiful meal made with care.

As we continue to grow, my goal isn’t simply to expand the business. It’s to build a brand people trust—a place known for consistency, excellence, and genuine hospitality, where every guest feels welcome from the moment they walk through the door.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve never thought of myself as someone who takes reckless risks. I believe in taking meaningful risks—ones that are guided by purpose rather than fear.

One of the biggest risks I ever took was choosing to start over. After building a successful pastry and catering business in Israel, I found myself in a new country where no one knew my work. Starting from zero required humility, patience, and a willingness to prove myself all over again.

Opening Koriela was another leap of faith. We invested everything we had—not only financially, but emotionally. We weren’t simply opening a bakery; we were building a dream, a home, and a place that reflected our values. There were no guarantees that people would embrace our vision, but I believed that if we stayed true to who we are, the right community would find us.

I also believe that choosing quality over shortcuts is a risk. It often costs more, takes longer, and isn’t always the easiest business decision. But I would rather grow slowly while staying true to my standards than grow quickly by compromising them.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that fear never completely disappears. You don’t wait until you’re no longer afraid—you move forward because what you’re building matters more than the fear.

Looking back, every meaningful chapter of my life began with a leap of faith. Those risks didn’t just build my business—they shaped the person I have become.

Pricing:

• Fresh French pastries starting at $4.95
• Artisan desserts from $5.95
• Wedding catering proposals tailored to each couple’s vision and budget
• Corporate catering and private events customized based on guest count and menu
• Celebration cakes available by custom order

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.koriela.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXfsUkbjO2F/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koriala1