Born in New York City to immigrant parents, Raphael Jacob Khutorsky grew up in Northern New Jersey surrounded by two hardworking parents and his grandmother, Baba Z, who taught him how to cook classic Eastern European dishes as a child. Over the next six years, Raph worked at some of the best restaurants in the country, from Rich Table and Quince in San Francisco to Gramercy Tavern and Marea in New York City. He began cooking for private clients and teamed up with his brother to launch Something Good Hospitality, a full-service culinary event agency. Raph has become a sought-after chef in the New York restaurant pop-up scene, and in 2023, Raph opened his first concept restaurant in New York City's East Village, a stomping ground for elevated cuisine and fresh concepts.