{"id":3432,"date":"2026-06-09T18:05:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T18:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=3432"},"modified":"2026-06-09T18:05:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T18:05:58","slug":"meet-4roots-farms-new-senior-culinary-director-hari-pulapaka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=3432","title":{"rendered":"Meet 4Roots Farm\u2019s new senior culinary director: Hari Pulapaka"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Chef Hari Pulapaka, among the originals of Central Florida\u2019s James Beard semifinalist club, is no stranger to the region\u2019s food scene. And though he\u2019s taken some time to focus on new projects and personal pursuits since moving on from Cress, the award-winning Deland restaurant he and his wife, Jenneffer, opened in 2008, Orlando\u2019s about to see a lot more of him.<\/p>\n

Read more Winter Garden police sergeant arrested for stalking<\/a><\/p>\n

Pulapaka has joined the team at 4Roots, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming how communities grow, access and engage with food\u2014building a healthier, more equitable and resilient food system for all.<\/p>\n

In his new role as senior culinary director, Pulapaka will help shape and oversee the operation\u2019s growing portfolio and programming and hospitality experiences across the farm campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an organization that\u2019s been growing its mission visibly as well as quietly for quite some time,\u201d says Pulapaka, who\u2019s hardly a 4Roots newcomer. \u201cI\u2019ve been involved because of [its founder] John Rivers, and in many ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

This includes Friends of the Farm and Outstanding in the Field events, educational experiences and fundraisers, alongside area icons such as Norman Van Aken, Art Smith and Kevin Fonzo, that go back nearly a decade.<\/p>\n

After several years doing his own globally inspired chef\u2019s tables in DeLand, among myriad other projects, the stars aligned when Pulapaka\u2019s other gig (he\u2019s been a math professor at Stetson University for decades) offered early retirement, leaving him room to slip into a full-time role with 4Roots.<\/p>\n

In part, he\u2019ll be developing and continuing relationships and curating new guest experiences, including a new dinner series this fall in the property\u2019s beautiful \u201cculinary barn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Social Security\u2019s retirement trust fund faces funding shortfall one year earlier than expected<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s open-facing,\u201d he says, noting details are still to come, \u201cand these will be very immersive, but not so fussy, communal events. Long table, very seasonal, lots of storytelling and very intentional. Once a month, at least, and they might end up our signature series, but around these will be a whole bunch of other programming for both public and private events.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n

Cress not Kres. Foodie Awards drama for actual Readers\u2019 Choice winner<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n