Consulting
Before embarking on a culinary career, blu aubergine owner Dana Klitzberg spent many years as a publicist at various New York City boutique firms. She specialized in fashion and food & wine public relations, putting together events, parties, and runway shows at major venues for top-tier clients and celebrities. She parlayed her love of event planning into a culinary career, and after graduating from culinary school, started work in the competitive New York City restaurant world, starting at top Italian San Domenico NY. Dana helmed various restaurant kitchens in Rome, Italy, where she also served as restaurant critic for 6 years. She consulted for Michelin-starred restaurants in Rome and has continued her consulting work in Manhattan.

Specialized in authentic Italian cuisine, Ms. Klitzberg has the unique perspective of seeing a restaurant as a business from a triangular perspective: through the eyes of a critic/customer, a chef creating great food behind the kitchen doors, and as a manager who understands the business and publicity angles that are so important to a restaurant’s survival in today’s competitive market. As such, blu aubergine offers restaurant consulting services on a project basis.

Public Relations
Ms. Klitzberg also takes on public relations work on a freelance basis, as her background and facility with media outreach and understanding “the market” allow great insight into the launch/marketing/redirection of a food product, beverage, restaurant, or food-related personality. She is media trained and has made numerous television appearances, and is also available as a culinary spokesperson.

Writing
Ms. Klitzberg has earned her writing chops as a restaurant critic and journalist covering food and travel-related topics in one of the top food cities in the world. Her capacity for understanding perspectives on travel and food is matched by her skill at editing and testing recipes. Her love and knowledge of history lend dimension to her pieces and allow perspective – whether it’s about restaurants, food traditions, cooking, farming and sourcing ingredients, or various world cultures – illuminated by Ms. Klitzberg’s life experience. She’s also translated various works from Italian to English, from restaurant press releases to full-length movie screenplays. She works as a writer/editor on a freelance basis.