ABOUT US

Born and raised in Puebla Mexico, Chef Isrrael Romero immigrated to Philadelphia in 2005 when he was 18, he worked as a baker in his native Country but discovered that there were more jobs available in the hospitality industry in America. Romero began his career as a dishwasher at an Italian restaurant in Old City, but quickly rose through the ranks to find his passion as a cook. Prior to this experience, he didn’t have any knowledge of other types of cuisine besides Mexican. “I learned how to make pasta and gained great appreciation for their culinary traditions. I then moved on to work in Greek, French, Caribbean and Thai food restaurants. Each job turned into a culinary class where I was able to enjoy and gain appreciation for other cultures and their foods,” Romero explained. Romero worked for a popular local chain for about 10 years. He started as a line cook but soon became “second in command” as Executive Sous Chef, in charge of overseeing daily operations and training the kitchen staff for the company. All of that changed in March 2020 when the pandemic hit and Romero was left unemployed for two months. When restaurants reopened, he found his hours were reduced significantly so he needed to find a way to provide for his wife and two children. A friend asked him to create a breakfast and lunch menu helping to open a new Mexican restaurant in the Italian Market, Alma del Mar, recently featured on Netflix’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” At the same time, Romero had his eye on a spot in South Philly that he’d driven past a couple of times. He discovered this great bright, airy space. With his savings and the help of his family, he signed the lease in August 2020. He decided to name it Izzy’s 33 “to pay homage to all my culinary trajectory by creating 33 dishes that represent the experience I’ve gained in Philadelphia.”