Sarma Melngailis is at the middle of the Netflix crime documentary „Crappy Vegetarian: Fame. Scam. Fugitives.“ Melngailis’s tale is just one full of twists and you will converts and unbelievable says. She was previously at the top of the new York dinner world, with celebs for example Alec Baldwin and you can Woody Harrelson just a few of this lady constant customers. Shortly after not paying the girl teams and you can age crashing down, since she fast turned into recognized for this lady role when you look at the a deceptive scandal you to definitely shook Nyc together with vegan business.
The previous proprietor of new York’s important intense veggie bistro Pure As well as Drink was disgraced inside 2015 adopting the closure out-of the best Political dating apps woman restaurant and further from inside the 2016 when she try detained to your counts out of next-degree huge larceny, second-degree criminal tax scam, first-degree program so you can defraud, admission regarding work laws, and you will related matters. From inside the 2017, Melngailis recognized a beneficial plea package and was eventually sentenced so you’re able to five days in the prison and you will five years probation, Forbes claimed. The brand new disgraced vegan restaurateur’s life has actually somewhat changed due to the fact losings out-of the woman company and then stop, however, where try she now? This is what to learn about where „Crappy Veggie“is why Melngailis became.
Melngailis don’t get their start in meals community until their later twenties. She to begin with got a close look to possess business (foreshadowing, much?) and you can finished throughout the College off Pennsylvania in the 1994 with a beneficial bachelor’s degree into the business economics. Following her graduation, Melngailis went on to be effective loads of operate one to built into company, and additionally capital financial and you can financing fund, according to the girl webpages.
Her demand for financing didn’t history, and you may she went to new Culinary Institute regarding The usa, graduating inside 1999 which have hopes of breaking into the eating community. From inside the 2004, she unsealed Pure food and you will Wines along with her upcoming-boyfriend and you can chef, Matthew Kenney. For the next elizabeth certainly The newest York’s preferred food, continuously acknowledged by the important publications instance New york Mag and you will Forbes. Of the 2015, although not, new tide got completely altered.
Last year, Melngailis came across Anthony Strangis as a result of Twitter, as well as the one or two . With respect to the Nyc Blog post, Melngailis leased Strangis once the a manager from inside the 2013, and therefore instantaneously changed what you. A column cook working for Melngailis at the time noted, „[Melngailis] do go on more travel. [She] definitely turned into more elusive, quicker concerned about new better-being of your business.“
Its unlikely close connection and you will team union mislead loved ones, nearest and dearest, and you may team off Melngailis, however, there can be a conclusion trailing they. Centered on Mirror Fair, Strangis „are promising provide the woman sufficient currency to become separate from meddling buyers, let anybody she need, and pay back this lady expense.“ Strangis dropped as a result of into the his many promises, and one the guy built to build Melngailis’s pit bull terrier immortal. Alternatively, together with her, it took $dos mil regarding cafe by failing to pay experts and you may lying so you can buyers. Brand new duo presumably made use of the money on casino trips and you may expensive privileges, such rooms and watches.
Shortly after a beneficial workers‘ hit by Pure food and you will Wines employees during the 2015, their money-and also make strategy started to crumble. On the tension of having to spend both team and you may people, Melngailis and you can Strangis went on the new work at, wanting to prevent extradition due to their crimes until an excellent Domino’s pizza order tipped from the police.
Just after offering five months during the The fresh new York’s well known Rikers Island jail, she registered to possess split up of Strangis during the 2018. Predicated on her web site, she currently stays in Harlem with her rescue canine, Leon. Melngailis plus is apparently doing good podcast, per a breakdown of their Instagram web page, and can come in „Crappy Veggie.“ To your to the fresh new restaurant industry, she remains hopeful however, reasonable, telling the fresh new York Blog post inside the 2019, „In the event that there is certainly some magical opportunity to discover the same restaurant in identical lay, I’d exercise into the a heart circulation. In my opinion Nyc carry out bring me back.“