WINSTON KULOK, OWNER
When Winston Kulok wants to travel, he doesn’t hop on a plane or a cruise ship. He walks around his hometown of New York City. Growing up in the city meant quality local and ethnic food from the Jewish, Italian and Chinese restaurants popping up on every corner. Even though home cooking was considered standard at the time, Winston’s father took the family out frequently to sample New York’s culinary gems. This informal education paid off when Winston took his then-girlfriend, Carole, to a tiny, hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant on Mott Street. Thirty years of marriage, two children, and one dog later, Winston’s passion for New York and for its cuisine continues.
Although Winston started late in the game, his passion for dining led him to open the Great Jones Café, an American-Cajun restaurant which still stands (under other ownership). Inspired by his powerful small white pup, Henry, Winston decided to open a small cafe on Bedford Street in the Village. He named it Café Henri, representing Henry’s French alter ego. A sister establishment in Long Island City also features classic French dishes, created by the chef Cosme Aguilar, and an impressive beverage list compiled by wine buyer John Slover. After ten years, the team is still together under Winston’s leadership.
Bar Henry, referred to as Henry’s “New York incarnation,” will reflect Winston’s deep patriotism for old New York. While Henry pup remains the boss and face of the brand, Winston is the proprietor, overseeing operations of the restaurant. In its surprising and unique cellar location, Bar Henry aims to provide a satisfying experience that meets the high expectations of New Yorkers. After all, the city gave Winston a chance to see the world without ever leaving home. Now with his loyal canine companion at his side, he can finally express his gratitude.
COSME AGUILAR, EXECUTIVE CHEF
Bar Henry’s Executive Chef, Cosme Aguilar, is responsible for the skillful preparation of the restaurant’s top-notch New York bistro menu. This position is far from what he might have dreamed of as a child, growing up in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state. Cosme’s culinary history is a familiar one to many accomplished chefs: his mother was a masterful cook, well-known as such in their small town, and often called upon to cook for special occasions; it was at her knee that Cosme found his passion for cooking, for the small miracles that could be created with a knowledgeable combination of ingredients. Cosme, along with his brother and sister, was enlisted to help in the kitchen and he took to the work immediately.
Upon his arrival in New York in 1998, Chef Aguilar found work at the highly regarded French restaurant Le Solex. Right away, the skills he learned from his mother became apparent and he was given greater responsibility in the kitchen. This was the beginning of Cosme’s education in French cuisine, and there followed positions at Orsay, to Les Deux Gamins, where he served for eight years, as Chef, and also took on general manager’s duties. Cosme’s New York career also led him to the kitchen of the well-regarded East Village gastropub EU.
It was as at Les Deux Gamins that Chef Aguilar met Bar Henry’s owner, Winston Kulok, and there began a happy and fruitful association, first at Kulok’s popular Café Henri, on Bedford Street in the West Village. For four years here, and at the sister location in Long Island City, Cosme has served the classics: Quiche Lorraine, Croque Monsieur, and a variety of savory and sweet crepes.
At Bar Henry, Cosme serves the definitive New York bistro menu, with authentic European touches. Each one of the dishes is an exemplification of Cosme’s years of training; the menu’s perfection in execution is more than a match for the challenges of Bar Henry’s distinctive wine program. Cosme’s mother would be proud.
BAR HENRY BISTRO : 90 West Houston Street : NYC : 646.448.4559