About
About Our Proprieter
Who Is Ken Kaplan?
Ken D. Kaplan is a classically trained chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A 39 year veteran of the restaurant industry, he's celebrating his 22nd year as owner and chef in his Garden City restaurant, NY Soup Exchange. Ken's vast experience has taken him from executive chef positions in Texas, Massachusetts and New York while also cooking in Rhode Island and California. His time spent living in other parts of the country has helped to influence his creation of ethnically inspired recipes and given him the opportunity to stay current in the ever-changing food service industry.
Simply stated, Ken likes to feed people. Born in NYC and raised in Long Beach, Ken has a feel for what Long Islanders want. Heart disease in Ken’s family caused him to consider alternative cooking methods such as steaming and grilling to create healthy menu items; the daily menu usually consists of a few heart healthy soups as well as implementing a macrobiotic menu.
A believer in giving back to the community, Ken donates food to various organizations such as Island Harvest and local soup kitchens and participates in charitable fundraisers. He also provides soup to a local catholic school at very moderate prices to help supplement a hot lunch program. Ken has volunteered at his local soup kitchens, donating his time and his culinary creations.
NY Soup Exchange has had kiosks selling soup and other menu items in Great Neck, Long Beach and Mineola. The restaurant offers a wide variety of homemade soups, salads, and wraps. The soup is freshly made, and the offerings change daily.