IMMIGRANT OF THE DAY: ODED "MAX" BRENNER - CHOCALATIER

Israeli-born Oded "Max" Brenner is bringing a "chocolate culture" to the United States and if the rave reviews of his two US restaurants in NY are an indicator, he's succeeding wildly. Brenner has opened 18 other Max Brenner chocolate shops and restaurants outside the US, but the American market is now his main priority. His company has plans to open 300 branches in the US over the next decade.

The company now has 20 stores worldwide, including 12 in Australia, five in Israel, two in Asia and one in New York. But Brenner's expansion plans are getting more aggressive. The company, now owned by Israeli food conglomerate Strauss-Elite, plans to open 300 branches in the U.S. in the next ten years, starting with a second New York store slated to open later this month.