Eric Ziebold facts for kids
| Born | 1972 (age 52–53) Iowa |
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| Education | University of Northern Iowa |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
CityZen
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Award(s) won
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Eric Ziebold, born in 1972, is a famous American chef. He owns two restaurants in Washington, D.C. called Kinship and Métier. Both of his restaurants have earned special awards called Michelin stars. Before opening his own places, he was the main chef at a restaurant called CityZen from 2004 to 2014. There, he won many honors, including a James Beard Award, which is a very important award for chefs.
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Chef Eric Ziebold's Journey
Starting Young
Eric Ziebold was born in Iowa. He started working in restaurants when he was still a teenager. After school, he worked at a place called Aunt Maude’s. There, he learned a lot from a chef named Matt Nichols.
When Eric went to the University of Northern Iowa for college, he spent more time in the restaurant kitchen than in his classes! He loved cooking so much that he decided to go to a special cooking school instead. He transferred to the Culinary Institute of America, which is a top school for chefs.
Learning from the Best
After cooking school, Eric worked at some famous restaurants. He spent time at Wolfgang Puck's Spago in Beverly Hills, California. He also worked at Vidalia in Washington, D.C.
In 1996, Eric joined Thomas Keller's famous restaurant, The French Laundry. This restaurant is in the Napa Valley in California. Eric worked his way up to become the chef de cuisine, which means he was in charge of the kitchen. He stayed at The French Laundry until 2003. Then, he moved to New York City to help Thomas Keller open a new restaurant called Per Se.
Leading CityZen
In early 2004, Eric Ziebold moved to Washington, D.C. He opened a restaurant called CityZen at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. This restaurant quickly became very popular and received great reviews.
In 2007, Forbes magazine named Eric one of the "10 most influential chefs working in America." This was a huge honor! In June 2005, CityZen was named the best new restaurant of the year by a local restaurant group.
Winning Awards
In 2008, Eric Ziebold won the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the mid-Atlantic region. This award is like the "Oscars" for chefs in America.
CityZen closed its doors for good on December 6, 2014. Eric decided to leave and open his own new restaurants in downtown D.C. The hotel decided to close CityZen and let a new chef create a completely new restaurant in its place.
Kinship and Métier
Eric Ziebold opened his very first independent restaurant in December 2015. It was named Kinship and is located in the Mount Vernon Square area of Washington, D.C. Just a few months later, in April 2016, his second restaurant, Métier, opened in the same building.
About Kinship
Kinship is a larger restaurant with a dining room that seats 55 people. It also has a lounge and a bar. The name "Kinship" means "a feeling of being close or connected to other people." This idea is even explained on the menu!
The menu at Kinship is divided into five interesting parts:
- Craft: These dishes show off special cooking techniques.
- History: These are classic dishes made in a new way.
- Ingredients: These dishes highlight specific foods, like certain types of seafood or duck.
- Indulgence: This is where you find fancy ingredients like truffles and caviar.
- For the Table: These are larger dishes meant for sharing, like a whole fish or a big steak.
About Métier
Métier is located right below Kinship. You take an elevator to get to it. The elevator opens into a lounge and a smaller dining room with about 40 seats. You can even see the kitchen and chefs working behind glass!
The name "Métier" is a French word that means "skill in one's job." This restaurant offers a special seven-course meal in a cozy setting.
Michelin Stars and More
In 2016, when the first Michelin Guide for Washington, D.C. came out, Kinship received one star. This is a big deal in the food world! The next year, in 2017, Métier also received a Michelin Star.
In 2018, Washingtonian magazine named Métier the #1 Very Best Restaurant in D.C.
Awards and Honors
Eric Ziebold has won many important awards for his cooking:
- Best New Chefs, Food & Wine, 2005
- Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, James Beard Foundation, 2008
- Chef of the Year, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, 2008
- Michelin Star, Kinship 2017 to current
- Michelin Star, Métier 2018 to current
