Kerry Simon facts for kids

Kerry Glen Simon (born June 17, 1955 – died September 11, 2015) was a famous American chef. He owned many restaurants, especially in Las Vegas. People often called him the "Rock n' Roll Chef." This cool nickname was given to him by Rolling Stone magazine. He had restaurants like "Simon" at Palms Place in Las Vegas, and others in Los Angeles and Atlantic City.

About Kerry Simon

Kerry Simon was born in Philadelphia. He grew up in Evanston, Illinois, near Chicago. At first, he wanted to be a musician. But soon, he found he loved cooking even more! He went to a special cooking school called The Culinary Institute of America. It is located in Hyde Park, New York. While studying, he learned from a great chef named Jean Morel.

After finishing school, Simon worked at famous restaurants like La Côte Basque and Lutece. He even became a personal chef for important people. In 1989, he became the main chef at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. In 1991, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the top personalities of the year.

In 2001, Kerry Simon got an exciting offer. He teamed up with Elizabeth Blau and Peter Morton to open a restaurant. This restaurant would be named after him and show off his unique cooking style. In October 2002, "Simon Kitchen & Bar" opened at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Esquire magazine chose it as one of "America's Best New Restaurants."

Kerry Simon worked with many people to open more restaurants. These included places like Blue Star, Starfish, Max's, and Mercury. He was also a partner at Mercer Kitchen in New York. He was the main chef at Prime in Las Vegas. In June 2013, he opened the Simon Mansion & Supper Club. This restaurant was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Sadly, Kerry Simon was diagnosed with a serious illness in 2013. It was called multiple-system atrophy (MSA), which affects the body's nervous system. He passed away on September 11, 2015, in Las Vegas.

Television Appearances

Kerry Simon was also known for his appearances on TV cooking shows.

Iron Chef Shows

In 2001, Simon appeared on Iron Chef USA. He competed against Iron Chef American Todd English in a "Battle Dungeness Crab." Simon lost this challenge.

Later, in 2005, he appeared on Iron Chef America. This time, he challenged and beat Cat Cora in "Battle Hamburger." He also served as a judge for Iron Chef America in other episodes.

Other TV Shows

Besides Iron Chef America, Kerry Simon was on other TV shows. He appeared in Season 8 of Hell's Kitchen. You could also see him on an episode of the Fine Living Network's What Makes it Tick.