Michael Solomonov facts for kids
Michael Solomonov in 2006
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| Born | 1978 (age 46–47) Ganei Yehuda, Israel |
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| Cooking style | Israeli, Jewish |
| Education | Florida Culinary Institute |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Award(s) won
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| Official website | |
| http://www.cooknsolo.com/ | |
Michael Solomonov (born in 1978) is a famous Israeli chef. He is well-known for his many restaurants in Philadelphia. His first restaurant, Zahav, opened in 2008. It has won national awards, including "Outstanding Restaurant" in 2019 from the James Beard Foundation. Solomonov himself has won several James Beard Foundation awards. These include "Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic" in 2011, "Cookbook of the Year" in 2016, and "Outstanding Chef" in 2017. In 2021, The New York Times listed his restaurant Laser Wolf as one of the top 50 places to be excited about in America.
Contents
Early Life and Cooking Start
Michael Solomonov was born in 1978 in Ganei Yehuda, a small village in Israel. His family has roots in Bulgaria. He grew up in Pittsburgh, where he went to Taylor Allderdice High School.
When he was 18, Michael went back to Israel. He didn't know much Hebrew, so the only job he could find was working in a bakery. This is where his journey into cooking really began.
Michael's Cooking Career
After his time in Israel, Michael Solomonov returned to the United States. He went to culinary school at the Florida Culinary Institute. Later, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, he started cooking Italian food at fancy restaurants owned by Chef Marc Vetri.
Michael then worked as a chef at Marigold Kitchen. He later teamed up with the owner, Steve Cook. Together, they opened a Mexican restaurant called Xochitl. They also started a group of restaurants called CooknSolo.
A New Focus on Israeli Food
In 2003, a sad event changed Michael's cooking path. His brother, David, who was serving in the Israeli army, passed away. This led Michael to focus on Israeli and Jewish cuisine. With help from Steve Cook, Michael opened Zahav in 2008. This restaurant quickly became very popular.
Solomonov's Restaurants
Michael Solomonov and his business partner, Steven Cook, own several restaurants in Philadelphia. These include:
- Dizengoff
- Goldie, which serves vegan falafel
- Laser Wolf
- Abe Fisher
- Percy Street Barbecue
- Federal Donuts, a chain known for fried chicken and donuts
In 2013, Michael brought Percy Street Barbecue to South Florida. A food writer named Bill Addison called Chef Solomonov "the Genius of Modern Jewish Cooking." He said this after trying food at Abe Fisher, Dizengoff, and Zahav.
Cookbooks and Awards
In 2015, Michael and Steven Cook wrote a cookbook about their restaurant Zahav. The book, called Zahav: A World of Israeli Cuisine, was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Book Award. Its recipe for hummus was even named "2015 dish of the year" by Bon Appétit magazine.
Awards and Recognition
Michael Solomonov has won many important awards for his cooking:
- "Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic" (2011) from the James Beard Foundation
- "Cookbook of the Year" (2016) for Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking by the James Beard Foundation
- "Outstanding Chef" (2017) by the James Beard Foundation
- "Outstanding Restaurant" (2019) for Zahav by the James Beard Foundation
- "The Restaurant List" (2021) for Laser Wolf, named by The New York Times
