Michael Symon facts for kids
Symon in 2007
|
|
| Born | September 19, 1969 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Education | Culinary Institute of America |
| Spouse | Liz Shanahan (m.1998) |
|
Current restaurant(s)
|
|
|
Previous restaurant(s)
|
|
|
Television show(s)
|
|
Michael Symon, born on September 19, 1969, is a famous American chef, restaurant owner, TV star, and author. You might have seen him on the Food Network on shows like Iron Chef America or Burgers, Brew and 'Que. He also appeared on The Chew on ABC. Michael Symon has shared his recipes and cooking tips in many popular magazines too. He has a mixed background, with family from Greece, Sicily, and Eastern Europe.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Symon owns several restaurants in the area, including Mabel's BBQ. He is known for helping to make the restaurant scene in Downtown Cleveland exciting again. He describes his cooking style as "meat-centric," meaning he loves to focus on meat dishes.
Contents
His Early Life and Education
Michael Symon was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His family comes from Greek, Sicilian, and Eastern European backgrounds. He grew up in North Olmsted, Ohio, and went to St. Edward High School. While in high school, he started working part-time as a cook at a pizza and ribs place.
After high school, he went to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He graduated from this well-known cooking school in 1990.
Becoming a Chef and Restaurant Owner
Starting His Cooking Career
After culinary school, Symon worked in different restaurants in Cleveland. He cooked at Player's, a Mediterranean restaurant, and later became the chef at Piccolo Mondo. People really liked his cooking there.
In 1997, Michael and his fiancée, Liz Shanahan (who is now his wife), opened their first restaurant called Lola. It was in the trendy Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. Lola quickly became very popular and was even named one of America's Best Restaurants by Gourmet magazine. In 2005, he changed Lola into Lolita, and then opened a new Lola in downtown Cleveland the next year.
Expanding His Restaurants
Michael Symon opened Roast in Detroit, Michigan, in 2008. This restaurant was named the "Restaurant of the Year" in 2009 by the Detroit Free Press.
He also opened a more casual restaurant called Bar Symon in 2009, which served tavern-style food. Soon after, he launched BSpot, a restaurant focused on hamburgers. While some of his early Bar Symon and BSpot locations closed, the concepts continued in places like airports.
In 2016, Symon opened Mabel's BBQ on East 4th Street in Cleveland, right next to Lola. This restaurant became very successful, and another Mabel's BBQ opened in Las Vegas in 2018.
Over the years, Symon has opened and closed various restaurants. In 2020, his flagship restaurant Lola and some BSpot locations closed due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, his last BSpot in Woodmere was changed into a Mabel's BBQ.
On Television
Early TV Appearances
Michael Symon often appears on the Food Network. He was a host on the show Melting Pot and appeared on Sara's Secrets and FoodNation with Bobby Flay. In 2005, he competed on Iron Chef America for the first time.
In 2007, Symon competed in The Next Iron Chef, a reality TV competition. He won the competition, becoming an "Iron Chef" himself! Soon after, he won his first battle on Iron Chef America.
Hosting and Co-Hosting Shows
In 2008, Michael Symon hosted ten episodes of Dinner: Impossible. He also appeared on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, where he talked about his restaurant Lolita.
In 2010, his show Cook Like an Iron Chef started on the Cooking Channel. He described it as a show for people who want to learn more advanced cooking skills. He also hosted Food Feuds, where he compared rival food spots in different cities.
From 2011, Symon was a co-host on The Chew on ABC. This daily talk show focused on food and lifestyle topics. Since 2015, he has hosted Burgers, Brew and 'Que. In 2021, he became the new host of Throwdown! on Food Network.
His Cookbooks
Michael Symon has written several cookbooks, often sharing his love for meat-focused dishes.
In 2009, he released his first cookbook, Michael Symon's Live to Cook: Recipes and Techniques to Rock Your Kitchen. His friend and fellow Iron Chef Bobby Flay wrote the introduction for it.
He also co-authored cookbooks based on The Chew TV show, like The Chew: Food. Life. Fun. in 2012. That same year, he released Michael Symon's Carnivore: 120 Recipes for Meat Lovers, which was all about cooking meat.
Other popular cookbooks by Symon include 5 in 5: 5 Fresh Ingredients + 5 Minutes = 120 Fantastic Dinners (2013), Michael Symon's Playing with Fire (2018), and Fix It with Food (2019). These books often focus on quick recipes or using food to help with health.
Product Lines and Endorsements
Michael Symon has also worked with different companies. In 2008, he became a "spokeschef" for cookware brands like Vitamix and Calphalon. He would appear at events to demonstrate their products.
In 2011, he teamed up with Weston Products to create his own line of kitchen tools and products. He also participated in PepsiCo's "Do Us A Flavor" promotion for Lay's potato chips in 2012 and 2013, encouraging people to suggest new chip flavors.
Awards and Honors
Culinary Awards
- 1995 - Named Cleveland's Hottest Chef by The Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine
- 2007 - Named Best Local Chef by Cleveland Magazine
- 2009 - Won a James Beard Foundation Award for "Best Chef Great Lakes"
- Won the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival Best Burger Award three times (2010, 2011, 2012)
Television Awards
- 2007 - Became an Iron Chef winner
- 2015 - Won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host (shared with his co-hosts on The Chew)
Local Recognition
- A street in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood was named "Michael Symon Corner" in his honor.
Personal Life
Michael Symon married Liz Shanahan on November 1, 1998. Liz has often worked with him on his restaurants. Michael has a stepson named Kyle, who was 11 when Michael and Liz got married. In 2019, it was mentioned that Michael Symon was going to become a grandfather.
When he was in his twenties, Michael Symon was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and a type of lupus. These health challenges later inspired him to write cookbooks that explore how food can help with healing.
