Spike Mendelsohn facts for kids
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| Born | Evangelos Spiros Mendelsohn 15 December 1980 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
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| Education | Culinary Institute of America |
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Evangelos Spiros "Spike" Mendelsohn was born on December 15, 1980. He is a famous chef and restaurant owner based in Washington, D.C.. Many people know him from the TV show Top Chef, where he finished in fifth place. This show aired from 2008 to 2009.
Spike Mendelsohn owns several popular restaurants. These include Good Stuff Eatery, Santa Rosa Taqueria, and We, The Pizza in Washington, D.C.. In 2017, he opened Santa Rosa Taqueria in the same spot where his restaurant Béarnaise used to be. In 2019, he started PLNT Burger, a vegan restaurant that serves plant-based burgers.
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Spike's Early Life and Education
Spike Mendelsohn was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His mother is Greek and his father is Jewish. When Spike was thirteen, in 1993, his family moved to Seville, Spain. They lived there for three and a half years, and he went to school in Marbella, Spain.
Later, his family moved to Clearwater Beach, Florida. They owned a restaurant called Pepin in St. Petersburg, Florida, until they sold it in 2004. Young Spike worked at Pepin doing many jobs. He was a busboy, a dishwasher, and even helped cook when they needed extra hands.
In 2005, Spike graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. This is a famous school for chefs. While he was there, he became friends with another American chef, Marcel Vigneron. Spike has also worked for many other well-known chefs. These include Gerard Boyer in Reims, France, and Thomas Keller at his restaurants in Napa Valley, California. Spike's family has been in the restaurant business for a very long time, for centuries! In 2008, his family started the Sunnyside Restaurant Group in Washington, D.C. This group includes Good Stuff Eatery, We, The Pizza, and Santa Rosa Taqueria.
Spike on Television
Spike Mendelsohn first appeared on TV on Bravo TV’s show Top Chef: Chicago. He was also on other TV shows like Life After Top Chef and Top Chef: All Stars. You might have seen him on Food Network’s Iron Chef America or Spike TV’s Bar Rescue.
In 2011, he was a regular guest on CBS' The Early Show. He also competed in Food Network’s Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs and Next Iron Chef: Redemption. He has appeared on many other popular shows too, such as Good Morning America, The View, and Rachael Ray. In 2014, he was a guest on The Queen Latifah Show.
The Prez Obama Burger
In 2009, Spike Mendelsohn created a special burger called the "Prez Obama Burger." He made it to celebrate President Barack Obama's first inauguration.
In March 2011, President Obama himself visited Spike's restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery. He brought five members of his staff to have lunch there.
After the Prez Obama Burger became popular, Spike added the "Michelle Melt" to the menu. He worked with White House chef Sam Kass to create this dish. It was made to honor Michelle Obama, the First Lady, who often visited the restaurant.
Spike's Community Work
Spike Mendelsohn has been the leader of the "D.C. Food Policy Council" in Washington, D.C., since 2015. He was chosen for this role by Mayor Muriel Bowser. He also works with a non-profit group called DC Central Kitchen. This group helps feed people in need. Spike has also been a Chef Ambassador for the CARE International Chefs' Table Program, which helps people around the world.
Spike's Personal Life
In March 2011, Spike Mendelsohn started a special lunchtime food truck project. It offered kosher food, which follows certain Jewish dietary rules. The idea came about because there weren't many kosher delis in Washington. The food truck served traditional Jewish foods like corned beef sandwiches.
In February 2013, Spike hosted a fun beach volleyball tournament. It was part of the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival. This event brings together many famous chefs and food experts.
In 2013, Spike supported Michelle Obama's Let's Move! program. This program encouraged kids to be active and eat healthy. He helped with a White House Easter Egg Roll event.
In 2019, Spike opened PLNT Burger, a vegan restaurant that serves Beyond Meat products. It is located inside Whole Foods Market in Silver Spring, Maryland. In November 2020, PLNT Burger announced plans to open even more locations in 2021.
