Michael Symon
Chef Michael Symon cooks with soul. Growing up in a Greek and Sicilian family in Cleveland, he developed a love for boldly flavored, deeply satisfying dishes that continue to define his cooking today. He brings this passion to his acclaimed restaurants—including Mabel’s BBQ, Bar Symon, and Angeline—as well as to millions of viewers through his Food Network shows Symon’s Dinners and BBQ USA. He’s also a proud partner in Pop Mustards, reimagining his favorite condiment for a new generation.
Since being named a Best New Chef by Food & Wine in 1998, Michael has earned numerous accolades. His flagship restaurant, Lola, was named one of “America’s Best Restaurants” by Gourmet in 2000, and in 2009 he received the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes. In 2010, he made history as the first and only chef to host the annual Farm Aid benefit concert.
Michael’s television career spans more than two decades, beginning with his 1998 debut on Food Network. Early appearances included The Melting Pot, Sara’s Secrets, and Cook Like an Iron Chef. He became a household name in 2008 when he won The Next Iron Chef, earning a permanent spot as an Iron Chef on Iron Chef America. From 2011 to 2018, he co-hosted ABC’s The Chew, which ran for seven seasons and won multiple Daytime Emmys. Other fan favorites include Burgers, Brew & ’Que (2015), BBQ Brawl: Flay vs. Symon (2019, with his longtime friend Bobby Flay), and Symon’s Dinners Cooking Out (2020), which quickly became a hit as viewers tuned in to watch him grill in his own backyard. Most recently, he hit the road for BBQ USA, exploring the country’s top barbecue competitions.
While television has made him a star, Michael’s roots remain in restaurants. Lola, which opened in 1997, anchored Cleveland’s dining scene for 24 years. In Detroit, he opened Roast in 2008, immediately hailed as the city’s best restaurant and one of the nation’s top steakhouses. Mabel’s BBQ (Cleveland, 2016) introduced his signature mustard-based barbecue and was named home of the “Best Ribs in the U.S.” by USA Today. The Las Vegas location followed in 2018 to rave reviews. In 2017, he opened Angeline at the Borgata in Atlantic City, a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Angel, which was named the city’s best new restaurant.
Michael is also a New York Times bestselling author of multiple cookbooks. His debut, Live to Cook (2009), was followed by Carnivore, 5 in 5, 5 in 5 for Every Season, Playing with Fire, Fix It with Food, Fix It with Food: Every Meal Easy, and Simply Symon’s Suppers. Several of these titles—including Carnivore, 5 in 5, and Fix It with Food—hit the NYT bestseller list. His most recent release, Symon’s Dinners Cooking Out (2023), also debuted as a NYT bestseller, featuring 100 recipes inspired by his hit Food Network series.
When he’s not working, Michael enjoys playing golf, gardening, and spending time with his wife, Liz; their grandchildren Emmy, Butch, and Walter; and their English Staffie, Norman.
