Michael Symon
Cleveland-raised chef, cookbook author and Iron Chef sharing backyard cooking, family recipes and kitchen conversation on television and online.
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Latest
Michael’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
- Symon’s Dinners Cooking Out2025 · Co-author with Douglas Trattner
Clarkson Potter - Chewed Up2025 · Co-host with Carla Hall and Clinton Kelly
YouTube - 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing2026 · Season three co-host with Esther Choi
Food Network - Simply Symon Suppers2023 · Co-author with Douglas Trattner
Clarkson Potter - Food NetworkSymon’s Dinners Cooking Out2020 · Host of the backyard cooking series
Overview
- Hometown
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Work
- Chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and host
- Training
- Culinary Institute of America, class of 1990
- Restaurant breakthrough
- Lola Bistro, opened in 1997
- Television breakthrough
- Won The Next Iron Chef in 2007
Mini bio
How it started.
Food was part of Michael’s childhood in a family with Greek, Sicilian and Eastern European roots. A broken arm interrupted his high-school wrestling, and he began cooking. After culinary school, he returned to Cleveland, worked in local kitchens and opened Lola Bistro in 1997.
From Cleveland to Kitchen Stadium.
Food & Wine named him a Best New Chef in 1998. Winning The Next Iron Chef in 2007 brought him a place on Iron Chef America; he later spent seven seasons co-hosting The Chew. His first cookbook, Live to Cook, was a 2009 collaboration with Michael Ruhlman.
Pull up a chair.
His books and shows bring fans into everyday cooking as well as competition kitchens. Simply Symon Suppers builds meals around accessible ingredients. More recently, Chewed Up reunited him with Carla Hall and Clinton Kelly, while Simply Symons brought Liz and Olivia into the mix for cooking at home.
Creditschronological, newest first
Television & online
- 2026Simply SymonsHost with Liz Symon and Olivia Annacone
- 2025Chewed UpCo-host and co-owner
- 202424 in 24: Last Chef StandingCo-host with Esther Choi
- 2020Symon’s Dinners Cooking OutHost
- 2011–2018The ChewCo-host
- 2007The Next Iron ChefSeason one winner
Cookbooks
- 2025Symon’s Dinners Cooking OutCo-author with Douglas Trattner
- 2023Simply Symon SuppersCo-author with Douglas Trattner
- 2009Live to CookCo-author with Michael Ruhlman
Awards
Quotes
If you take the cover off a grill, it’s just like cooking on a stovetop.Michael Symon, AARP
Speaking in April 2025 about how the grill can handle more than burgers and hot dogs.
Trivia
- His first kitchen job was cooking ribs at Geppetto’s.
- His choice for a last supper is his mother’s lasagna.
- He supports the Cleveland Browns.
- Away from work, he enjoys golf and gardening.
Find Michael
Follow Michael for recipes, kitchen stories and what he’s cooking next.
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