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Chef cooking with soup pot

MICHAEL SOLOMONOV

Mike Solomonov is a beloved champion of Israel's extraordinarily diverse culinary landscape, the chef widely recognized for bringing the many cultures of Israeli cuisine to diners across the U.S., and around the world. He is co-owner of CookNSolo Restaurants with hospitality entrepreneur Steve Cook, and they own Philadelphia’s Zahav — the trailblazing restaurant opened in 2008 where Solomonov is Chef — which is the twice recipient of the rare Four Bells: Superior rating from Philadelphia Inquirer restaurant critic, Craig LaBan.

Solomonov is co-author of three cookbooks, and the recipient of the following five James Beard Awards: 2011 “Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic”; 2016 “Best International Cookbook” and “Book of the Year” for Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking; 2017 “Outstanding Chef”; and 2019 "Outstanding Restaurant" for Zahav, making it the first Israeli-American restaurant to be awarded this great honor.

In addition to Zahav, Solomonov co-owns Philadelphia's Federal Donuts, Dizengoff, Abe Fisher, Goldie, Merkaz, K’Far, and Laser Wolf, as well as Lilah — a Spring 2022-debuted event venue bringing together 15 years of culinary and hospitality wizardry. In May of 2022, Solomonov brought grill house sensation Laser Wolf, with uninterrupted views of the Manhattan skyline, to Brooklyn on the rooftop of The Hoxton. Outside of the restaurants, you can often find Mike with Steve at Pho 75, working out the kinks in their Israeli village.