Iron Chef Michael Symon has a new show on Cooking Channel, Cook Like An Iron Chef, premiering on Thursday, July 22nd. Using a secret ingredient, Michael teaches viewers the skills and techniques needed to, well, cook like an Iron Chef. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Cooking Channel, but the network just launched on Memorial Day to satisfy America’s craving for more food programming. Cooking Channel is dedicated to today’s more passionate food lover. From the creators of Food Network, it’s for food people by food people.
“Live to cook.”
-Michael Symon
Michael Symon is respected in the culinary world and adored in his hometown of Cleveland, where he is the chef and owner of critically acclaimed Lola and Lolita restaurants. Michael’s pedigree started upon graduating from The Culinary Institute of America in New York in 1990. He quickly began revitalizing the Cleveland pallet while practicing in some of Cleveland’s up and coming restaurants, such as Player’s, Picolo Mondo, Giovanni’s and The Caxton Café. In these venues, he found success as well as a loyal fan base.
In 1997, Michael opened his own restaurant, Lola, collaborating with his future wife, Liz. Lola opened just west of downtown Cleveland in the community of Historic Tremont, receiving glowing reviews. To compliment Michael’s menu, Liz brought an unpretentious elegance to both the design of the restaurant and unique wine selection from lesser-known boutique vineyards that made Lola Cleveland’s destination of the year. In 2005, Michael, Liz and Doug Petkovic gave birth to a new concept of Lola, thus creating Lolita. They once again revitalized a new section of Cleveland with the re-opening of Lola in the heart of downtown Cleveland on E. 4th St.
Michael has earned much attention through the years for his thoughtful cooking style and his attention to detail. He was named National Rising Star by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, one of the top Ten Best New Chefs by Food and Wine Magazine, America’s Best Restaurants in Gourmet Magazine, featured in Michael Ruhlman’s book The Soul of a Chef, nominated for best chef-great lakes region by the James Beard Foundation, as well as making appearances on WKYC-TV (Cleveland) on Mondays with Michael, and iVillage Live on NBC. Previously on Food Network, he has hosted over 100 episodes of The Melting Pot, in addition to appearing on episodes of Sara’s Secrets with Sara Moulto, Ready, Set, Cook and Food Nation with Bobby Flay. In 2007, he competed on the reality competition series The Next Iron Chef and won, securing his place as a permanent Iron Chef on Food Network’s hit series Iron Chef America.
Cook Like an Iron Chef Iron Chef Michael Symon teaches viewers the skills and techniques needed to cook like an Iron Chef! Along the way, Michael is joined by chef challengers and other Iron Chefs who reveal their mysterious methods in tackling secret ingredients.
Cooking Channel From the creators of Food Network, Cooking Channel launches on Memorial Day, May 31st 2010. The diverse programming line-up includes original instructional shows from Food Network stars Rachael Ray, Emeril Lagasse and Bobby Flay and an entertaining exploration of food on a whole new level by a new generation of chefs from around the world with surprising talents. As the newest destination for food lovers, the network will demystify popular but intimidating cuisine, visit the world’s most extreme restaurants, follow food geeks as they invent outrageous solutions to their cravings and recapture classics like Julia Child.