1998 America's Best New Chefs | Michael Symon
Michael Symon
Lola, Cleveland
Age: 28
Background: Trained at the Culinary Institute of America. Worked at Piccolo Mondo and Caxton Café, Cleveland.
How he got into cooking: "After I blew out my arm wrestling in high school, I knew I couldn't get a college sports scholarship, so I started working at restaurants for money."
First food memory: "Making baklava with Mom when I was six."
Menu bomb: Pot pie with a filling of shrimp and escargot.
Favorite place to eat: Aureole, New York City.
Best thing about cooking in Cleveland: "Customers are open-minded. And it's my hometown."
Food vice: The Romanburger at Cleveland's Mr. Hero. "It's a hot sub with a hamburger patty, piled high with salami and cheese--I call it a heart-attack sandwich."
Recipe tip: If you don't have time to make pierogi dough, use store-bought spring-roll wrappers instead.
Info: 900 Literary Rd.; 216-771-5652.
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