Michael Symon Instagram A 1998 Food & Wine Best New Chef, Michael Symon grew up in a Mediterranean and Eastern European family. The chef combines that heritage with a Cleveland sensibility at Bar Symon, B Spot Burgers, Lola, Lolita, and Mabel's restaurants. He's known for hosting Emmy-winning talk show The Chew on ABC. Experience Symon grew up in Cleveland and returned home after culinary school to work at Players, Picolo Mondo, Giovanni’s, and The Caxton Cafe.He debuted Lola in 1997, Lolita in 2005, and B Spot in 2009. Outside of Cleveland, Symon opened Roast in Detroit, which the Detroit Free Press named Restaurant of the Year in 2009. That same year the chef won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes.Symon hosted seven seasons of food-focused talk show The Chew on ABC and has appeared on Food Feuds, Cook Like an Iron Chef, The Next Iron Chef, Iron Chef America, and The Melting Pot, among other food TV series. Four of his six cookbooks were New York Times bestsellers. Education Symon graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1990. About Food & Wine Food & Wine, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for anyone passionate about the culinary world. With rigorously tested recipes and the most trusted restaurant, drinks, culinary travel and home coverage, we inspire and empower people everywhere to discover, create, and devour the best in food and wine. Learn more about us and our editorial process.