Michael Solomonov is the five-time James Beard Award-winning chef of the seminal Israeli restaurant Zahav, co-owner of CookNSolo Restaurants, and co-author of four cookbooks. Chef Mike is celebrated for bringing the vibrant and diverse culinary traditions of Israel to the forefront of American dining for more than two decades. Together with his business partner Steve Cook, he co-owns nine acclaimed concepts across Philadelphia, plus New York and Miami—including Zahav, Laser Wolf, Federal Donuts & Chicken, Dizengoff, Goldie, K'Far, Lilah, Jaffa Bar, and AVIV at 1 Hotel South Beach. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential culinary voices of his generation—and beyond the kitchen, a humanitarian whose commitment to community is as defining as his cooking. Outside of the restaurants, you can often find Chef Mike with Steve at Pho 75 in South Philly, working out the kinks of their Israeli village.

Michael Solomonov is the five-time James Beard Award-winning chef of the seminal Israeli restaurant Zahav, co-owner of CookNSolo Restaurants, and co-author of four cookbooks. Chef Mike is celebrated for bringing the vibrant and diverse culinary traditions of Israel to the forefront of American dining for more than two decades. Together with his business partner Steve Cook, he co-owns nine acclaimed concepts across Philadelphia, plus New York and Miami—including Zahav, Laser Wolf, Federal Donuts & Chicken, Dizengoff, Goldie, K'Far, Lilah, Jaffa Bar, and AVIV at 1 Hotel South Beach. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential culinary voices of his generation—and beyond the kitchen, a humanitarian whose commitment to community is as defining as his cooking. Outside of the restaurants, you can often find Chef Mike with Steve at Pho 75 in South Philly, working out the kinks of their Israeli village.