25 Facts About Michael Symon

1. Michael Symon is of Greek, Sicilian, and Eastern European descent.

2. Michael Symon is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as Iron Chef America, Burgers, Brew and 'Que, Food Feuds, and The Best Thing I Ever Ate, as well as Cook Like an Iron Chef on the Cooking Channel and The Chew on ABC.

3. Michael Symon is credited with helping to "save" the restaurant scene in Downtown Cleveland.

4. Michael Symon owns Michael Symon's Roast in Detroit, Michigan.

5. Michael Symon was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is of Greek, Italian, and Eastern European ancestry.

6. Michael Symon was raised in North Olmsted, Ohio, attending St Richard School in North Olmsted and St Edward High School in Lakewood, graduating in 1987.

7. Michael Symon took a part-time job at Geppetto's Pizza and Ribs on Warren Rd.

8. Michael Symon graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York in 1990.

9. Michael Symon opened Roast, a restaurant at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, Michigan in autumn 2008.

10. On October 19, 2010, Michael Symon announced that he would be closing the Avon Lake location of Bar Michael Symon.

11. On June 25, 2012, Michael Symon opened another Bar Michael Symon in Pittsburgh International Airport-Airmall in partnership with United Concessions Group and The Paradies Shops.

12. On November 21, 2015, Michael Symon opened Michael Symon's Burger Joint in Austin, TX near The University of Texas.

13. Michael Symon was one of the rotating hosts of Food Network's show Melting Pot.

14. Michael Symon appeared on Sara's Secrets with Sara Moulton, Ready, Set, Cook, and FoodNation with Bobby Flay.

15. On November 11, 2007, after a head-to-head match against John Besh, Michael Symon was declared the winner of the entire competition.

16. On November 18, 2007, Michael Symon won his first battle on Iron Chef America.

17. Michael Symon hosted the show for ten episodes until host Robert Irvine was reinstated.

18. Cook Like an Iron Chef, a Cooking Channel show starring Michael Symon, debuted in July 2010.

19. Michael Symon described it as "a show for the people who've watched Food Network forever and are ready to learn something more advanced or more creative.

20. Show Food Feuds, which featured Michael Symon, premiered October 10, 2010.

21. On February 14, 2011, Michael Symon appeared in a skit on the late-night talk show Conan, in which a young couple had won a "romantic" Valentine's Day dinner date on the set.

22. In September 2011, Michael Symon began co-hosting The Chew on ABC networks, a daily talk show that is centered on food-related and lifestyle topics.

23. Onter cookbooks include 5 in 5: 5 Fresh Ingredients + 5 Minutes = 120 Fantastic Dinners, 5 in 5: 5 for Every Season (2015), Michael Symon's Playing with Fire (2018), and Fix It with Food (2019).

24. In 2008, Michael Symon began working as a "spokeschef," representing cookware companies Vitamix and Calphalon, appearing at housewares shows and other demonstration events.

25. In 2012, and again in 2013, Michael Symon was paired with actress Eva Longoria for a promotion for PepsiCo's Lay's potato chip called "Do Us A Flavor.