Michael Psilakis
Born
New York City, New York, U.S.[1]
Culinary career
Current restaurant(s)
  • MP Taverna, Irvington NY
Previous restaurant(s)
  • * Ecco, Long Island (2001–2004),
    * Onera, New York City (2004–2007),
    * Anthos, New York (2007–2010),
    * Mia Donna, New York City (2008–2009),
    * Kefi, New York City (2008–2020),
    * Gus & Gabriel Gastropub, New York City (2009–2010),
    * Fishtag, New York City (2011–2018),
    * MP Taverna, New York City (2013–2019)
Television show(s)
Websitewww.michaelpsilakis.com

Michael Psilakis is an American celebrity chef, author, and restaurateur.[1] He is best known for his Greek cuisine and appearances on television shows including Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Iron Chef America, The Best Thing I Ever Ate and No Kitchen Required.[2] He has owned and operated a number of popular restaurants around New York City and has cooked for President Barack Obama at the White House.[3]

Early life

Michael Psilakis was born in New York City, and is of Greek descent.[1][4]

Restaurant and food career

From 2001 to 2004, Psilakis managed restaurant Ecco on Long Island.[5]

The address of 222 West 79th Street in the Upper West Side, Manhattan has been home to many of Psilakis restaurants including Onera (from 2004 to 2007);[3][5][6][7] Kefi (from 2007 to 2009); Gus & Gabriel Gastropub (from 2009 to August 2010);[8] Fishtag (from 2011 to 2018);[7][9] followed by Kefi returning to this same location from 2018 until 2020, after Kefi had relocated for a period from 2009 until 2018 on 505 Columbus Avenue.[10][9][11] Restaurant Kefi had been the subject of multiple employee lawsuits.[12][13][14][15][16]

Donatella Arpaia and Michael Psilakis had co-owned Kefi, as well as Anthos at 36 West 52nd Street (2007–March 2010),[17][13][18] and Mia Donna (2008–September 2009).[19][20][21]

For his work at Anthos, Psilakis was named Esquire magazine's Chef of the Year in 2006.[22] In 2008, he received a Michelin Star for Anthos.[23] In 2008 he was named Bon Appétit's Chef of the Year.[24]

From April 2013 to 2019, Psilakis owned and operated restaurant, MP Taverna on Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria, Queens.[25][26]

Television appearances

Psilakis served as a judge on Ultimate Recipe Showdown and was twice a contestant on Iron Chef America (2006 and 2010). He hosted The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

When BBC America created No Kitchen Required in 2012, Psilakis was chosen as one of three participants and a co-executive producer for the first series.[2] He has also appeared a number of times on Good Morning America, and has been announced as a contestant on the "Superstar Sabotage" tournament of Cutthroat Kitchen.[27]

Books

Psilakis has struggled with his body weight and wrote the 2017 book, Live to Eat: Cooking the Mediterranean Way (Little, Brown) to highlight easier ways to modify diet without losing flavor.[4]

  • Psilakis, Michael (2009). How to Roast a Lamb: New Greek Classic Cooking. Barbara Kafka (contributor). Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316071734.
  • Psilakis, Michael (2017). Live to Eat: Cooking the Mediterranean Way. New York City, NY: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316308205.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Michael Psilakis in Greece". Food & Wine. March 31, 2015. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  2. 1 2 No Kitchen Required by Jay Tavare (Huffington Post, 4 April 2012)
  3. 1 2 Frommer's New York City 2011 by Brian Silverman, Kelsy Chauvin and Richard Goodman (John Wiley & Sons, 2010)
  4. 1 2 "Michelin star chef whips up weight-loss success in the kitchen". Fox News. 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  5. 1 2 Michael Psilakis is in a class by himself by Pearl Violette and Newfield Metzelthin (Gourmet magazine, 2007)
  6. Plant, Adam (January 27, 2005). "Onera, New York Magazine Restaurant Review". New York Magazine (Nymag). Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  7. 1 2 Sifton, Sam (2011-03-01). "Fishtag". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  8. Rosner, Helen. "Michael Psilakis Will Replace Gus & Gabriel With New Concept". Grub Street. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  9. 1 2 "Kefi Has a New Space, But Now Fishtag Needs a New Home". West Side Rag. June 7, 2018. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  10. Upadhyaya, Kayla Kumari (2018-06-06). "Kefi Is Relocating to a Smaller Space On the UWS [Updated]". Eater NY. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  11. Looks Like Michael Psilakis’s Huge Williamsburg Restaurant Is Back On by Hugh Merwin (Grub Street, New York magazine, 8 November 2013)
  12. Morabito, Greg (2015-07-27). "Dinex Group Servers Settle Class Action Wage Suit Against Boulud For $1.4 Million". Eater NY. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  13. 1 2 Collins, Glenn (2010-04-27). "Donatella Arpaia Is Putting Chef's Whites Over Her Prada". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  14. Morabito, Greg (2012-03-15). "Kefi is the Latest Restaurant Hit by Employee Lawsuit". Eater NY. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  15. Miller, Jenny. "Kefi, Casa La Femme Are the Latest Restaurants to Get Sued". Grub Street. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  16. Chung, Jen (2012-10-02). "Popular UWS Kefi Restaurant Fails Health Dept Inspection. Twice". Gothamist. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  17. Leventhal, Ben (2007-03-12). "Eater Inside: Anthos". Eater NY. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  18. Kludt, Amanda (2010-09-28). "Donatella Arpaia Sells Anthos Space to Steakhouse Family". Eater NY. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  19. Sifton, Sam (2010-05-19). "Mia Dona". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  20. Kludt, Amanda (2010-03-11). "Michael Psilakis OUT at Anthos as he Considers the Burg". Eater NY. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  21. Kludt, Amanda (2009-09-14). "Divorces: Michael Psilakis OUT at Mia Dona". Eater NY. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  22. Kitchen Superstars: Michael Psilakis' quest to make Greek go mainstream by Elizabeth Saab (Fox News, 19 December 2013)
  23. Gordinier, Jeff (2020-03-20). "Cooking to Cope: Why MP Taverna's Michael Psilakis Is Still in the Kitchen". Esquire. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  24. Top Chef, Meet Biggest Loser (TIME magazine)
  25. Celebrity chef Michael Psilakis opens MP Taverna in Astoria by Clare Trapasso (NY Daily News, 30 April 2013)
  26. "Greek restaurant MP Taverna closes in Roslyn". Newsday. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  27. "Top-Notch Chefs to Turn Evilicious in Cutthroat Kitchen's First Superstar Sabotage Tournament".
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