| Intro | American chef |
| Is |
Restaurateur Chef |
| From | Egypt |
| Type |
Business Food and Drinks |
| Gender | male |
Michael Mina (born 1969 in Cairo, Egypt) is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author. He is the founder of the Mina Group, a restaurant management company operating 18 concept restaurants. He is the executive chef at his two namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas. He authored his first cookbook in 2006 and has made numerous television appearances. Mina has one Michelin star at each of his namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Biography
Early life
Egyptian-born Michael Mina was raised in Ellensburg, Washington. He started working in a French kitchen in his hometown when he was 16. After high school, Mina attended the University of Washington and worked in the restaurant at the Space Needle, where he received his first exposure to working in a busy restaurant. He left after one year to attend Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.
Culinary Development
After working in Los Angeles at the Bel Air Hotel with Executive Chef George Morrone, Mina followed Morrone to San Francisco to help create Aqua. Following Morrone’s departure from Aqua, Mina became executive chef and received numerous awards and accolades.
Michael Mina’s approach to cooking revolves around balancing four basic elements: spice, sweetness, acidity and richness.
Michael Mina has cooked for three United States Presidents.
As Restaurateur
In 2002, Michael Mina met Andre Agassi when Agassi ate in Mina’s restaurant in San Francisco. Together they partnered to start The Mina Group and open concept restaurants such as Nobhill and Seablue in Las Vegas.
In October 2006, Mina’s San Francisco restaurant, Michael Mina, was awarded two Michelin stars, one of only four restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area to be a two star recipient. In October 2011, it was awarded Esquire Magazine’s Restaurant of the Year.
For the 2010 San Francisco Bay Area Michelin Guide, Mina’s San Francisco restaurant, Michael Mina, was demoted to one Michelin star, then it was excluded altogether from the starred list in 2011. For 2012, it returned to the starred list with one Michelin star.
Cook Taste Eat
In September 2012 Michael Mina launched Cook Taste Eat, a digital culinary media company that delivers video content through daily emails and video. Alongside co-host Michelle Branch, Michael Mina teaches viewers how to prepare restaurant quality meals in their own kitchen. Through daily emails and videos, viewers learn each meal one dish at a time along with useful behind the scenes culinary tips and tricks.
Books
In November 2006, Michael Mina released his first cookbook, Michael Mina: The Cookbook. The book presents a number of recipes with his “Trio concept” as well as his “classic” dishes.
Restaurants
- Michael Mina. San Francisco, California
- Michael Mina. Bellagio. Las Vegas, Nevada
- Pub 1842. Las Vegas, Nevada
- Arcadia. San Jose, California
- Stonehill Tavern. Monarch Beach, California
- Stripsteak. Las Vegas, Nevada
- Stripsteak Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Bourbon Steak. The Americana at Brand. Glendale, California
- Bourbon Steak. Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, Aventura, Florida
- Bourbon Steak. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Scottsdale, Arizona
- Bourbon Steak & Pub. Santa Clara, California
- Clock Bar. San Francisco
- Bourbon Steak. Four Seasons Hotel, Washington, DC
- Firebird by Michael Mina. Four Seasons Hotel, Dubai
- RN74. San Francisco
- RN74. Seattle
- American Fish, Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada (Closed, 2015)
- PABU. San Francisco
- PABU. Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland (Closed, 2014)
- Wit & Wisdom. Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland
- The Handle Bar. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Michael Mina 74. Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida
- Michael Mina Stripsteak. Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida
- Bardot Brasserie. Aria Resort & Casino. Las Vegas, Nevada
- Mina Test Kitchen, San Francisco, California
- Locale Market, St. Petersburg, Florida
- PABU. Boston
Awards
- Wine Enthusiast Magazine Restaurateur of the Year, 2012
- Food Arts Magazine Silver Spoon Award, May 2011
- HauteLiving.com Top Chef in San Francisco, 2010
- HauteLiving.com Top Chef in Las Vegas (#2), 2010
- Richard Melman Award, 2009
- Bon Appétit’s Chef of the Year for Michael Mina Bellagio, 2005
- San Francisco Magazine’s Chef of the Year, 2005
- Restaurateur of the Year, 2005
- James Beard Foundation Best Chef, 2002
- Rising Star Chef of the Year, 1997
- Esquire Magazine’s Restaurant of the Year 2011 – Michael Mina San Francisco
Television appearances
- Introduced by Hell’s Kitchen show host Gordon Ramsay as a master chef, Michael Mina appeared in episode 208 as a food competition judge. Later, in episode 809, Chef Ramsay and the challenge winners visited his XIV restaurant, but Mina did not appear.
- Description of master chef, from American Culinary Federation