Michael Lomonaco

Chef, Television Host, Cookbook Author

Michael Lomonaco is one of America’s most popular celebrity chefs, accumulating thousands of fans through his television shows on the Discovery Channel, the Food Network and the Travel Channel, as well as from when he revitalized New York’s legendary ‘21’ and directed all culinary operations at Windows on the World. He is extremely comfortable in front of the camera, having once been a professional actor and singer, but his easy-going style and infectious enthusiasm are the real thing.

Early Years

He first discovered a knack for cooking in college and he continued to develop his amateur albeit serious cooking skills in his early 20’s while living the struggling actor’s life. His passion for food and wine was so strong that he decided to get a formal culinary education by completing the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program at New York’s Technical College. His mentor was the late Patrick Clark, and with his support Michael graduated from the program and then went on to apprentice with Master Chefs Alain Sailhac and Daniel Boulud at the famed Le Cirque.

Chef Lomonaco moved on to ‘21’ where he also worked under Chef Sailhac. Leaving to become Executive Sous Chef at Maxwell’s Plum, another legendary New York eatery, Lomonaco then returned to ‘21’ a short year later to become Executive Chef. After overseeing the revitalization of this world class restaurant, Chef Lomonaco was appointed Executive Chef/Director of Windows on the World, where through his leadership Windows became one of America’s most popular and highest grossing restaurants.

Current Projects

His newest project is Consulting Chef/Director at Noche, a Latin American restaurant and nightclub located in New York’s Times Square, where he can incorporate the Caribbean, Central and South American influences that have inspired him.

Michael Lomonaco also has a love of teaching and writing, and a great respect for the history of the famous New York restaurants where he’s had the good fortune to work In 1995 he co-authored The ‘21’ Cookbook: Recipes and Lore from New York’s Fabled Restaurant, which critics acknowledged as one of the year’s best. In addition to writing articles and recipes for Gourmet, Food & Wine, and New York Magazine, and hosting “Michael’s Place” on the Food Network and “Epicurious” on the Discovery Channel, Chef Lomonaco has also appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” and ABC’s “Good Morning America”, among others.

Chef Lomonaco believes that his passion for food and wine and position of influence give him an important responsibility to support local as well as national charities, such as Share our Strength, Meals on Wheels, City Harvest, and of course the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund. He also believes that great cooking is based on a combination of creativity and simplicity that allows the natural flavors, colors, and textures to shine through. His guiding principles are to be flexible, be creative, and look for inspiration in whatever you do, the things you see and read, and wherever you go. Chef Michael Lomonaco says that if you remain open to the unexpected you might find your inspiration in the most unlikely places.