Redemption in the Kitchen: Mike Solomonov’s Path to Culinary Excellence
In this episode of CHEF Radio, we're thrilled to feature none other than Mike Solomonov of Zahav and the CooknSolo empire. Join us as we dive into Mike's Israeli roots, his courageous battle with addiction, and the challenging beginnings of Zahav. Discover how he built a unique company, blending accessible, scalable concepts like Federal Donuts and Goldie alongside his boundary-pushing experiences at Zahav and Laser Wolf. Mike Solomonov is truly one of a kind, and we can't wait to share his incredible story with you all.
(00:00:46) Intro
(00:06:45) Trip to Israel
(00:09:14) Falling In Love with Baking in Israel
(00:20:04) Mike Arrives in Philadelphia
(00:24:10) How Getting Fired Helped Mike
(00:28:15) Mike's Meal Made by Eli
(00:29:34) Eli’s Move from New York to Philadelphia
(00:31:30) Marigold and Xochitl Restaurants
(00:37:44) Refined Cooking vs Grandma's cooking
(00:46:00) The Passing of Mike's brother, David and the Beginning of Addiction
(00:53:05) Inside the Mind of addiction
(01:06:29) From Struggling to Thriving at Zahav
(01:15:30) The Zahav Umbrella
(01:26:02) Steve and Mike's Partnership
(01:29:40) How Mike Sets the Bar for the Culture at His Company
(01:39:00) Wrap Up Questions
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