Canadian chef
Spike Mendelsohn
|
---|
|
Born
| Evangelos Spiros Mendelsohn
(
1980-12-15
)
December 15, 1980
(age 43)
|
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Education
| Culinary Institute of America
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Culinary career
|
- Good Stuff Eatery (Capitol Hill & Georgetown, Washington, D.C.; Arlington & Reagan National Airport, VA; Chicago, IL; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
- We, The Pizza
(Capitol Hill & Arlington, VA)
- Bearnaise (Washington, D.C., closed 2017)
- Sheppard (Washington, D.C., with Mixologist David Strauss)
- Morris American Bar (Washington, D.C., with Mixologist David Strauss)
- Sunny's (Miami, FL)
- Campton Yard (Miami, FL)
- Santa Rosa Taqueria (Washington, D.C.)
|
- Mai house
- Le Cirque
- Bouchon
- Les Crayeres
- Pepin restaurant
|
|
- The Francis Roth Leadership Award
[1]
- Burger Bash 2009
[2]
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Website
| www
.chefspike
.com
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Evangelos Spiros "Spike" Mendelsohn
(born December 15, 1980) is a
Washington, D.C.
-based
chef
and
restaurateur
best known as the fifth-place finisher of the
fourth season
of
Top Chef
, which aired 2008?2009.
[3]
He is the chef and owner of multiple restaurants: Good Stuff Eatery, Santa Rosa Taqueria, and
We, The Pizza
in
Washington, D.C.
In the summer of 2017, Mendelsohn closed his restaurant Bearnaise in Washington's
Capitol Hill
and opened Santa Rosa Taqueria in its place.
[4]
In 2019, Mendelsohn opened PLNT Burger, a vegan restaurant featuring
Beyond Meat
, inside
Whole Foods Market
in
Silver Spring, Maryland
.
[5]
Early life and education
[
edit
]
Mendelsohn was born in
Montreal
,
Quebec
,
Canada
.
[6]
His mother is
Greek
and his father is
Jewish
.
[7]
In 1993, when Mendelsohn was thirteen years old, his family moved to
Seville
,
Spain
. The family resided there for three and a half years, during which time he attended school in
Marbella
, Spain.
[6]
Later, the family moved to
Clearwater Beach
,
Florida
. They operated Pepin restaurant in
St. Petersburg
, Florida
[8]
until its sale in 2004.
[9]
Young Mendelsohn worked at Pepin as "busboy, dishwasher, [and] pinch-hitting as a cook when short staffed."
[10]
In 2005, Mendelsohn graduated from the
Culinary Institute of America
.
[11]
While studying at the institute, Mendelsohn began his friendship with American Chef
Marcel Vigneron
. Mendelsohn has since worked for culinary chefs such as Gerard Boyer in
Reims
, France;
Thomas Keller
of
The French Laundry
and
Bouchon
in
Napa Valley
, California;
Sirio Maccioni
of
Le Cirque
; and Drew Neiporent's Mai House in
New York City
. Mendelsohn notes in an interview that "my family has been in the [restaurant] business for centuries ? my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather."
[6]
In 2008, Mendelsohn's family formed the Washington, D.C.-based Sunnyside Restaurant Group consisting of the restaurants "Good Stuff Eatery," "We, The Pizza," and "Santa Rosa Taqueria."
[12]
Media appearances
[
edit
]
Mendelsohn made his television debut on
Bravo TV
’s television series
Top Chef: Chicago
. He was also featured on other television shows, such as Bravo TV’s
Life After Top Chef
(aired in the fall of 2012)
[13]
and
Top Chef: All Stars
(aired in December 2010),
Food Network
’s
Iron Chef America
and
Spike TV
’s
Bar Rescue
.
In 2010, Mendelsohn was featured in
Cosmopolitan
Magazine
giving his five dating tips.
[14]
During the summer of 2011, the
CBS
'
The Early Show
featured him as a regular guest correspondent. He was selected as one of the chefs to compete in Food Network’s
Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs
in the fall of 2011 and asked back to compete in Food Network’s
Next Iron Chef: Redemption
season that aired in November 2012. He also appeared on shows such as
Good Morning America
,
The View
,
Rachael Ray
, and
VH1
's
Big Morning Buzz Live
.
In February 2014, Mendelsohn appeared on
The Queen Latifah Show
.
[15]
Prez Obama Burger
[
edit
]
In 2009, Mendelsohn created his "Prez Obama Burger" in honor of President
Barack Obama
's
2009 inaugural celebration
.
[16]
In March 2011, President Obama took five members of his staff out to visit and lunch at Mendelsohn's restaurant "Good Stuff Eatery." The group included
Office of Management and Budget
Director
Jack Lew
, White House Director of Legislative Affairs
Rob Nabors
, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
Nancy DeParle
, Vice President
Biden's
Chief of Staff
Bruce Reed
, and
Gene Sperling
, director of the
United States National Economic Council
.
[17]
Following the Prez Obama Burger, Mendelsohn added the "Michelle Melt" to the Good Stuff Eatery menu in collaboration with White House chef
Sam Kass
to honor the
First Lady's
frequent visits to the restaurant.
[18]
Activism
[
edit
]
Mendelsohn has served as Chair of the Washington, D.C., "D.C. Food Policy Council" since his appointment by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in February 2015.
[19]
The council's Mission Statement is as follows: "The DC Food Policy Council (DCFPC) will promote food access, food sustainability, and a local food economy in the District."
[20]
Mendelsohn also works with the DC Central Kitchen, whose mission is "to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities."
[21]
Since 2015, Mendelsohn has participated in their annual fundraiser, "The Capitol Food Fight."
[22]
Finally, Mendelsohn is a Chef Ambassador for the
CARE International
Chefs' Table Program, "working with renowned chefs in the fight to end global hunger."
[23]
Publications
[
edit
]
In 2010, Mendelsohn published a
cookbook
named
The Good Stuff Cookbook
with his sister Micheline Mendelsohn.
[24]
Personal life
[
edit
]
In March 2011, Mendelsohn and the
Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
began a lunchtime
kosher
food truck project, an idea inspired by the dearth of
kosher delis
in Washington. Mendelsohn and his associates featured traditional Jewish
staples
, like
corned beef
sandwiches and knishes.
[25]
In February 2013, Mendelsohn hosted a celebrity chef beach volleyball tournament at the
Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival
, an annual wine and spirits event showcasing many of the world's top chefs, spirits producers, and culinary personalities. The event is hosted by
Florida International University
's (FIU)
School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
.
[26]
In 2013, Mendelsohn supported
Michelle Obama
's
Let's Move!
initiative by featuring a
White House Easter Egg Roll
.
[27]
In 2019, Mendelsohn opened PLNT Burger, a vegan restaurant featuring
Beyond Meat
, inside
Whole Foods Market
in
Silver Spring, Maryland
.
[28]
In November 2020, PLNT Burger announced major brick-and-mortar expansion plans for 2021.
[29]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Dawn Professional Teams With 'Top Chef' Star Spike Mendelsohn to Announce the $20,000 'Make Your Restaurant Shine' Winner"
(Press release). P&G. 23 May 2010
. Retrieved
13 February
2014
.
- ^
Black, Jane (25 February 2009).
"Spike Nails the Burger Bash"
.
The Washington Post
. Retrieved
27 February
2014
.
- ^
Chancey, Blair (1 April 2011).
"Boy Wonder: Spike Mendelsohn (page 1)"
.
QSR Magazine
. Retrieved
13 February
2014
.
- ^
Sidman, Jessica (14 April 2014).
"Spike Mendelsohn Will Close Bearnaise and Open a Taqueria in Its Place"
. Washingtonian
. Retrieved
4 April
2018
.
- ^
Diegel, Mike (11 September 2019).
"PLNT Burger Grand Opening Set for Tomorrow"
. Source of the Spring
. Retrieved
12 September
2019
.
- ^
a
b
c
Rothstein, Betsy (7 May 2008).
"Chef 101: Spike Mendelsohn"
.
thehill.com
. Capitol Hill Publishing Corp
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
Berman, Daphna (May?June 2011).
"What Does It Mean To Be Jewish Today? What Do Jews Bring To The World?"
.
Moment
.
I tell people I am "Gruish" because my mother is Greek and my father is Jewish.
- ^
Bond, Sharon.
"Disabled activist files suit against Pepin Restaurant"
.
sptimes.com
. The St Petersburg Times
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
"Licensee Details"
.
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
. The State of Florida
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
Flores, Alfredo.
"SPIKE MENDELSOHN DISCUSSES HIS NEW EATERY AND 'TOP CHEF'
"
.
On Tap Magazine
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
"Half of Next Iron Chef Competitors are CIA Grads"
.
Cia Chef Blog
. The Culinary Institute of America. 4 September 2012
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
"Sunnyside Restaurant Group"
.
www.sunnysiderestaurantgroup.com
.
Archived
from the original on 6 December 2022
. Retrieved
7 July
2023
.
- ^
"
'Life After Top Chef' To Premiere October 3"
.
The Huffington Post
. 28 August 2012
. Retrieved
13 February
2014
.
- ^
Hilmantel, Robin (14 September 2010).
"5 Dating Tips from Top Chef's Spike Mendelsohn"
.
Cosmopolitan
. Retrieved
13 February
2014
.
- ^
"Valentine's Day meal"
. The Queen Latifah Show. 13 February 2014
. Retrieved
27 February
2014
.
- ^
"Prez Obama Burger"
. Oprah. 16 January 2009
. Retrieved
13 February
2014
.
- ^
Wilkie, Christina (3 August 2011).
"Obama Takes Staff Out For Burgers"
.
The Huffington Post
. Retrieved
13 February
2014
.
- ^
"The Michelle Melt: A turkey burger with a cause"
. Today. 24 September 2009
. Retrieved
27 February
2014
.
- ^
"Mayor Bowser Appoints Spike Mendelsohn to Chair District's Food Policy Council"
.
DC.gov
. Washington D.C. Government Office
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
"Mission - Structure - Roles"
.
dcfoodpolicy.org
. DC Food Policy Council. 17 February 2016
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
"About Us"
.
dccentralkitchen.org
. DC Central Kitchen
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
Teti-Zilinskas, Erica (30 September 2015).
"DCCK's Capital Food Fight™ is back!"
.
dccentralkitchen.org
. DC Central Kitchen
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
"CARE Chefs' Table Program"
.
CARE.org
. Care International United States
. Retrieved
5 January
2018
.
- ^
Logsdon, Kay (17 March 2011).
"The Good Stuff By Spike Mendelsohn"
.
The Food Channel
. Retrieved
13 February
2014
.
- ^
Merkin, Jenny (3 March 2011).
"Top Chef Star starting a Kosher food truck"
.
Tablet Magazine
. Retrieved
14 February
2014
.
- ^
Nguyen, Tina (15 February 2013).
"From Top Chef To Top Gun: Spike Mendelsohn Hosting Celebrity Volleyball Tournament For Charity"
. The Braiser
. Retrieved
13 February
2014
.
- ^
Ruberry, Erin (27 March 2013).
"White House Easter Egg Roll Chefs: Ina Garten, Spike Mendelsohn Among Invitees"
.
The Huffington Post
. Retrieved
13 February
2014
.
- ^
Diegel, Mike.
"PLNT Burger Grand Opening Set for Tomorrow"
.
Source of the Spring
. Retrieved
18 November
2020
.
- ^
"Report: PLNT Burger Planning Major Expansion in 2021"
.
Source of the Spring
. Retrieved
18 November
2020
.
External links
[
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]