Michael Mina
Encyclopedia
Michael Mina is an award-winning American celebrity chef
, restaurateur
, and cookbook
author. He is the executive chef at his two namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas, Nevada
, and partners with Andre Agassi
in Mina Group, a restaurant management company that owns 16 restaurants in the United States and Mexico
. He authored his first cookbook in 2006 and has made numerous television appearances. Mina has one Michelin star
at his namesake restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada
.
in Hyde Park, New York
.
, 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.
to open concept restaurants, such as Nobhill and Seablue in Las Vegas, Nevada
.
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.
Celebrity chef
A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...
, restaurateur
Restaurateur
A restaurateur is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of the restaurant business.-Etymology:The word...
, and cookbook
Cookbook
A cookbook is a kitchen reference that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions...
author. He is the executive chef at his two namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, and partners with Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game...
in Mina Group, a restaurant management company that owns 16 restaurants in the United States and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He authored his first cookbook in 2006 and has made numerous television appearances. Mina has one Michelin star
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
at his namesake restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
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 AmericaCulinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
in Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park, New York
Hyde Park is a town located in the northwest part of Dutchess County, New York, United States, just north of the city of Poughkeepsie. The town is most famous for being the hometown of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt....
.
Culinary development
After working in Los Angeles at the Bel Air Hotel with Executive Chef George MorroneGeorge Morrone
George Morrone is an award-winning American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author. He was the founding chef at the famous Aqua Restaurant in San Francisco, and famous chef, Michael Mina, was his protege. He has also been chef at San Francisco restaurants, Fifth Floor and Redwood Park...
, 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.
As restaurateur
In 2002, Mina partnered with Andre AgassiAndre Agassi
Andre Kirk Agassi is a retired American professional tennis player and former world no. 1. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game...
to open concept restaurants, such as Nobhill and Seablue in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
In October 2006, Mina's San Francisco restaurant, Michael Mina, was awarded two Michelin stars
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the 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
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
, then it was excluded altogether from the starred list in 2011.
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
- Michael Mina. BellagioBellagio (hotel and casino)Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the Paradise area of unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, USA and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.Inspired by the...
. Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous... - Nobhill. Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
- Seablue. Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
- Arcadia. San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
- Stonehill Tavern. Monarch Beach, California
- Seablue BorgataBorgataThe Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa is a luxury hotel, casino, and spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. It is owned by Marina District Development, a joint venture between Boyd Gaming and a divesture trust established by MGM Resorts International...
. Atlantic City, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware... - Stripsteak. Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
- Bourbon Steak. Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, Aventura, FloridaAventura, FloridaAventura is a planned, suburban city located in northeastern Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name is from the Spanish word for "adventure", and was named "Aventura" after one of the developers of the original group of condominiums in the area remarked to the others, "What an adventure this is...
- Bourbon Steak. MGM Grand DetroitMGM Grand DetroitThe MGM Grand Detroit in Detroit, Michigan is one of three casino resort hotels in the city, and one of four in the Detroit–Windsor area. The luxury resort hotel opened on October 3, 2007 with a grand event which included models and celebrities including Ashanti, Kid Rock, male model Cameron...
. Detroit, MichiganDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River... - Saltwater. MGM Grand DetroitMGM Grand DetroitThe MGM Grand Detroit in Detroit, Michigan is one of three casino resort hotels in the city, and one of four in the Detroit–Windsor area. The luxury resort hotel opened on October 3, 2007 with a grand event which included models and celebrities including Ashanti, Kid Rock, male model Cameron...
. [Detroit, Michigan] - Bourbon Steak The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. [Scottsdale, Arizona]
- Nemi. [Mexico City]
- XIV. Los Angeles
- Clock Bar. [San Francisco]
- Bourbon Steak, in the Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC
- Rn. 74. [San Francisco]
- Rn. 74. [Seattle]
- American Fish (City Center, Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Opening November 14, 2011 Wit & Wisdom - a modern American tavern in the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, Maryland
Awards
- Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, Michael Mina by Andre GayotAndré GayotAndré Gayot is a French restaurant critic. With his friends Gault and Millau, he coined and promoted the term "Nouvelle Cuisine" in the early 1970s. In 1981 he began publishing a series of guidebooks known as Gayot Guides, where restaurants are rated on a 20-point scale, based on the system of...
guide (16/20) - Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004, Michael Mina Bellagio by Andre GayotAndré GayotAndré Gayot is a French restaurant critic. With his friends Gault and Millau, he coined and promoted the term "Nouvelle Cuisine" in the early 1970s. In 1981 he began publishing a series of guidebooks known as Gayot Guides, where restaurants are rated on a 20-point scale, based on the system of...
guide (17/20) - Bon AppétitBon AppétitBon Appétit describes itself as "a food and entertaining magazine" and is published monthly. Named after the French phrase for "Enjoy your meal", it was started by M. Frank Jones in Kansas City in 1956...
'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 FoundationJames Beard FoundationThe James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
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 RamsayGordon RamsayGordon James Ramsay, OBE is a Scottish chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars....
as a master chef, appeared in episode 208Hell's Kitchen (U.S. season 2)This article contains contestant information and episode summaries from Season 2 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen....
as a food competition judge. Later, in episode 809Hell's Kitchen (U.S. season 8)Season 8 of the American competitive reality television series Hell's Kitchen was broadcast on the Fox Network on September 22, 2010 and ended on December 15, 2010. Sous Chef Nona Sivley won the season and was awarded a head chef position at the L.A. Market restaurant at the JW Marriott Hotel at L.A...
, Chef Ramsay and the challenge winners visited his XIV restaurant, but Mina did not appear.