Crazy week....

This has been one heck of a wild week. As you can probablly imagine there is alot going on for me this week so i just wanted to give you a quick update. After Sunday night we did the big media circuit which has included about 50 radio interviews, some tv appearances and a coking demo for 800 students at the CIA. Fortunately chefs are use to all the crazy hours so it that sense it is just bussiness as usual.
Some of the highlights have been filming The View (which will show the day after Thanksgiving) This was alot of fun and the hosts of the show were a blast. After that we drove up to my old stomping grounds in Hype Park N.Y. and did a cooking demo at the CIA for 800 students. I absolutely loved doing this as you can see the passion in their young eyes as they boldly pursue their goals and visions and start on their culinary journey. It seems like just yesterday that i was in there shoes watching Chef Dean Fearing do a big demo in 1988....holy crap am i getting old!!!!!
Today, i have a couple more media things to do and then life goes back to normal. I'll be back in the town I love Saturday morning and manning the stoves that night. I can't wait to get back home with Liz and the dogs and get back to cooking!! I'll have more updates as they come.
Remember my first battle is this Sunday at 9 on FNTV
Live to cook, MS

Comments

[Frances Davey]

Can't wait to see your battle on Sunday night! Happy, safe traveling and have a great Thanksgiving with your family. :)

[thomas]

good luck with your battle, sunday - amy and i will be hollering for you.

thos.

[DominicTiberio]

Congratulations! After being introduced to you and your work from No Reservations, I was pulling for you. Too often real chefs are passed over for a bubbly, quirky TV cook and hopefully real chefs and real inspiration will eventually be properly recognized and represented.

I'll be glued to the show Sunday. The only downside is that now it will be a challenge to get to Lola/Lolita to enjoy your food for myself. I should have went right after I saw you with Anthony Bourdain. Best wishes!

[Angi]

Congratulations, Michael! I've been enjoying your food since the Caxton Cafe, and can't wait to come to the new Lola when I get back to my hometown for a visit from SC!

[Suzie]

You rock! Looking forward to your IC debut. Though now I might have to make my way to Cleveland one day just to eat some of your food!

[Jeanne]

Looking forward to watching you Sunday night! Congrats again - will have to make a trip to Cleveland one day to check out one of your restaurants!

[stephanie]

Really looking forward to watching that first battle, as well as the subsequent ones, Chef!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

[Laura]

It will be great to see you in your first battle next Sunday. I usually don´t see The View but will make the best to catch you.
My next visit to Cleveland Clinic will include a stop in Lola or Lolita for sure.

[Sandy]

Michael,

Still tickled pink for you. Enjoy your time at home!

Will be watching Battle Turkey on Sunday night.

[Pamela]

Congrats on your win! Now I'm looking forward to watching Iron Chef.

[James Hudnall]

Hey, Michael.Congrats on your win. I was rooting for you since the beginning. I had a feeling it would be either you or Besh at the end, and I was right.

I really want to check out your restaurants after reading the menu. Don't know when I will be out that way, but..

Glad to see you on IC. Can't wait for your battle.

James

[Tom H]

GO BROWNS!

I hope you can take some time to breathe and enjoy your new situation with your family.

Don't let the FN take attention from your restaurants in Cleveland is all I ask you.

[Shelley]

Here's a future topic for you to blog on, Chef Symon... I think it was in Ruhlman's "Soul" book that I read that you only cook with red onions. Not yellow, not white, not vidalias or 1015s. Just red. And I've been wondering why! Love 'em myself, though. :)

I'll be glued to the TV Sunday night... can't wait!

[AChampion]

We, too, have been fans since the Anthony Bourdain "No Reservations" episode.
My 6 year old daughter thinks you have the craziest laugh and giggled when you did. She looks forward to watching the future battles for sure.
My fiance believes your style is without match! We'll be definite couch potatoes this Iron Chef season! :)
We wish you a wonderful holiday with your family!

~AChampion & Family

[Anna]

You are my absolute hero MS! You make me want to work harder to be on top of my game (I'll be going to med. school). I love your resturants so I was so excited to see you as a challenger. I couldnt believe when I saw you were on the next iron chef!! so excited to see among the best of the best bobby flay, mario, morimoto. Most of all you seem like the nicest guy on earth! Hope to meet you in one of your restaurants one day :-)

[Katie]

Michael,
I was hoping for you from day one, as soon as I saw you..I just had a feeling..Congratulations on making history. And you may be 38, and married..and 17 years older then me..but you are fucking gorgeous..Ohio is just one state over from Michigan where I live, and I intend on traveling in the next 2 months to check out your restaurants. Hopefully you'll be there. Love, Katie

[Carl]

We live an hour away from Cleveland and have heard many raves about both Lola and Lolita. Always intended to go, but life got in the way. When we saw you were going to be on The Next Iron Chef, I turned to my wife and said that what I wanted for my birthday was dinner at Lola...and that maybe we should make reservations NOW. She agreed, and then we watched the rest of the series and were delighted when you won.

My birthday is tonight. I'm excited to spend it eating at your restaurant, and I'm relieved that we secured a table several weeks ago!

[Belle]

So glad you won! What a rush, and what a lot of work. Can't wait to watch you this Sunday in your first battle as Iron Chef! Woo!

[Lola]

Phew! I was a wreck watching the program. Some guy I never met was walking around with my name plastered on his shirts and he was going to either add to the infamy of my name or make me gosh darned proud.

Now I've got Tom Douglas AND you to be proud of! Thanks! Anyone else want to name a restaurant after me? {Maybe we could have an Iron Chef Lola cook-off.}

[JR Prospal]

Michael Dude, you rock! I was at Lolita on Friday night and worked my way down the starter menu...the chicken livers were off the hook. I then saw Ruhlman over in Cleve Hts on Saturday. Sorry I missed you. Are you still going to have your cooking classes next year now that you're an Iron Chef?

[Cristina]

I love your passion..you are awesome and I am a fan....Will make it next year to visit your restaurant...

[Vicky Dolinsky]

You have incredible working hours, so if you need an extra early a.m. kitchen hand, I am ready to learn from 'Chef Cleveland'

[Mike B.]

Big win for the Browns today! Good luck tonight in your first on-air battle as an Iron Chef!

[J.K. Simmons]

Kudos on your victory! Wonderfull showmanship and world class cooking! I anxiously awaiting seeing your first competition as Iron chef. keep up the great work! you have a real fan here and look forward to an oppertunity to go to Cleveland and dine at lolas or lolitas! Good luck!

[CW]

Nice blog MS.