Marcus Samuelsson cohosts Top Chef Family Style, and it's time to share more information about him with fans. The 51-year-old is one of the world's most famous chefs. He brings his culinary expertise as cohost and main judge, alongside Grammy-nominated singer Megan Trainor. The series premiered on September 9 on Peacock.
Top Chef Family Style is the eighth season 18 runner-up Shota Nakajima from Seattle are featured in the series. Marcus is no stranger to the Top Chef franchise. He won Top Chef Masters in season 2. He's also racked up judging credentials in other cooking competition shows.
Fans may recognize the New York-based chef as a staple on Food Network's most popular shows, Marcus is also a successful author and philanthropist.
Marcus Samuelsson Has Earned His Accolades Fair & Square
While Marcus' resume consists of a long list of accolades, his journey has not been easy. Marcus was born in rural Ethiopia but raised in Sweden. When Marcus was three years old, he contracted tuberculosis, and so did his mother and his older sister Linda. His mother walked 75 miles to get them to a hospital. Marcus and his sister recovered from the disease, but unfortunately, their mother did not. After his mother's ing, Marcus and Linda were separated from their father during the Ethiopian Civil War. Consequently, they were adopted by Ann Marie and Lennart Samuelsson and brought to Sweden. Marcus was taught how to cook by his adoptive grandmother, Helga, and he calls her his biggest inspiration.
He Learned The Culinary Arts in Sweden
At 19 years old, Marcus, who was destined to the ranks of famous reality TV chefs, attended the Culinary Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden. To expand his culinary knowledge, he obtained an apprenticeship. He cooked in Switzerland, Austria, and , at some of the world's best restaurants. In 1994, Marcus moved to the United States with just $300 and was hired as an apprentice at the acclaimed Swedish restaurant Aquavit in New York City. He soon worked his way up to become the eatery's Executive Chef. He later became the youngest chef to receive a 3-star rating from the New York Times at 24 years old.
He Owns A Restaurant In Harlem
Marcus continued to make strides in the culinary world. In 1999, he was awarded the Rising Star Chef Award from the James Beard Foundation. He opened his beloved and highly-praised Red Rooster restaurant in Harlem, New York, in 2010. As his career advanced, Marcus continued to gain notoriety as an award-winning master chef. Like other Top Chef superstars, such as Gail Simmons, he inspires fans.
Marcus is also ionate about philanthropy and community service. When the Top Chef Family Style host had to shut Red Rooster down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he turned the restaurant into a "community kitchen," as per CNBC. He partnered with famous chef Jose Andres and his nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, where his restaurant served over 250,000 meals for "the neediest" and "for the first-responders," he said. This is just one example of the Top Chef Family Style host's many charitable activities. Today, he continues to impress others through his cooking, while highlighting and celebrating the diverse cuisine that America has to offer.
Source: CNBC