Marcus Samuelsson

Birth Name:

Kassahun 'Joar' Tsegie

Birth Place:

Ethiopia

Profession

Actor, Producer

Donated his winnings from "Top Chef Masters" to UNICEF'S Tap Project, which seeks to provide children in impoverished nations with clean and safe water sources
Was Executive Chef of Aquavit when it received the New York Times' 3-star rating in 1995, becoming the youngest chef to do so at the age of 23
Was the guest chef for President Barack Obama's first State Dinner in 2009, which was held in honor of the Prime Minister of India
Won the Rising Star Chef Award from the James Beard Foundation in 1999
Studied at the Culinary Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden, and served as an apprentice in Switzerland
After his mother died of tuberculosis in Ethiopia, he and his sister were adopted by a Swedish couple, and he was later taught how to cook by his adoptive grandmother, Helga
Worked as an apprentice in France in 1993 before moving to America to apprentice at the Aquavit restaurant in 1994
Also owns Ginny's Supper Club and the American Table Café and Bar, as well as its sister restaurant, the American Table Brasserie and Bar in Stockholm
Best known as a celebrity chef who won "Top Chef Masters," was a contestant on "The Next Iron Chef" and is a judge on "Chopped․"
Opened his first restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem, in 2010, which serves American comfort food with Swedish and Ethiopian influences

Fast Facts