Michael Lomonaco
Encyclopedia
Michael Lomonaco is an American chef
, restaurateur
, and television personality. He is best known as the Chef/Director for Windows on the World
, the restaurant located atop the North Tower of the World Trade Center
. The restaurant was destroyed in the September 11th attacks and many staff members, who were working at the time, died. Lomonaco has rebounded with the opening of Porter House, which was named by Esquire magazine one of America's Best New Restaurants in October 2006.
, working under renown chefs Alain Sailhac
and Daniel Boulud
. Later that decade, Lomonaco moved on the another legendary New York institution, 21 Club
. He revitalized the restaurant, known for its storied history as a Prohibition-era speakeasy and celebrity patrons, by revamping the menu by eliminating some old the Continental standbys in favor of updated American fare. Lomonaco remained at 21 until 1996. While at the restaurant, he published a book of recipes from the restaurant.
in lower Manhattan
. Again, he updated the menu from traditional French to modern American cuisine with great success. In response, the restaurant became one of America's highest grossing restaurants three years in a row.
As executive director, Lomonaco was responsible for the main dining room, with its stunning views of the New York skyline, and the Greatest Bar on Earth, which featured the southernly sights of Ellis Island
and the Statue of Liberty
.
In 2006, Lomonaco opened Porter House New York, an American grill in newly-opened Time Warner Center
on Columbus Circle
. With 140 seats and views of Central Park South, the venue has garnered positive reviews for its contemporary American menu.
's program Epicurious. Previously he hosted Michael's Place on the Food Network
for three years. He has also made appearances on talk shows and cooking programs such as In Julia's Kitchen with Master Chefs. He also guest starred in season five's episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, titled Disappearing Manhattan.
Lomonaco has also been a featured chef on Great Chefs
television.
Lomonaco is a co-author of The 21 Cookbook, published by Doubleday in 1995, commemorating his recipes at the famed restaurant. In 2004, he released "Nightly Specials: 125 Recipes for Spontaneous, Creative Cooking at Home". He has written articles and recipes for many magazines, including New York magazine, Gourmet and Food & Wine.
, the Culinary Institute of America
and Institute of Culinary Education
in Manhattan. He also makes appearances as a guest chef at the International Hotel Show, the Chicago Restaurant show and Festa Italiana Seattle.
After September 11, Lomonaco co-founded the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund, in order to generate support for the families of all restaurant and food service workers lost in the attacks. He also participates in cooking events that benefit causes including the March of Dimes
, City Harvest
and Share Our Strength
.
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
, 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 television personality. He is best known as the Chef/Director for Windows on the World
Windows on the World
Windows on the World was a complex of venues at the top floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan that included a restaurant, Windows on the World, a smaller restaurant called Wild Blue, and a bar called The Greatest Bar on Earth, as well as rooms for private functions...
, the restaurant located atop the North Tower of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
. The restaurant was destroyed in the September 11th attacks and many staff members, who were working at the time, died. Lomonaco has rebounded with the opening of Porter House, which was named by Esquire magazine one of America's Best New Restaurants in October 2006.
LeCirque and 21
Lomonaco started his culinary education at New York City Technical College's Hotel and Restaurant Management program, graduating in 1984. He quickly rose to fame during the 1980s at New York's famed restaurant Le CirqueLe Cirque
Le Cirque is a French restaurant in Manhattan owned and operated by Sirio Maccioni. It first opened at the Mayfair Hotel in 1974. It closed and reopened as Le Cirque 2000 at the Palace Hotel in 1997. The latest installation of Le Cirque opened in 2006 in the Bloomberg Tower building at One Beacon...
, working under renown chefs Alain Sailhac
Alain Sailhac
Alain Sailhac, born in Millau, France is an internationally recognized French chef working in New York City where he holds the position of Executive Vice President and Dean Emeritus at The French Culinary Institute. Sailhac earned the first ever four star rating from The New York Times while at Le...
and Daniel Boulud
Daniel Boulud
Daniel Boulud is a French chef and restaurateur with restaurants in New York City, Palm Beach, Miami, Montreal, Beijing, and Singapore...
. Later that decade, Lomonaco moved on the another legendary New York institution, 21 Club
21 Club
The 21 Club, often simply 21, is a restaurant and former prohibition-era speakeasy, located at 21 West 52nd Street in New York City.-Environment:...
. He revitalized the restaurant, known for its storied history as a Prohibition-era speakeasy and celebrity patrons, by revamping the menu by eliminating some old the Continental standbys in favor of updated American fare. Lomonaco remained at 21 until 1996. While at the restaurant, he published a book of recipes from the restaurant.
Windows on the World
In 1997, Lomonaco took on the task of Executive Chef/Director for Windows on the World, located on the 106th and 107th floors of the North Tower of the World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
in lower Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Again, he updated the menu from traditional French to modern American cuisine with great success. In response, the restaurant became one of America's highest grossing restaurants three years in a row.
As executive director, Lomonaco was responsible for the main dining room, with its stunning views of the New York skyline, and the Greatest Bar on Earth, which featured the southernly sights of Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
and the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
.
Newest ventures
Reeling from the shock of September 11, the loss of his restaurant, staff and friends, Lomonaco became a consulting chef to Noche, a multi-story, midtown restaurant and nightclub highlighting the cuisines of Latin America and the Caribbean. Many former employees of Windows on the World followed Lomonaco to this new venue, when it debuted in 2002. Unfortunately, the success was short-lived and Noche announced its closing in late 2004. He also served as a consultant for Guastavinos, a restaurant located under Manhattan's 59th Street Bridge.In 2006, Lomonaco opened Porter House New York, an American grill in newly-opened Time Warner Center
Time Warner Center
The Time Warner Center is a mixed-use skyscraper developed by AREA Property Partners and The Related Companies in New York City. Its design, by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, consists of two 750 ft towers bridged by a multi-story atrium containing upscale retail shops...
on Columbus Circle
Columbus Circle
Columbus Circle, named for Christopher Columbus, is a major landmark and point of attraction in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located at the intersection of Eighth Avenue, Broadway, Central Park South , and Central Park West, at the southwest corner of Central Park. It is the point from...
. With 140 seats and views of Central Park South, the venue has garnered positive reviews for its contemporary American menu.
Television and media career
Before a culinary career, Lomonaco's goal was to be an actor, which he pursued for eight years. His training in this field has led the chef to combine his two passions in front of the camera. Lomonaco is the co-host of the Discovery ChannelDiscovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
's program Epicurious. Previously he hosted Michael's Place on the Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
for three years. He has also made appearances on talk shows and cooking programs such as In Julia's Kitchen with Master Chefs. He also guest starred in season five's episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, titled Disappearing Manhattan.
Lomonaco has also been a featured chef on Great Chefs
Great Chefs
Great Chefs is a franchise of cooking shows and cookbooks that began with thirteen half hour programs produced for the American Public Broadcasting Service entitled Great Chefs of New Orleans...
television.
Lomonaco is a co-author of The 21 Cookbook, published by Doubleday in 1995, commemorating his recipes at the famed restaurant. In 2004, he released "Nightly Specials: 125 Recipes for Spontaneous, Creative Cooking at Home". He has written articles and recipes for many magazines, including New York magazine, Gourmet and Food & Wine.
Teaching and charity
When not in his restaurant, Michael Lomonaco can be found teaching future chefs at City University of New YorkCity University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
, the Culinary Institute of America
Culinary 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...
and Institute of Culinary Education
Institute of Culinary Education
The Institute of Culinary Education is an American culinary school located in New York City, New York.Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges , ICE offers comprehensive 8- to 13-month career training diploma programs in Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Culinary...
in Manhattan. He also makes appearances as a guest chef at the International Hotel Show, the Chicago Restaurant show and Festa Italiana Seattle.
After September 11, Lomonaco co-founded the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund, in order to generate support for the families of all restaurant and food service workers lost in the attacks. He also participates in cooking events that benefit causes including the March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
, City Harvest
City Harvest
City Harvest may refer to:*City Harvest, a Chicago Family Harvest Church ministry*City Harvest, a New York food rescue organization*City Harvest Church, Singapore*City Harvest Community Services Association...
and Share Our Strength
Share our Strength
Share Our Strength is a national organization working to end childhood hunger in the United States. Share Our Strength holds culinary events, solicits individual donations, and utilizes social media efforts to raise funds which are then used to fund long-term solutions to the hunger problem...
.
External links
- Interview with Lomonaco, photos and video at Porter House
- Porter House official website
- Magazine review of Porter House by EsquireEsquire (magazine)Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
- Guastavino's website
- Profile at Great Chefs