GOURMET Q&A: ZAHAV'S CHEF MICHAEL SOLOMONOV

Pittsburgh-raised chef Michael Solomonov has been tantalizing diners with his modern take on Israeli flavors at renowned restaurant Zahav in Philadelphia

Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov was born in G’nei Yehudah, Israel, and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is chef and owner at Zahav, a modern Israeli restaurant that brings the authentic flavors of Israel’s culinary heritage to Philadelphia. He also oversees Federal Donuts.

How did you get to where you are today?
I have an incredibly smart, hardworking business partner, and I am surrounded by people who are inspiring. I have always felt that whenever you see opportunity, you should go for it.

Michael Solomonov is as well known for his strawberry lavender creations at his Federal Donuts restaurant as his crowd-pleasing hummus at Zahav. Photograph: Steve Legato
Michael Solomonov is as well known for his strawberry lavender creations at his Federal Donuts restaurant as his crowd-pleasing hummus at Zahav. Photograph: Steve Legato
Why did you call the restaurant Zahav?
It means “gold” in Hebrew. We used tons of Jerusalem stone in our design, and Jerusalem is the city of gold.

What is it about cooking that you love so much?
The thrill of pleasing guests.

You’ve had quite a journey to get here. What did your troubled days teach you?
[Solomonov recently admitted to drug and alcohol problems in the past, following the death of his younger brother]. Take any measure to not regress. 

What are your hopes for 2015 and beyond?
That the students at the Philadelphia Workshop School, who are turning our used Federal Donuts oil into biofuel, will fly a rooster-shaped Federal Donuts rocket to the moon.

www.zahavrestaurant.com

Articles and photos sourced from www.socketsite.com 

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR BEDROOM FEEL LIKE A LUXURY HOTEL

Enjoy the spirit of five-star hospitality in the comfort and convenience of your own home by taking some cues from some of the world's finest international hotels

Imagine being able to enjoy the unbridled luxury of a hotel suite every night. To slide between the finest sheets of Claridges, or bathe in the boutique bubbles of The Langham before slinking into a stylish set of custom-made slippers. With a few carefully selected purchases you can re-create the nights of luxury and pampering you’d normally associate with your favorite hotel in your own bedroom.

The mattress: Vispring

Building the perfect bed is an art form, and one that luxury hotels take very seriously. Every year, five-star properties invest huge sums on downy soft mattresses and luxury bedlinen to meet the expectations of discerning guests. For a place of refuge, rest and love, the Vispring promises the comfort of a Shangri-La suite with the support of a custom-made mattress. From the level of tension in the vanadium steel springs to the softness of the wool, cashmere and silk filling, you choose exactly how your mattress is built.

The bed sheets: Frette

Favored by Claridge’s, The Ritz and The Orient Express (back in the day), Frette has been the bed linen of choice of the rich and royal for over 150 years. Such is the joy of waking between a crisp pair of Frette sheets that the brand supplies the Italian royal family, and has launched a string of retail boutiques at the behest of their customers. Their success springs from an understanding that it’s the raw materials, and not simply the high thread count, which makes for flawlessly soft sateens and percales.

The candle: Miller Harris

For luxury hotel groups, scent is as much a part of their branding as the interior décor. So it seemed a fitting union when The Haymarket teamed up with the London-based perfume house Miller Harris to develop their own distinctive Marché au Foin (French for hay market) scent. Including tones of lavender, orange, nutmeg and cardamom, the English-country-meets-urban-sophisticate connotations suit the character of the hotel perfectly, and set an irresistibly relaxing vibe. Re-create the atmosphere in your own bedroom with Miller Harris’s Citron Citron, which draws on the same citrusy notes.

The soaps: Penhaligon’s

Relaxing in a hot, aromatic bath is a pleasure few of us have time to indulge in amid the busyness of everyday life. In a luxury hotel, however, it’s the perfect way to while away an evening. Set the scene in your own bathroom with a set of Penhaligon’s soaps and toiletries. The Langham in London provides each guest with an enviable selection of the luxury perfumer’s wares, including their invigorating Quercus soaps.

The slippers: Bowhill & Elliott

In keeping with the trend for bespoke footwear, Bowhill & Elliott offer a custom service of handmade velvet English slippers. Established in 1874, when Obadiah Bowhill purchased a Norwich shopfront that still serves as the base of business today, Bowhill & Elliott passed through the generations to become an enduring heritage brand of British luxury footwear that specializes in custom designs incorporating special fabrics and unique tapestry and needlework. 

Articles and photos sourced from www.chritiesrealestate.com