Michael Rafidi

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Michael Lee Rafidi (c. 1985) is a Palestinian American chef and restauranteur . [1] [2] [3] Rafidi was named the 2024 the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef of the Year [1] [3] and also owns the Michelin star restaurant, Albi. [4] [5]

Career

Rafidi worked at Michael Mina’s restaurant RN74 in San Francisco, California. [6] [7] At RN74, Rafidi held the role of executive chef. [7]

In 2017, Rafidi moved to Washington, D.C. and became the executive chef at Arroz, a Spanish restaurant owned by restauranteur Mike Isabella. [8] [9] [10] He also became the executive chef at another one of Mike Isabella's restaurants Requin, which was located on The Wharf but has since closed. [8] [9]

In March 2018, Rafidi stepped away from his positions at Arroz and Requin several days after a lawsuit made public sexual harassment allegations against Mike Isabella and several associates; however, Rafidi did not explicitly state the lawsuit was the reason for his departure. [9] In that same month, The RAMMY Awards nominated Rafidi as a finalist for Rising Culinary Star of the Year. [11]

In February 2020, Rafidi opened Albi, located in Washington, D.C's Navy Yard. [4]

In March 2022, Rafidi was named as a semifinalist in for the James Beard Awards in the "Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)" category. [12] In June of that same year, Rafidi’s restaurant Albi earned a Michelin Star. [5] Also in 2022, Rafidi opened Yellow in Georgetown, a sister restaurant to Albi that also focuses on Levantine-inspired cuisine. [4]

In 2023, Rafidi was nominated as a finalist for the James Beard Awards in the "Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)" category. [13]

In June 2024, Rafidi was named The James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef of the Year. [1] [3] He dedicated his win to “to Palestine and to all the Palestinian people out there, whether it's here or in Palestine or all over the world”. [14] [15] In July 2024, he opened a new and expanded 3,500-square-foot flagship and test kitchen forYellow located in Union Market. [4] [16] In September of that same year, Rafidi opened a third restaurant, La' Shukran that is styled after a French bistro and located in Union Market on top of his Yellow location. [17] [18] [19]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "The 2024 Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  2. ↑ "Chef Michael Rafidi's innovative Middle Eastern cuisine has made him a star". npr.com. 3 August 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Carman, Tim (12 June 2024). "D.C. chef Michael Rafidi's Beard Award is a 'huge moment for Palestinians'". The Washington Post .
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Michael Rafidi, Masako Morishita Get Top Honors at James Beard Awards | The Georgetowner". georgetowner.com. 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  5. 1 2 Maryam, Sayeedah (2024-06-13). "Palestinian Chef Michael Rafidi Wins James Beard Culinary Award". Vogue Arabia. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  6. ↑ "Rising Stars Chef Michael Rafidi and Sommelier Brent Kroll Will Open a Restaurant and Wine Bar in Navy Yard - Washingtonian". 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  7. 1 2 Tuder, Stefanie (2015-09-23). "Michael Lee Rafidi IN as RN74 Executive Chef With Baller New Menu". Eater SF. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  8. 1 2 "Arroz Chef Michael Rafidi Will Lead the Kitchen at Requin at the Wharf - Washingtonian". 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  9. 1 2 3 "Arroz and Requin Chef Splits With Mike Isabella - Washingtonian". 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  10. ↑ Sietsema, Tom (12 October 2017). "Arroz means rice — and so much more". The Washington Post .
  11. ↑ "Here Are the Finalists For the 2018 RAMMY Awards - Washingtonian". 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  12. ↑ "The 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalists | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  13. ↑ "The 2023 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Nominees | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  14. ↑ "D.C. chef Michael Rafidi's Beard Award is a 'huge moment for Palestinians'". The Washington Post . 12 June 2024.
  15. ↑ White, Gemma. "Palestinian chef Michael Rafidi wins prestigious James Beard culinary award in Chicago". The National. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  16. ↑ Chang, Lulu (2024-07-10). "D.C.'s Acclaimed Levantine Cafe Yellow Unveils Its Largest Location Yet". Eater DC. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  17. ↑ Spiegel, Anna (2024-09-18). "Albi chef opens hotly anticipated La' Shukran at Union Market". Axios. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  18. ↑ "La' Shukran Opens With a Middle Eastern Take on a French Bistro and Bar". 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  19. ↑ Caplan, Evan (2024-09-18). "Step Inside La' Shukran, D.C.'s Funky New Levantine Hot Spot". Eater DC. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
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