Michael Cimarusti

Chef

Chef Michael Cimarusti has helped define the top echelon of seafood in Los Angeles—and the country. At his restaurant, Providence, his impeccably crafted, sustainably sourced dishes have earned national recognition and accolades. After several nominations, including one for Best New Restaurant for Providence in 2006, Michael won for Best Chef West. Providence racked up two Michelin stars, has been named Top 50 Restaurants in the US by Gourmet Magazine, Best Seafood Restaurant by LA Magazine and Number One in Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants in LA Times. He’s appeared alongside Gordon Ramsey on MasterChef and has worked with some of the fine dining world’s most acclaimed names.

It’s fitting that Michael’s path to top seafood chef started on a boat. He was inspired early on fishing with his grandfather on crisp New England mornings and learning about his Italian heritage through his grandmother and great-grandmother’s recipes. Throughout his culinary rise, this reverence for tradition and ingredients codified and grew into the philosophical backbone of Providence.