UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — An award-winning chef will share his unique interpretations of modern Israeli cuisine during the 24th annual WPSU Penn State Connoisseur’s Dinner and Auction on Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Nittany Lion Inn.
Chef Michael Solomonov — who earned the James Beard Award for “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” in 2011 — will serve a fusion of Middle Eastern, North African, Mediterranean and Eastern European flavors based on his signature Philadelphia restaurant, Zahav. The restaurant, which he opened in 2008, has earned praise from several publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
“The cool part about Israeli cuisine is that it’s a mix of centuries-old flavors from across the Mediterranean — Persian, Turkish, Middle Eastern, Eastern European — all of which are rooted in family tradition,” said Solomonov, who was born in Israel and raised in Pittsburgh. “The cuisine from Israel is constantly moving forward, and the cuisine at Zahav plays to that idea. It’s my take on those ancient recipes that will forever be deeply rooted, with an emphasis on cooking with ingredients of the season.”