* Ecco, Long Island (2001–2004), * Onera, New York City (2004–2007), * Anthos, New York (2007–2010), * Mia Donna, New York City (2008–2009), * Kefi, New York City (2008–2020), * Gus & Gabriel Gastropub, New York City (2009–2010), * Fishtag, New York City (2011–2018), * MP Taverna, New York City (2013–2019)
Michael Psilakis was born in New York City, and is of Greek descent.[1][4]
Restaurant and food career
From 2001 to 2004, Psilakis managed restaurant Ecco on Long Island.[5]
The address of 222 West 79th Street in the Upper West Side, Manhattan has been home to many of Psilakis restaurants including Onera (from 2004 to 2007);[3][5][6][7]Kefi (from 2007 to 2009); Gus & Gabriel Gastropub (from 2009 to August 2010);[8]Fishtag (from 2011 to 2018);[7][9] followed by Kefi returning to this same location from 2018 until 2020, after Kefi had relocated for a period from 2009 until 2018 on 505 Columbus Avenue.[10][9][11] Restaurant Kefi had been the subject of multiple employee lawsuits.[12][13][14][15][16]
Donatella Arpaia and Michael Psilakis had co-owned Kefi, as well as Anthos at 36 West 52nd Street (2007–March 2010),[17][13][18] and Mia Donna (2008–September 2009).[19][20][21]
For his work at Anthos, Psilakis was named Esquire magazine's Chef of the Year in 2006.[22] In 2008, he received a Michelin Star for Anthos.[23] In 2008 he was named Bon Appétit'sChef of the Year.[24]
When BBC America created No Kitchen Required in 2012, Psilakis was chosen as one of three participants and a co-executive producer for the first series.[2] He has also appeared a number of times on Good Morning America, and has been announced as a contestant on the "Superstar Sabotage" tournament of Cutthroat Kitchen.[27]
Books
Psilakis has struggled with his body weight and wrote the 2017 book, Live to Eat: Cooking the Mediterranean Way (Little, Brown) to highlight easier ways to modify diet without losing flavor.[4]
