Michael Lee Rafidi (c. 1985) is a Palestinian American chef and restauranteur. Rafidi was named the 2024 the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef of the Year and also owns the Michelin star restaurant, Albi.
Career
Rafidi worked at Michael Mina’s restaurant RN74 in San Francisco, California. At RN74, Rafidi held the role of executive chef.
In 2017, Rafidi moved to Washington, D.C. and became the executive chef at Arroz, a Spanish restaurant owned by restauranteur Mike Isabella. 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.
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. In that same month, The RAMMY Awards nominated Rafidi as a finalist for Rising Culinary Star of the Year.
In February 2020, Rafidi opened Albi, located in Washington, D.C's Navy Yard.
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. In June of that same year, Rafidi’s restaurant Albi earned a Michelin Star. Also in 2022, Rafidi opened Yellow in Georgetown, a sister restaurant to Albi that also focuses on Levantine-inspired cuisine.
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.
In June 2024, Rafidi was named The James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef of the Year. 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”. In July 2024, he opened a new and expanded 3,500-square-foot flagship and test kitchen forYellow located in Union Market. 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.
References
- ^ "The 2024 Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- "Chef Michael Rafidi's innovative Middle Eastern cuisine has made him a star". npr.com. 3 August 2024.
- ^ Carman, Tim (12 June 2024). "D.C. chef Michael Rafidi's Beard Award is a 'huge moment for Palestinians'". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Michael Rafidi, Masako Morishita Get Top Honors at James Beard Awards | The Georgetowner". georgetowner.com. 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ^ Maryam, Sayeedah (2024-06-13). "Palestinian Chef Michael Rafidi Wins James Beard Culinary Award". Vogue Arabia. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- "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.
- ^ Tuder, Stefanie (2015-09-23). "Michael Lee Rafidi IN as RN74 Executive Chef With Baller New Menu". Eater SF. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ^ "Arroz Chef Michael Rafidi Will Lead the Kitchen at Requin at the Wharf - Washingtonian". 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ^ "Arroz and Requin Chef Splits With Mike Isabella - Washingtonian". 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- Sietsema, Tom (12 October 2017). "Arroz means rice — and so much more". The Washington Post.
- "Here Are the Finalists For the 2018 RAMMY Awards - Washingtonian". 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- "The 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalists | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- "The 2023 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Nominees | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- "D.C. chef Michael Rafidi's Beard Award is a 'huge moment for Palestinians'". The Washington Post. 12 June 2024.
- White, Gemma. "Palestinian chef Michael Rafidi wins prestigious James Beard culinary award in Chicago". The National. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- Chang, Lulu (2024-07-10). "D.C.'s Acclaimed Levantine Cafe Yellow Unveils Its Largest Location Yet". Eater DC. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- Spiegel, Anna (2024-09-18). "Albi chef opens hotly anticipated La' Shukran at Union Market". Axios. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- "La' Shukran Opens With a Middle Eastern Take on a French Bistro and Bar". 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- Caplan, Evan (2024-09-18). "Step Inside La' Shukran, D.C.'s Funky New Levantine Hot Spot". Eater DC. Retrieved 2024-11-29.