Marcus Samuelsson
Marcus Samuelsson
Marcus 'Joar' Samuelsson is an Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised chef and restaurateur...
NationalityEthiopian
ProfessionChef
Date of Birth25 January 1970
CityAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
CountryEthiopia
city type
Each city should have its own type of restaurant.
absolutely bringing love people teaching whether
Every day, whether I am teaching or entertaining - I absolutely love bringing different people and cultures together.
catching chance enjoying fan games tennis
While I'm more of a soccer and tennis fan myself, I still enjoying catching some football games when I get the chance.
aspects cultures food learn lessons living muslims opportunity unique
The opportunity here in the U.S. is so unique because we are so diverse, with so many different cultures living together. Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists, all with their own connections to the spiritual aspects of food and with lessons that we can learn from each other.
multicultural feels raised
I feel very fortunate that I was raised in a multicultural family, and it came through food.
hard-work cooking mentor
Cooking is in an honest profession where you cannot hide and let others do the work for you. You have to show up, work hard and prove you can do it faster and better. And find a mentor who will recognize your talent and push you in the right direction.
comfort uncomfortable
Getting to a place of comfort can be uncomfortable.
workout healthy important
Just like keeping a healthy diet is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating the right foods is just as important for getting the most out of your workout.
smart moving struggle
I love Europe, but we are still struggling with that kind of development. First of all, we don't have a smart conversation about the difference between an immigrant and a refugee. A refugee can't go back. An immigrant is someone - I chose to move to America. And I also have the option of saying hey, didn't work out, I can move back. That's a completely different story than someone who is locked in.
father book responsibility
One of the first things my father taught me was that the library was made for and available to me. It's a place where you not only learn from books but you learn responsibility - how to borrow, take care of, and give back.
boss cooking trying
If you're cooking for someone important - whether it's your boss or a date - never try a new recipe and a new ingredient at the same time.
spiritual strong hands
In Ethiopia, food is often looked at through a strong spiritual lens, stronger than anywhere else I know. It's the focal point of weddings, births and funerals and is a daily ceremony from the preparation of the meal and the washing of hands to the sharing of meals.
law america keys
America has been very open to immigrants in terms of laws, getting loans - it has been helping immigrants more than it's been helping African Americans in starting a small business. That's key, whether you're starting a restaurant or a laundromat.
winning expression games
You know that old expression "It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game". That line was definitely not coined by a chef. Because for a chef, it's only about whether or not you pull through. If you fail, nobody cares how hard you tried.