Matbucha And Mishpucha: Life As An Israeli-American Chef with Michael Solomonov
From Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam by Unpacked
May 27, 2026 · 37 min · Season 4 · Episode 41
About this episode
Michael Solomonov discusses his dual identity as an Israeli-American chef and the cultural significance of his restaurants.
For years, the famous Philly chef Michael Solomonov has grappled with his American and Israeli identities. What can his journey teach us about American Jews and their relationship with the Jewish state? In this episode exploring Jewish American Heritage Month, Michael shares his remarkable family history, how his restaurants tell the Israeli story in America, and his take on ranch dressing. To learn more about Zahav--and the rest of Michael's restaurants--visit https://www.zahavrestaurant.com/cns-family This episode is sponsored by RootOne. Join thousands of North American Jewish teens for a life-changing experience in Israel! Find out more about RootOne trips: rootone.org Get in touch at WonderingJews@unpacked.media. Follow @wonderingjews on Instagram, and watch and subscribe on YouTube. ------------ This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand. Subscribe to the Unpacked newsletter: https://unpacked.bio/22f7b4 For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History…
People in this episode
Hosts: Mijal, Noam
Guest: Michael Solomonov
Topics covered
- Israeli-American identity
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- family history
- Israeli cuisine
- restaurant culture
Keywords
- Israeli cuisine
- American Jews
- family history
- Zahav
- cultural identity
Sponsors
RootOne
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Unpacked
Books & works: Zahav
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