This Is What Michael Symon Eats In A Day - Exclusive

No one knows how to eat quite like Michael Symon. The award-winning chef grew up in a Greek and Sicilian family, and was introduced to cooking at an early age (via Food Network). Years later, Symon went on to compete on Iron Chef America, befriended stars like Bobby Flay, and taught America how to properly barbecue through his work on programs like BBQ Brawl, exploring the rich cooking tradition (via Michael Symon). While Symon has experimented with a variety of culinary techniques and cuisines throughout his career, the chef (like many) has recently had to downsize slightly, only cooking in his own home.

"The past year [I've] only stayed at home," Symon said in an exclusive interview with Mashed. "Typically I would say I stick at home a bit, but I got to be honest, I can't wait to start eating out again. Literally, the stove [in my kitchen] has cooked every meal for the past year. So even myself, who loves cooking and cooks constantly, am very much looking forward to sitting in restaurants on a regular basis again and having dinner with friends."

Though excited to return to restaurants and take a break from the kitchen, Symon has a few classic meals he still loves to make at home.

Of course, it's not only restaurant dining that chef Michael Symon can't wait to get back to. "My favorite food changes a lot," he said. "A dish that I miss a lot ... is my mom's lasagna. I don't see her as much as I used to, so I do miss that quite a bit."

Lately, Symon has also been enjoying longer projects. "For cooking, I love anything that's a process," Symon continued. "I enjoy the process of food and the technique of food. So the reason that barbecue always pulls me in is because it's not like I put it on a grill, it's done. It's like, 'All right, I've got the wood going, I got the smoker going,' and now this is anywhere from a four to 14 hour process, which I enjoy."

"I love making salami, like hanging prosciutto. I like the process of watching something and I'm not worried about the instant gratification of it. So I wouldn't say it's a specific item, but the slow technique of cooking, whether it's a braise, or smoking, or curing meats, or any of those kinds of things, or pickling things, or fermenting things, that's always been my favorite thing about food."

While Michael Symon loves to cook up barbecue and smoked meat when he can, sometimes time doesn't allow for drawn out meals. In these situations, the chef has a handful of reliable dishes that keep him moving through the day. "I typically have some version of eggs for breakfast," Symon said. "I love cooking eggs. It's usually either like a super-soft scramble, or a runny omelet, or a really hard fried egg. When I fry an egg, I like it to be super-crispy on the bottom, but with my scrambled eggs, I like them to be like custard."

"I do enjoy a smoothie every once in a while, which might surprise people, but it's a great way to start the day," Symon continued. "You know, through the pandemic, our bigger meal was typically in the middle of the day, and then it was a little bit lighter at dinner time. I don't know if that's the pandemic or I'm getting older. But we just kind of mix it up."

"We roast a lot of chickens. I love a great roasted chicken. We eat a lot of pasta, I love a simple Bolognese, or Pomodoro, or Carbonara, or a classic Alfredo. So a good amount of pasta. And obviously I'm living with my wife, Liz, and then Katie, our culinary director has been with us through the pandemic too. And they eat tons of vegetables. So I've probably consumed more vegetables and salads and such this year than maybe in my whole life. I don't feel any healthier, but allegedly I am."

You can see what chef Michael Symon is regularly cooking up on his Instagram page. The chef also recently began a partnership with Diplomático Rum, so be sure to check the company website for recipes and cocktails featuring the liquor.