Mike Solomonov, together with his twenty-year business partner Steve Cook, has redefined Israeli cuisine in the U.S., and beyond. With five James Beard Awards, including Zahav’s “Outstanding Restaurant” accolade in 2019, he is celebrated for honoring Israel’s diverse culinary traditions through innovative flavors and vibrant settings. His Philadelphia-based restaurant group includes beloved concepts like Dizengoff, Goldie, K’Far, Laser Wolf and Jaffa Bar, with recent expansion in New York, and as of March 2025, expansion to Miami as well, with a new spot — AVIV — inside the 1 Hotel South Beach. Through his acclaimed cookbooks and the launch of Zahav Restaurant Recipe Hummus at Whole Foods, Mike continues to share his signature approach to Israeli flavors with a nationwide audience. Outside of the restaurants, you can often find Mike with Steve at Pho 75 in South Philly, working out the kinks in their Israeli village.