Chef Michael Rossi
Raised in Orange County, Chef Michael Rossi
is a native of Orange, CA. His love of fine cuisine
began at an early age. While growing up in a close knit Italian
family that includes 24 grandchildren and 16 great
grandchildren, Chef Rossi found his
calling in a culinary career that would take him across the
globe.
 Chef Rossi attended the prestigious
California Culinary Academy
in San Francisco, where he graduated at the top of his
class. He then set forth on an international culinary
adventure to perfect his skills and follow his passion of
cooking.
Chef Rossi traveled to Maui, Hawaii to work alongside
famous Chefs Roy Yamaguchi & David Abella and learn all
about the traditional Hawaiian fusion cuisine.
Back in California, Chef Rossi continued
to develop his cooking style by working with the
Food Network's "Two Hot Tamales", Susan Fenniger
and Mary Sue Milliken, at
Border Grill in
Santa Monica, CA to learn the
heritage of Mexican cuisine.
In his quest for culinary perfection, Chef Rossi embarked on
another vision that took him to the world famous
Italian Culinary Institute for
Foreigners near Asti, Italy. It was here where Chef Rossi would
learn the complex techniques and savory flavors of regional
Italian cooking. While there, Chef Rossi worked in one of
southern Italy’s finest restaurants at Michelin starred
restaurant Il Principe
in Pompeii before finally landing in Bologna to work
alongside one of Italy's greatest chefs, Bruno Barbieri, at
Michelin 2-star restaurant
Locanda Solarola.
Chef Rossi returned once again to California, bringing with him
invaluable international cuisine experience that would serve
well as he spent time in some of California's nest
restaurants. He worked at Brentwood's superb Italian eatery
Vincenti
Ristorante with Chef Gino Angelini, was Executive Sous
Chef at Roy's
Restaurant in Newport Beach, Sous Chef with Chef Andrew
Sutton at Disney’s
Napa Rose in the Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland and Executive Sous
Chef in the Diamond Club at Angels Stadium, home of the Los
Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Chef Rossi is currently the Executive Chef at
Ambrosia
Restaurant, located in the OC Pavilion in downtown
Santa Ana.
The experience of working various venues
from small intimate settings to stadium sized gatherings
gives Chef Rossi a unique perspective on fine dining. The
cuisine of Chef Michael Rossi celebrates the “Seasonal
Marketplace”, embracing the special bounty of each season to
create a dynamic balance between the nest foods and wines.
Menus feature only the freshest meats, fruits, vegetables and
ingredients of the season.
Chef Rossi's Awards and Recognition:
-
Danielle Carlisle Walker Award
–California Culinary Academy, San Francisco, CA –
Awarded for his Culinary Achievement as Top Student in
Class 1997
-
Graduate of Italian Culinary
Institute for Foreigners, Costigliole d’Asti, Italy 1998
-
Court of Master Sommeliers, London,
England – Introductory Level Certification 2001
-
Jean Louis Palladin Foundation – Wine
Internship in Bordeaux, France 2005
-
Recognized as one of Orange County’s
“Young Guns”, a feature on Orange County’s Young Chefs,
by OC Metro Magazine 2006
-
One of Five Chef’s in America to be
inducted into the Fraternity of the
Côtes of Bordeaux
Wine Council, Bordeaux, France, in 2007. A collaboration
with the Jean-Louis Palladin Foundation in Washington
D.C.
http://www.blog-cotesdebordeaux.com/uk/events/bordeaux-fete-le-vin
-
Selected as the Best Chef/Restaurant
for Santa Ana in the 14th and 15th Annual ‘Best of
Orange County Guide’
-
Ambrosia Restaurant has been voted as
‘Best Restaurant in Orange County’ OC Weekly 2007 and
‘Most Romantic Restaurant’ & ‘Best Wine List’ Gayot
2007, awarded with 4-stars from Orange Coast Magazine
2008 (one of only two restaurants in Orange County with
4-Stars) and recognized by
OpenTable.com as OpenTable.com Diners Choice
as ‘Best Overall Restaurant in Los Angeles and Orange
Counties’ 2008
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