Only a few have made it to fame as a chef and restaurateur like Marcus Samuelsson. Chef at the Red Rooster in Harlem, New York, he is also a best-selling writer having published four cookbooks to date.
Samuelsson, who enjoys international acclaim, is also popular for his appearances on Inside Chef and Top Chef with Marcus Samuelsson. Interestingly, he is a visiting professor at Umea University of International Culinary Sciences.
Over the years, the chef has won several awards, including “Best Chef: New York City” in 2003, from the James Beard Foundation. The New York Times gave him a three-star restaurant review in the early ’90s, making him the youngest to receive it. Moreso, it has received a four-star rating from Forbes magazine four times in a row. What’s more, several notable projects by President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama had Samuelsson’s touch. He is a board member of the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program and Ambassador of the United States Fund for UNICEF.
Youth and rise to fame
Marcus Samuelsson was born on January 25, 1971 in a village in Ethiopia to his Ethiopian parents. At the age of 3, a Swedish couple adopted him and his sister Fantaye Tsegie, following the death of his mother.
He attended the Gothenburg Culinary Institute(Gothenburg) then apprenticed in Austria and Switzerland. In 1991 Samuelsson moved to the United States for an eight-month apprenticeship at the Aquavit restaurant. At the end of his time there, he joined a Swedish cruise ship but returned in 1994 to work under executive chef Jan Sendel. Just eight weeks later, Jan passed away and left a vacancy which Mr. Samuelsson was chosen to fill.
Marcus began to develop a passion for cooking amazing meals after watching his grandmother cook a variety of meals. She was a chef and taught him how to make ginger, cookies, meatballs and pickle fresh vegetables. Her love and appreciation for fresh local foods came from that side. On spices, Marcus revealed that this love came from his family in Ethiopia.
Her first time in a professional kitchen was when she was 14/15. His father encouraged him to follow his passion while making sure he was precise. It made the chef aware of improving every day. Samuelsson also worked in several small restaurants and at a local bakery. No wonder it has a touch of gold.
Marcus Samuelsson’s wife (Maya Haile)
Samuelsson married Maya Haile, a model, in 2009. Maya was born in Ethiopia and raised in the Netherlands. The model stands at 5 feet 9 inches.
Marcus and Maya had a destination wedding in Ethiopia and a large number of Maya’s family members attended the ceremony. They enjoyed the rich African culture of food and other ceremonial treats.
The couple live with their son in Harlem, New York, where two of Samuelsson’s twelve restaurants are also based.
His daughter and her parents
Marcus Samuelsson had a daughter, Zoe, before marrying his wife. Zoe is now a grown woman.
At the age of three, Samuelsson lost his biological mother to the tuberculosis epidemic in Ethiopia at the time. His father, who still lives in Marcus’ birthplace – an Ethiopian village – is an Orthodox priest from the Tewahedo Church. He was separated from his family due to the turmoil of civil war in Ethiopia in 1974.
Samuelsson’s real name is Kassahun Tsegie. Changed after he was adopted by Ann Marie and Lennart Samuelsson. Her older sister was also adopted by the same white couple. Ann is a housewife while Lennart is a geologist. The duo who lived in Gothenburg, Sweden have another adopted daughter, Anna Samuelsson.
The net worth of Marcus Samuelsson
The Swedish-Swedish restaurateur and chef, according to various sources, has an estimated net worth of $5 million. Thanks to its restaurants which include:
- Marcus B&P (Newark)
- Harlem Streetbird Rotisserie (Harlem)
- Marcus Bermuda
- Red Rooster (Harlem)
- Ginny’s Supper Club
- The Red Rooster Shoreditch (London)
- Tienda Roosteria (London)
- Uptown Brewery (New York)
- Kitchen and table (Manhattan)
- Nordia Bar & Grill
- Eatery Social
- Mark Burger
Height – How tall is it?
Although we haven’t confirmed Marcus Samuelsson’s height yet, he’s not a very tall man. His wife, Maya, is taller than him as she is 1.8m tall. Well, love triumphs, height included!
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