Biography
Simon grew up in Evanston, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago's North Shore region. He initially had plans to become a musician but eventually developed a passion for cooking. Simon attended school at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. While in school, Simon was in an apprenticeship with Jean Morel.
Upon graduation, Simon worked at restaurants such as La Côte Basque and Lutece before becoming the personal chef for notable persons such as John Addey and Saul Steinberg. In 1989 Simon was hired by Ivana Trump to be the executive chef in the Plaza Hotel's Edwardian Room and in 1991, Rolling Stone named him one of the top personalities of the year.
In 2001, Simon was approached by Elizabeth Blau and Peter Morton about partnering in a restaurant bearing his name and showcasing his cuisine, resulting in the October, 2002 opening of Simon Kitchen & Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The restaurant was selected as one of "America's Best New Restaurants" by Esquire Magazine.
Simon has partnered with several people to open many restaurants, such as the Blue Star, Starfish, Max's, and Mercury. He has also been a partner at Mercer Kitchen in Manhattan and executive chef/partner at Prime in Las Vegas.
Read more about this topic: Kerry Simon
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