Michael Psilakis

A long time front-of-house man with no professional cooking experience, Michael Psilakis took control of the kitchen when, as owner of his Long Island restaurant, Ecco, his chef simply failed to show up for work one night. Since then, his star as a chef and entrepreneur has risen considerably. He now owns three restaurants in Manhattan--Anthos, a showcase for his modern take on fine Greek dining; Kefi, a cozier spot that serves the more classic home cooking he grew up on; and, Mia Dona, a new Italian restaurant with a Greek bent. Psilakis lives in New York.