Cooking, Eating, and the Gulf Oil Spill: Chef Michael Cimarusti of Providence in Los Angeles (Interview)

As part of our coverage of Blue August, Planet Green is interviewing chefs around the country to get their takes on the Gulf Oil Spill and how it might affect the future of the region's vibrant food culture. This is the third interview in the series; read Chef Joey Campanaro's interview and Chef Eric Ripert's interview for more.

Michael Cimarusti is chef and owner of Providence in Los Angeles, CA.

His passion and curiosity for food was ignited at an early age by his grandmother, Jo Cimarusti. In the great Italian culinary tradition his grandmother, alongside his great-grandmother and aunts, made sure that every Sunday get-together was an event. Cimarusti can trace his reverence for ingredients and proper technique back to those Sunday family meals.

Michael Cimarusti's mastery of seafood cookery and his knowledge of fish and seafood has earned him international recognition and countless accolades as chef and owner of Providence in Los Angeles. Since its inception, Providence has consistently been ranked among the best restaurants by leading critics and publications Bon Appetit named Cimarusti, "A leader of the newest generation of American chefs". Providence garnered a coveted James Beard nomination for "Best New Restaurant" in the United States, "Top 20 New Restaurants" by Esquire Magazine, and "World's Top New Restaurants" by Travel and Leisure. Gourmet Magazine named Providence as one of the top 50 restaurants in the US. Providence was awarded two Michelin Stars in the Michelin Dining Guide for 2009.

Cimarusti is an "Iron Chef America" Champion besting his respected opponent, Masaharu Morimoto, as well as appearing as a contestant on Bravo's "Top Chef Masters". He was nominated for "Best Chef: Pacific Region" by the James Beard Foundation in 2010. Most recently, Cimarusti was named "2010 Chef of the Year" by Angeleno Magazine.