Wikipedia

Michael Katz (chef)

Michael Katz
מיכאל כץ
Culinary career
Current restaurant
  • * Atilio

Michael Katz (Hebrew: מיכאל כץ) is an Israeli chef and culinary teacher.

He is a former teacher at London's Le Cordon Bleu institute, has worked in restaurants in multiple countries, and has opened and run restaurants and taught cooking in Israel.

Biography

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Katz was born and raised in Jerusalem, the son of Joseph Katz, a professor of theoretical physics at the Rakeach Institute of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Ruth Yardeni-Katz, a writer and educator. Following his time in the military, he went to Brussels to pursue culinary studies on his father’s recommendation.[1][2] For a period of five years, he studied and worked in Michelin starred restaurants.[3][4]

Career

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Katz returned to Israel after working abroad, where he opened restaurant Michael Andrew in Jerusalem, together with the restaurateur Andrew Jacobs.[5] The restaurant, which Clarissa Hyman described as "highly acclaimed" in The Jewish Kitchen,[6] was closed in 2001 as a result of the Second Intifada.[7] Katz moved to London, where for two years, he served as the head chef of Ruddland Stubbes and The Brasserie.[citation needed]

In 2004, Katz began teaching at the London branch of Le Cordon Bleu where he taught full-time for three years.[8][9][better source needed] At the time, he was the only chef from Israel to have taught there.[10] In 2005 he became a member of the Mastercooks of Belgium.[11] His restaurant Beam was named one of the "must-see restaurants in Jerusalem" by Ynet.[12]

After living in Mexico for 3 years, he returned to Israel in 2009 and was appointed executive head chef of the Adom restaurant group.[13][14]

Starting in October 2013, he served as the head chef of the Trattoria Haba restaurant, whose concept he developed with the Jerusalem-based Haba family.[15][16][17]

Until October 2021, Katz taught a course aimed at professional chefs at the Dan Gourmet Culinary Studies in Tel Aviv.[18] He opened Attilio, a culinary school in the high tech area of Or Yehuda in Israel named after a mentor, Attilio Basso.[19][20][21]

Katz has worked as a chef and culinary consultant in more than 20 countries.[22][page needed]

References

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  1. ^ Rogel, Rani. “Attilio – A Slightly Different Professional Cooking School.” Foodis, 13 July 2023. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
  2. ^ Cauchi, Stephen (21 May 2011). "Israel's cuisine not always kosher but travelling well". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. ^ Abdou, M., Samahy, N. E., Goldman, J. S., Perlman, L., Rogoff, M. (1999) Israel: The Complete Guide with Biblical Sites, Desert Adventures and Seaside Resorts, Fodor's, Random House Publishing, pp. 75.
  4. ^ Aner, Z., Rabin, E. (1999) The Chef's Kitchen, Hed Arzi Publishing House, Or Yehuda, pp. 86-89.
  5. ^ Joan Nathan , The Foods of Israel Today, New York: AA Knopf, 2001, p. 133.
  6. ^ Clarissa Hyman, The Jewish Kitchen: Recipes and Stories from Around the World , London: Conran Octopus, 2003, p. 35.
  7. ^ Palti, Michal. "It's a War on Fine Food in the Capital." Haaretz, 23 Oct. 2001
  8. ^ "Eight Who Know: Festive Dishes to Prepare for the Sede". מקור ראשון (in Hebrew). 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  9. ^ "Reforming US Immigration: A boon to Filipinos". Philippine Star.
  10. ^ Gordon, Buzzy (16 July 2025). "New and noteworthy in Jerusalem: Anna, Aluma and the Garden Terrace". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  11. ^ Brinn, David. “Dining: A Gourmet Experience.” The Jerusalem Post, 4 May 2016.
  12. ^ Levi, Lin. “The must-see restaurants in Jerusalem.” Ynet, 5 June 2016. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
  13. ^ Srinivasan, Pankaja (2 March 2017). "Take the dip". The Hindu.
  14. ^ Laor, Yael. “The hot trend: Three restaurants opened in hotels.”  Walla! Food. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
  15. ^ "La finesse des grands restaurants étoilés disponible à Jérusalem". The Times of Israël (in French). 17 August 2015.
  16. ^ Gordon, Buzzy. “From Michelin to Mahane Yehuda Market.” Ynetnews, 17 Aug. 2015.
  17. ^ Beloff, Ruth. "Dining: Trattoria Haba." The Jerusalem Post, 15 June 2015, Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
  18. ^ Ynet, 19 Dec. 2018. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
  19. ^ Leinoff, Audrey Lynn. “Food that bites: How Israeli cuisine has evolved over the past 77 years.” The Jerusalem Post, 1 May 2025.
  20. ^ Israel (2022-08-17). "Attilio: A New Cooking School". WinesIsrael - יין, אלכוהול, קולינריה, שמן זית וטיולים (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  21. ^ "How come they didn't think of this before? The salmon version of a glorious Beef Wellington". 13TV (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  22. ^ Rothfeld, Steven. Israel Eats. Gibbs Smith, 2016.