The Ethiopian-born Chef, who lives in Harlem with his wife, model Maya Haile, was invited by the White House last fall to prepare the Obama’s first State Dinner. First Lady Michelle Obama called him “one of the finest chefs in the country.” Samuelsson was the youngest-ever chef to receive a three-star restaurant review from The New York Times in 1995. He has won three James Beard Awards, a prestigious recognition that is akin to “winning the Olympic gold medal for chefs.” Samuelsson has been named as one of “The Great Chefs of America” by the Culinary Institute of America.