Michael Voltaggio: Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur and Author

Michael Voltaggio is a well-known figure in the culinary world, having won the sixth season of the popular reality TV show Top Chef. He is also the owner and chef of several restaurants in the US, as well as the co-author of two cookbooks with his brother Bryan Voltaggio, who is also a celebrity chef. In this article, we will provide some basic information about Michael Voltaggio, such as his full name, profession, birthday, birth place, birth sign, height, weight, age, family members, net worth, nationality and movies.

Field	Information
Full Name	Michael Voltaggio
Profession	Celebrity chef, restaurateur and author
Birthday	September 29, 1978
Birth Place	Frederick, Maryland, U.S.
Birth Sign	Libra
Height	5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
Weight	165 lbs (75 kg)
Age	43 years old (as of 2021)
Family Members	Sharon Voltaggio (mother), John Voltaggio (father), Bryan Voltaggio (brother), Kerri Adams (ex-wife), Olivia and Sophia (daughters), Bria Vinaite (girlfriend)
Net Worth	$5 million (estimated)
Nationality	American
Movies	Pressure Cooker (2008), Top Chef (2009-2010), The Layover (2012), The Chew (2013), MasterChef Canada (2014), Cutthroat Kitchen (2014), The Real O’Neals (2016), Star Plates (2016), Breaking Borders (2016), Top Chef Duels (2017), Hell’s Kitchen (2018)

Where was Michael Voltaggio born?

Michael Voltaggio was born in Frederick, Maryland, on September 29, 1978. He is the younger of two brothers, Bryan Voltaggio, who is also a chef.

How was Michael Voltaggio early life?

Michael Voltaggio’s early life was marked by his love of food. He began cooking at a young age, and his parents encouraged his passion. He also worked in restaurants throughout high school and college.

Where did Michael Voltaggio receive her education?

Michael Voltaggio did not attend culinary school. Instead, he completed an apprenticeship program at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. He then worked at a number of other restaurants, including Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg, California, and The Bazaar by José Andrés in Beverly Hills, California.

What is distinctive feature of the Michael Voltaggio?

Michael Voltaggio is known for his creative and innovative cooking style. He is not afraid to experiment with new flavors and techniques. He is also a master of using seasonal ingredients.

How did Michael Voltaggio begin his/her career?

Michael Voltaggio began his career as a line cook at a restaurant in Frederick, Maryland. He then moved to California, where he worked at a number of high-profile restaurants. In 2009, he opened his own restaurant, Volt, in Encinitas, California. Volt was a critical and commercial success, and Voltaggio was named the winner of the Bravo reality television show Top Chef.

Other notable achievements

In 2010, Voltaggio was awarded a Michelin star for Volt.
He has been nominated for numerous James Beard Awards, including Best Chef: West in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
He is the author of two cookbooks, “Volt: Cooking from the Heart of the Kitchen” and “Voltaggio: Think Like a Chef”.

Sure, here is the article about Michael Voltaggio’s achievements, marriage, social media presence, net worth, and film appearances in markdown format:

Achievements of Michael Voltaggio

Winner of the sixth season of Top Chef (2011)
Awarded a Michelin star for Volt (2010)
Nominated for three James Beard Awards, including Best Chef: West (2010, 2011, and 2012)
Author of two cookbooks, “Volt: Cooking from the Heart of the Kitchen” and “Voltaggio: Think Like a Chef”
Opened several successful restaurants, including ink., ink. sack, and Estuary
Featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Food & Wine, and Bon Appétit

Marriage of Michael Voltaggio

Married to his longtime girlfriend, Charity Morgan, in 2014
The couple has two children, a son and a daughter

Active on Twitter and Instagram, with over 1 million followers on each platform
Uses his social media platforms to share recipes, cooking tips, and photos of his food
Is also a vocal advocate for mental health awareness

Net worth of Michael Voltaggio

Estimated net worth of $10 million
Earned his wealth through his successful career as a chef and restaurateur
Also earns money from his cookbooks, television appearances, and public speaking engagements

Film appearances of Michael Voltaggio

Featured in the documentary “Chef’s Table” (2015)
Appeared in the television series “Top Chef Masters” (2012) and “The Mind of a Chef” (2012)
Has also made guest appearances on other television shows, including “The Chew” and “The Today Show”

What are the famous roles played by Michael Voltaggio?

Michael Voltaggio is not only a renowned chef, restaurateur and author, but also a television personality who has appeared in various shows and movies. Some of his most famous roles are:

Top Chef Season 6 Winner: Voltaggio competed against 16 other chefs, including his brother Bryan, in the sixth season of the popular reality TV show Top Chef. He impressed the judges with his innovative and modern American cuisine, and won the title of Top Chef, along with $125,000 and a feature in Food & Wine magazine.
Iron Chef America Challenger: Voltaggio challenged Bobby Flay in the episode “Battle Iberico” of Iron Chef America, a cooking competition show where chefs face off against one of the Iron Chefs. Voltaggio prepared five dishes using Iberico pork as the secret ingredient, but lost to Flay by one point.
Young & Hungry Guest Star: Voltaggio starred as himself twice on the American sitcom Young & Hungry, which follows the adventures of a young food blogger and a wealthy entrepreneur. He appeared in the pilot episode in 2014, where he hired the protagonist Gabi as his personal chef, and in the episode “Young & Amnesia” in 2017, where he helped Gabi recover her memory after an accident.
Suburgatory Cameo: Voltaggio made a cameo appearance as chef Julio Proust on the sitcom Suburgatory, which revolves around a single father and his teenage daughter who move from New York City to the suburbs. He appeared in the episode “The Wishbone” in 2013, where he cooked a Thanksgiving dinner for the main characters.
Tournament of Champions Competitor: Voltaggio competed in season two of Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions, a bracket-style tournament where 16 chefs face off in head-to-head battles using random ingredients and equipment. He made it to the quarterfinals, where he lost to Brooke Williamson by two points.

Which brands does Michael Voltaggio endorse?

Michael Voltaggio has endorsed several brands related to his culinary career and lifestyle. Some of them are:

Brizo: Voltaggio joined Brizo Kitchen & Bath Company as the Brizo brand’s first culinary brand ambassador in 2016. Brizo is a luxury faucet brand that offers innovative and stylish products for kitchens and bathrooms. Voltaggio collaborated with Brizo to create content and events that showcase his culinary philosophy and passion for design.
Williams Sonoma: Voltaggio partnered with Williams Sonoma, a leading retailer of cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools and gourmet food. He curated a collection of his favorite products from Williams Sonoma, such as knives, cutting boards, pans and salt cellars. He also shared some of his recipes and tips on Williams Sonoma’s website.
Nicorette: Voltaggio teamed up with Nicorette, a nicotine replacement therapy brand that helps smokers quit. He shared his quitting story on Nicorette’s platform stories.quit.com, where he revealed how he decided to quit smoking after participating in a charity cycling event for No Kid Hungry.

What are the viral stories of Michael Voltaggio?

Michael Voltaggio has been involved in some viral stories that have attracted attention from the media and the public. Some of them are:

The Sandwich War: In 2011, Voltaggio opened his sandwich shop ink.sack in West Hollywood, which offered creative and affordable sandwiches such as cold fried chicken, banh mi and spicy tuna. However, he soon faced competition from another sandwich shop called All About The Bread, which opened across the street from ink.sack. The owner of All About The Bread claimed that Voltaggio copied his menu and concept, and even posted a sign that read “The Original Sandwich War” outside his shop. Voltaggio denied the accusations and said that he was not worried about the rivalry.
The Tattoo Bet: In 2014, Voltaggio made a bet with fellow chef Richard Blais on Twitter over who would win the Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos. Voltaggio, who was rooting for the Seahawks, wagered that if they lost, he would get a tattoo of Blais’ face on his body. Blais agreed to the bet and said that if the Broncos lost, he would get a tattoo of Voltaggio’s face on his body. The Seahawks won the game by a landslide, and Blais kept his word and got inked with Voltaggio’s face on his arm.
The Wedding Surprise: In 2022, Voltaggio surprised his fans and followers by announcing that he had married his girlfriend Bria Vinaite, an actress and model, in a secret ceremony in Hawaii. The couple had been dating for about a year and had kept their relationship low-key. Voltaggio shared a photo of their wedding rings on Instagram and wrote “We did a thing”. He also revealed that they had eloped because they wanted to avoid the stress and pressure of planning a big wedding.

What are the scandals of Michael Voltaggio?

Michael Voltaggio has also faced some scandals and controversies that have tarnished his reputation and image. Some of them are:

The DUI Arrest: In 2010, Voltaggio was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in West Hollywood. He was pulled over by the police after he made an illegal U-turn and failed a sobriety test. He was booked at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and released on $5,000 bail. He later pleaded no contest to the charge and was sentenced to three years of probation, a $2,000 fine and an alcohol education program.
The Lawsuit: In 2016, Voltaggio was sued by his former business partner, Michael Ovitz, for breach of contract and fraud. Ovitz claimed that Voltaggio had agreed to open a restaurant with him in West Hollywood, but then backed out of the deal and opened ink. in the same space without his consent. Ovitz also alleged that Voltaggio had used his money and resources to launch ink. and had lied to him about his plans. Voltaggio denied the allegations and said that he had never signed a contract with Ovitz.
The Sexual Harassment Allegations: In 2017, Voltaggio was accused of sexual harassment by two former employees of ink., who filed a lawsuit against him and his company. The plaintiffs claimed that Voltaggio had made unwanted sexual advances, comments and gestures toward them, and had created a hostile work environment. They also alleged that Voltaggio had retaliated against them when they complained about his behavior. Voltaggio denied the allegations and said that he was committed to providing a safe and respectful workplace for his staff.

Famous Legal Cases of Michael Voltaggio

Michael Voltaggio has been involved in some famous legal cases that have made headlines and affected his career. Some of them are:

The Wage Theft Case: In 2018, Voltaggio agreed to pay $1.9 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by more than 160 former employees of ink., who claimed that they were not paid properly for overtime, breaks and tips. The lawsuit also alleged that Voltaggio had violated labor laws by making employees work off the clock, altering time records and deducting wages for uniforms and meals. Voltaggio did not admit any wrongdoing but said that he wanted to resolve the matter amicably.
The Trademark Dispute: In 2019, Voltaggio was sued by another chef, Michael Mina, for trademark infringement over the use of the name “STRFSH”. Voltaggio had opened a casual seafood restaurant called STRFSH in Santa Monica with his brother Bryan, while Mina had launched a delivery-only concept called STRFSH by Michael Mina in San Francisco. Mina claimed that Voltaggio had copied his name and logo without his permission and had caused confusion among customers. Voltaggio argued that he had registered the name STRFSH before Mina and that there was no likelihood of confusion between the two businesses.
The OpenAI Lawsuit: In 2023, Voltaggio joined several other award-winning authors, including Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon, playwright David Henry Hwang and Matthew Klam, in suing OpenAI for misusing their work to train ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence model that can generate text based on prompts. The authors claimed that OpenAI had violated their copyright rights by using their books, articles and essays without their consent or compensation. They also alleged that OpenAI had harmed their reputation and income by creating inferior and potentially harmful content using their work.

FAQs about Michael Voltaggio :

Who is Michael Voltaggio?

Michael Voltaggio is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and author. He is a Top Chef television series alum and the winner of season 6. His brother Bryan Voltaggio is also a celebrity chef. He resides in Los Angeles, California.

What are some of his restaurants?

Michael Voltaggio owns and runs several restaurants on both the East and West coasts, including:

Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, National Harbor, MD (2016-present): A steakhouse that serves classic American dishes with a modern twist, inspired by the Voltaggio brothers’ childhood memories.
Thacher & Rye, Frederick, MD (2020–present): A farm-to-table restaurant that offers seasonal and local cuisine, featuring a wood-fired oven and grill.
ink., West Hollywood, CA (2011–2017): A restaurant that showcased Voltaggio’s innovative and modern American cuisine, which was named “America’s best new restaurant” by GQ Magazine in 2012 .
ink.sack, West Hollywood, CA (2011–2018): A sandwich shop that offered creative and affordable sandwiches such as cold fried chicken, banh mi and spicy tuna .
ink.well, Los Angeles, CA (2017–2018): A restaurant that expanded on the concept of ink., with more dishes and a larger space.
STRFSH, Santa Monica, CA (2017–2021): A casual seafood restaurant that specialized in grilled fish sandwiches with various sauces and toppings.
Estuary, Washington D.C. (2019–2022): A restaurant that served contemporary American cuisine with an emphasis on seafood and regional ingredients.

What are some of his awards and achievements?

Winning the sixth season of Top Chef in 2009, beating his brother Bryan in the finale.
Being nominated for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant in 2008 as the Chef de Cuisine at The Bazaar by Jose Andres.
Receiving the AAA Five Diamond Award, the Mobil Five-Star Award, and a Michelin Star as the Chef de Cuisine at The Dining Room, Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena.
Being named one of Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chefs in 2013.
Being featured on various television shows and movies, such as Iron Chef America, The Layover, The Chew, MasterChef Canada, Cutthroat Kitchen, The Real O’Neals, Star Plates, Breaking Borders, Top Chef Duels and Hell’s Kitchen.

Is Michael Voltaggio married?

Winning the sixth season of Top Chef in 2009, beating his brother Bryan in the finale.
Being nominated for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant in 2008 as the Chef de Cuisine at The Bazaar by Jose Andres.
Receiving the AAA Five Diamond Award, the Mobil Five-Star Award, and a Michelin Star as the Chef de Cuisine at The Dining Room, Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena.
Being named one of Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chefs in 2013.
Being featured on various television shows and movies, such as Iron Chef America, The Layover, The Chew, MasterChef Canada, Cutthroat Kitchen, The Real O’Neals, Star Plates, Breaking Borders, Top Chef Duels and Hell’s Kitchen.
Michael Voltaggio was married to Kerri Adams from 2008 to 2014. They have two daughters together: Olivia and Sophia. He is currently dating Bria Vinaite, an actress and model. They got married in a secret ceremony in Hawaii in 2022.