3 Michelin Star Chef Michael Cimarusti Part One: Big Flavor Bourbons, Italian Honey Bees and Celebrating 3 Stars with the Health Inspector - Life of Luxe Podcast
Description
On this episode of the Life of Luxe Podcast, Ben and Joel interview Michael Cimarusti, chef and co-owner of Providence and Connie & Ted’s in Los Angeles. Providence just celebrated 20 years in business and they were one of two LA Restaurants to get three Michelin stars in 2025. https://providencela.com/
On this episode:
- Italian honey bees
- Picking Barrels with Freddie Johnson
- Michael’s Go to Bourbons
- Quita Michel Restaurants in Kentucky
- How Providence has evolved over 20 years
- 2 Stars and Michelin peaced out
- Namedropping and Michelin event drama
- “I must just be dumb”
- Closeness of the food industry
- The first 3 star service and I was escorting the health inspector around the building
- Restaurant folks are a different breed
On the Menu:
- 2022 Stagg Barrel Pick: Providence. 64.6 abv/129.2 proof
- Life of Luxe Rare Character Rye
- Bombagers PFC
About Chef Cimarusti:
Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in fine dining, Michael Cimarusti is a James Beard Award-winning chef, acclaimed seafood authority, and passionate sustainability advocate. With a career spanning more than three decades, he has helped define modern American seafood through a blend of refined technique, reverence for the ocean, and an unwavering commitment to responsible sourcing.
As executive chef and co-owner of Providence & Connie and Ted’s in Los Angeles, Cimarusti has led Providence to the forefront of West Coast fine dining since its opening in 2005. Under his leadership, Providence has become synonymous with excellence, retaining two Michelin stars since 2008 and earning the distinguished Green Michelin Star for its dedication to sustainable practices. In 2025, the restaurant celebrates its 20th anniversary and one of only two Los Angeles restaurants to achieve Michelin’s highest honor, three stars.
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Cimarusti honed his skills in the kitchens of legendary establishments such as Spago, Le Cirque, and Water Grill, where he garnered national acclaim for his innovative seafood menus. In 2013, he opened Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood—a casual New England-style eatery inspired by his Rhode Island upbringing and love for honest, briny coastal fare.
His accolades include the James Beard Award for Best Chef: West (2019), as well as regular appearances on culinary television programs like Top Chef, MasterChef, Hell’s Kitchen, and Mind of a Chef, where he continues to inspire the next generation of chefs and advocates.
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