Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson has built a reputation for thriving in high-pressure environments. By age 24, the Ethiopian-born and Swedish-raised culinary star had become the executive chef at New York City’s Aquavit, making history as the youngest recipient of a three-star review from the New York Times shortly thereafter.
Over the years, Samuelsson has established himself as a leading restaurateur in New York, launching successful venues like Red Rooster in 2010, Hav & Mar in 2022, and Metropolis in 2023. He has also penned cookbooks and memoirs, becoming a familiar face on the Food Network.
Now, as a husband and father, Samuelsson is venturing into a new domain. He has partnered with West Elm to launch a 32-piece home goods collection inspired by his Scandinavian and Ethiopian heritage, as well as his life in New York City.
In a recent interview with Quartz, Samuelsson discussed the evolving landscape of dining out in 2024, his creative inspirations, and his future career plans. He reflected on how COVID-19 lockdowns have changed people’s dining habits, noting that the experience of ordering food at home has improved significantly. Consequently, diners now seek more from the dining experience, desiring excellent service and a sense of community when they go out.
The atmosphere at his restaurant Red Rooster, located in Harlem, is notably enhanced by live music, which Samuelsson believes reinforces the community spirit. He emphasizes the importance of integrating local culture into his establishments and contributes by paying local musicians.
Regarding his collaboration with West Elm, Samuelsson expressed his lifelong passion for creativity, sharing that he has been painting since he was a teenager. In his role as a chef, he frequently collaborates with architects and enjoys the process of design. He praised West Elm for being receptive and open to his ideas throughout the collaboration and highlighted the fusion of bright woods from his father’s fishing village in Sweden with African-inspired prints in the collection.
Despite his diverse creative pursuits, including painting, writing, and designing furniture, Samuelsson always returns to cooking as his central passion, emphasizing that he feels most confident and experienced in this area. Cooking remains a foundational aspect of his life, whether it involves shopping for ingredients or sharing food with his family.