Chef Shake-Up: Ron Siegel Jumps From the Ritz to Michael Mina

Image via Starchefs

By Meesha Halm

Big news in the world of fine dining - it looks like after eight years of helming the stoves at the Ritz-Carlton Nob Hill, executive Ron Siegel has flown the coop and has landed himself a gig as executive chef of Michael Mina’s San Francisco’s flagship restaurant Michael Mina. Siegel, a French Laundry alum who racked up accolades with his elaborate Japanese-tinged Cal-French tasting menus at the posh Dining Room and more recently at the more downscaled Parallel 37 iteration (not to mention a victory run as the first American chef to win the original Japanese version of the Iron Chef series), will be leaving the Ritz shortly.

The jump to Michael Mina actually makes a lot of sense. Siegel first worked with Mina back in 1991 as a line cook at AQUA (the same Californian St. kitchen where the new Mina now resides) and both share a mild obsession with weaving Japanese flavors and techniques into their otherwise European-based cuisine. According the news reports, Siegel and Michael Mina will work collaboratively to update the Michael Mina menu going forward.

As for Parallel 37, Ritz-Carlton spokesman Steven Holt tells us that he’s grateful for the vision that Siegel has provided for the Ritz both at the Dining Room and in the re-concepting to Parallel 37, and understands his desire to return to fine dining. Going forward the management is “looking for a chef-talent from the Bay Area who really understands the region and what San Francisco diners want" who can carry on the vision of Parallel 37, i.e. regionally sourced food and wine presented in an accessible simple manner. They’re looking at candidates who “already have that pedigree and reputation or might be an emerging talent.” Holt assures us that Siegel’s kitchen team at the Ritz is staying on and Siegel himself will continue to work at Parallel 37 for about a month while he hammers out the details of his transition between the two restaurants.