Spike Mendelsohn

Early Life and Culinary Training

Spike Mendelsohn was born in Montreal, Quebec, on 15 December 1980, into a family with a deep history in the restaurant business. His mother is of Greek descent and his father is Jewish, contributing to a culturally rich upbringing. When Mendelsohn was thirteen, his family relocated to Seville, Spain, where they lived for three and a half years and he attended school in Marbella. The family later moved to Clearwater Beach, Florida, where they owned and operated a restaurant in St. Petersburg until its sale in 2004. Mendelsohn gained his first hands-on experience working various positions in this family establishment, laying the foundation for his future career. He pursued formal culinary education at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, graduating in 2005. During his studies, he formed a lasting friendship with fellow chef Marcel Vigneron, and his training was further honed through stages with world-renowned chefs. These formative experiences included working for Gérard Boyer at Les Crayères in Reims, France, Thomas Keller at Bouchon in California's Napa Valley, Sirio Maccioni at Le Cirque, and Drew Nieporent at Mai House in New York City. Mendelsohn has noted in interviews that his family has been in the restaurant business for centuries, citing his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Restaurant Empire and Culinary Ventures

In 2008, Spike Mendelsohn launched his first independent restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery, in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Washington, D.C. The burger-focused eatery quickly developed a devoted following, notably attracting visits from President Barack Obama and his staff in 2011. This success led to the formation of the Sunnyside Restaurant Group with his family in 2008, which expanded to include several other concepts. Mendelsohn opened We, The Pizza, also on Capitol Hill, and later introduced Béarnaise, a French-inspired bistro. In the summer of 2017, he closed Béarnaise and replaced it with Santa Rosa Taqueria. A significant shift towards plant-based cuisine came in 2019 with the opening of PLNT Burger, a vegan restaurant featuring Beyond Meat products, inside a Whole Foods Market in Silver Spring, Maryland. By November 2020, PLNT Burger announced major brick-and-mortar expansion plans for 2021, and by 2026, his restaurant group was entering a new growth phase, beginning to franchise We, The Pizza to expand nationally. Beyond brick-and-mortar locations, Mendelsohn has co-founded several consumer-focused brands. He is a co-founder of Just Ice Tea, an organic and fair-trade bottled iced tea company rooted in transparency and ethical sourcing. He also serves as co-founder and chef of Eat the Change (ETC), a platform dedicated to promoting climate-friendly and health-conscious dietary choices, which was inspired by a partnership with Beyond Meat chair Seth Goldman.

Spike Mendelsohn opened his first restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery, in Washington, D.C.'s Capitol Hill in 2008. In the summer of 2017, he closed his restaurant Béarnaise and opened Santa Rosa Taqueria in its place. In 2019, he opened PLNT Burger, a vegan restaurant featuring Beyond Meat, inside a Whole Foods Market in Silver Spring, Maryland. His restaurant portfolio also includes We, The Pizza, which he is beginning to franchise nationwide. Beyond restaurants, Mendelsohn is a co-founder of the bottled iced tea brand Just Ice Tea.

• 2008: Opens Good Stuff Eatery in Washington, D.C.'s Capitol Hill and forms the Sunnyside Restaurant Group.
• 2010s: Opens We, The Pizza and the French bistro Béarnaise.
• 2017: Closes Béarnaise and opens Santa Rosa Taqueria in its place.
• 2019: Launches PLNT Burger in Silver Spring, Maryland.
• 2020: PLNT Burger announces major expansion plans for 2021.
• 2020s: Co-founds Just Ice Tea and the platform Eat the Change (ETC).
• 2026: Announces plans to begin franchising We, The Pizza nationwide.

Television and Media Career

Mendelsohn first gained widespread public recognition as a contestant on the fourth season of Bravo's Top Chef, which was set in Chicago and aired in 2008. He finished in fifth place and was subsequently featured on several related programs, including Top Chef: All Stars in December 2010 and Life After Top Chef in the fall of 2012. His television presence expanded to include appearances as a competitor on Food Network's Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs in the fall of 2011 and Next Iron Chef: Redemption in November 2012. Mendelsohn has also served as a guest correspondent on CBS's The Early Show during the summer of 2011 and made appearances on a wide array of popular shows such as Good Morning America, The View, Rachael Ray, VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live, and The Queen Latifah Show in February 2014. In recent years, he has taken on roles behind the camera and in judging positions. He served as a judge on Top Chef: Canada and hosted select episodes of Spike TV's Bar Rescue. Mendelsohn was also the executive producer of The Inn at Little Washington: A Delicious New Documentary, which premiered at the Virginia Film Festival and aired nationally on PBS.

Food Policy Advocacy and Public Service

Parallel to his culinary and media work, Spike Mendelsohn has established himself as a committed advocate for food equity and sustainability. His advocacy work includes long-term partnerships with nonprofit organizations such as DC Central Kitchen and CARE International, for which he served as a Chef Ambassador for their Chefs' Table Program. In February 2015, his dedication to systemic change led to a formal public appointment by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Mendelsohn was named the first chairman of the District of Columbia's Food Policy Council, a role he continued to hold for years. In this capacity, he championed key initiatives aimed at improving the quality of school lunches, ensuring equitable access to healthy foods for all residents, and protecting vital nutritional assistance programs like SNAP. This advocacy is a throughline in his business ventures, influencing the ethical sourcing for Just Ice Tea and the mission-driven focus of the Eat the Change platform. His expertise and leadership were formally recognized in early 2026 when he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, The Culinary Institute of America. CIA President Michiel Bakker stated that Mendelsohn's passion for food, hospitality, sustainability, and food equity would be an asset to the college as it celebrated its 80th year. The board provides expert governance for the not-for-profit college and consists of 25 leaders from the foodservice industry who are not compensated for their services.

Publications and Cultural Impact

Mendelsohn has contributed to culinary literature, authoring The Good Stuff Cookbook in 2010 in collaboration with his sister, Micheline Mendelsohn. His influence on American food culture is perhaps most iconically tied to the creation of the Prez Obama Burger in 2009, a menu item at Good Stuff Eatery designed to honour President Barack Obama's inauguration. The burger's popularity was bolstered when President Obama and several senior staff members visited the restaurant for lunch in March 2011. The group included Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew, White House Director of Legislative Affairs Rob Nabors, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Nancy DeParle, Vice President Biden's Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, and National Economic Council director Gene Sperling. In collaboration with White House chef Sam Kass, Mendelsohn later added the Michelle Melt to the menu as a tribute to First Lady Michelle Obama, who was also a frequent visitor. Mendelsohn has actively supported public health campaigns, including Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative, by featuring a White House Easter Egg Roll event in 2013. His engagement with community projects also included a March 2011 partnership with Washington's Sixth & I Historic Synagogue to launch a lunchtime kosher food truck, addressing the local shortage of kosher deli options by serving staples like corned beef sandwiches and knishes.

Selected Television Appearances and Roles

Spike Mendelsohn made his television debut as a contestant on Top Chef: Chicago. He later competed on Top Chef: All Stars and Food Network’s Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs and Next Iron Chef: Redemption. Mendelsohn has been featured on other shows such as Iron Chef America, Bar Rescue, Good Morning America, and The View. More recently, he served as a judge on Top Chef: Canada and hosted select episodes of Bar Rescue. He was also the executive producer of a documentary about The Inn at Little Washington.

In 2010, Spike Mendelsohn was featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine giving five dating tips. In February 2013, he hosted a celebrity chef beach volleyball tournament at the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival. His current media work includes hosting the In The Weeds Podcast, a chef-driven podcast that features conversations with influential voices in the food industry. The podcast includes many graduates of the Culinary Institute of America.

Personal Life and Recent Activities

Spike Mendelsohn lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and son. His personal interests include surfing, which he pursues on any river or ocean that has a wave when he is not working in the kitchen or engaged in policy advocacy. In early 2026, a major professional milestone was his appointment to the Board of Trustees of The Culinary Institute of America, a role in which he helps guide the college's strategic direction. He continues to be active as a culinary consultant and product developer, bringing his perspective to various projects. His career now represents a blend of hands-on restaurant operations, media production, brand creation, and sustained advocacy for a more equitable and sustainable food system.

Questions about Spike Mendelsohn

What is Spike Mendelsohn's connection to President Obama?

Mendelsohn's Washington, D.C. restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery, became a favourite dining spot for the Obama family. In 2009, he created the Prez Obama Burger in honour of the presidential inauguration. In March 2011, President Barack Obama personally visited the restaurant for lunch with five members of his senior staff, including Jack Lew and Gene Sperling. Mendelsohn also collaborated with White House chef Sam Kass to create the Michelle Melt in honour of First Lady Michelle Obama.

What restaurants does Spike Mendelsohn own?

Mendelsohn's restaurant group includes several concepts primarily in the Washington, D.C. area. His flagship is Good Stuff Eatery, a burger restaurant opened in 2008. His portfolio also includes We, The Pizza, Santa Rosa Taqueria, and the plant-based PLNT Burger. He previously operated the French bistro Béarnaise before converting it to Santa Rosa Taqueria in 2017. As of 2026, he has begun franchising We, The Pizza for national expansion.

What is Spike Mendelsohn's role in food policy?

Mendelsohn is a prominent food policy advocate. He was appointed by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in February 2015 as the first chairman of the city's Food Policy Council. In this role, he has championed improvements to school meal programs, advocated for equitable access to healthy foods, and worked to protect federal nutrition assistance programs. His advocacy also extends to his work with nonprofits like DC Central Kitchen and CARE International.

Where is Spike Mendelsohn from?

Spike Mendelsohn was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is of Greek and Jewish heritage. When he was thirteen years old, his family moved to Seville, Spain, where they lived for three and a half years and he attended school in Marbella. Later, the family relocated to Clearwater Beach, Florida, and operated a restaurant in St. Petersburg, Florida until its sale in 2004. This international upbringing and early exposure to the restaurant business through his family significantly influenced his culinary career.

Has Spike Mendelsohn been on Top Chef: Canada?

Yes, Spike Mendelsohn has served as a judge on Top Chef: Canada. This role is part of his extensive television career, which began with his fifth place finish on the fourth season of the American Top Chef in 2008. His other media appearances include being a competitor on Next Iron Chef, a guest on numerous talk shows, and the host of select episodes of Bar Rescue. He also executive produced a documentary about The Inn at Little Washington that aired on PBS.

What recent appointments or projects has Spike Mendelsohn undertaken?

In February 2026, Spike Mendelsohn was appointed to the board of trustees of the Culinary Institute of America, from which he graduated in 2005. He currently hosts the chef driven In The Weeds Podcast. His business projects include beginning to franchise his restaurant We, The Pizza and co founding the plant based platform Eat the Change, which launched PLNT Burger. He is also a co founder of the organic iced tea brand Just Ice Tea and continues his advocacy work in food policy and sustainability.

Sources and further reading

• Spike Mendelsohn (Wikipedia)
• CIA Appoints Chef Spike Mendelsohn To Board of Trustees (ciachef.edu)
• CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA APPOINTS CHEF ... (prnewswire.com)
• Spike Mendelsohn (plantforwardkitchen.org)

Checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-24.