People come up to me all the time and say, 'Oh, I love to watch Food Network,' and I ask them what they cook, and they say, 'I don't really cook.' They're afraid, they're intimidated, they know all about food from eating out and watching TV, but they don't know where to start in their own kitchen.

Awards and honors
In 1995 The Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine named Symon as Cleveland’s hottest chef. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as Iron Chef America Food Feuds and The Best Thing I Ever Ate as well as Cook Like an Iron Chef on the Cooking Channel and The Chew on ABC. He took a part time job at Gepetto's Ribs on Warren Rd.

Symon describes his cooking as "meat-centric. Additionally he owns Michael Symon's Roast (also known as Roast) in Detroit Michigan. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as Iron Chef America Food Feuds and The Best Thing I Ever Ate as well as Cook Like an Iron Chef on the Cooking Channel and The Chew on ABC.