Michael Kramer - Recipe for Success

Michael Kramer

Michael Kramer grew up in Los Angeles, California, an avid surfer and outdoor enthusiast. After years of competing as a semi-professional cyclist, Kramer shifted his competitive drive into a completely new career--that of a world-class chef. He earned an associate degree in culinary arts from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco in 1991.

Kramer trained under some of the country's most impressive chefs, including Roland Passot of La Folie, Wolfgang Puck of Spago and Dean Fearing of The Mansion on Turtle Creek. From each experience Kramer came away with newfound expertise: from Passot, he learned the art of butchering; from Puck, how to make sauces; and from Fearing he developed his style of full-restaurant management.

Kramer focuses entirely on the value of ingredients, creating elegant, modern dishes, with clean flavors and stylish presentations. Drawing on French techniques and West Coast roots, Kramer has developed a style that he calls, "Progressive American Cuisine."

Chef Kramer is the owner of The Tasting Room and now the new Felix 55. Chef Kramer donates his time to Recipe for Success Chefs in Schools at MacGregor where he teaches a fourth grade class every month.

2018 Chef of the Year
Kevin Naderi, Roost

Chefs Advisory Board

Beginning in the late 1990's Chef Monica Pope joined in Gracie's efforts to establish a group of concerned chefs who were willing to get involved in a hands on way to teach kids to cook. Twenty-four answered the call and in 2006, we established our Chefs Advisory Board, a working committee with Monica as its Chair. Through the years, more and more chefs have joined our founding members, and today we have over 100 members in Houston and across the country. Monica Pope continues to lead the team as Chair Emeritus.

These busy professionals donate their time month after month, year after year, bringing their unique insight and perspective of food to the children, turning on their taste buds and opening their minds to new foods. It's a Recipe for Success! Would you like to join us? Get in touch and get started today!

The Foundation's Chefs Advisory Board served as inspiration for the White House campaign for Chefs Move to School! Six members of our Chefs Advisory Board joined members of our Board of Directors at the White House in June 2010 for the kick-off of Chefs Move to Schools! where Recipe for Success was featured as a national model and resource. See pictures here. And read about the trip here and here.