Celebrity Chef Michael Symon Looks To Travel For His New Collection With Frontgate

Forbes

2 days ago

Celebrity chef Michael Symon and his wife, Liz Symon.
Travel and destinations all over the globe are a source of inspiration for many things I love- food, fashion, home decor, and even beauty products. Now, Frontgate, my favorite brand for the most luxurious and long-lasting sheets and towels I've ever tried, is debuting a gourmet collection that evokes travel- more specifically, the Mediterranean- at its core.
Called the Frontgate x Chef Symon Collection and available online as of July 29th, the beautiful and transporative pieces were created in collaboration with the celebrity chef Michael Symon and his wife, Liz Symon. They include serveware such as charcuterie and breadboards, dinnerware with Mediterranean motifs, and barware, such as a brass ice bucket I can't wait to get. Kitchen essentials- canvas bread cloths, a chef's apron, and salt & pepper shakers- are also part of Chef Symon's lineup.
He took impetus from his Greek-Sicilian heritage and the bungalow in Venice he owns with Liz to bring it to life. According to a release from Frontgate, 'the collection captures the spirit of their everyday grill-to-table hosting style, where bold flavors, beautiful design, and easy company unite.'
I had a chance to interview Chef Symon in advance of the debut. I asked him about the places that have influenced his culinary journey, what bringing travel home means to him, and the essentials he can't hit the road without.
Your travels inspire the collection. Can you tell us about some of the destinations that have most profoundly influenced your culinary and design sensibilities?
Our travels to Italy and Greece, as well as my heritage, have profoundly inspired this collection. That Mediterranean way of life with slow meals, big tables, and food flowing really stuck with us. The textures, colors, and even the pace of life in those regions played a significant part in how we approached the look and feel of this collection. This design philosophy, rooted in excellence, a passion for gathering, and a blend of gourmet and creative influences, makes this collection a perfect fit for Frontgate. The collection truly embodies the shared core principles we both value. It helps enable you to truly enjoy your guests and relax throughout the party.
Mediterranean-inspired dinnerware from Michael Symon's new collection with Frontgate. ... More
Beyond the culinary aspect, what specific design elements, textures, or colors did you encounter during your travels that directly influenced the aesthetic of the Frontgate collection? Are there any less obvious inspirations that might surprise people?
You'll notice details like the beautiful walnut-finished mango wood, brass accents, and vibrant enamel finishes, all designed to highlight the artisan craftsmanship and refined materials. A less obvious inspiration is truly rooted in our personal entertaining dynamic. I'm definitely the grill master, while Liz excels at creating the perfect dining setting for our guests. We often say I'm the 'grill' and she's the 'table,' and that duality deeply influenced the aesthetic of this collection. It's meant to feel special yet easygoing, and seamlessly move from preparation to presentation, just like our own approach to entertaining with a patio full of guests. I think Frontgate customers, who know my style and our longstanding partnership, will be genuinely excited to see this collection come to life.
When you think about the concept of "bringing travel home," what does that mean to you, and how have you tried to capture that essence in this collection?
For me, 'bringing travel home' is all about creating pieces that look beautiful, but also feel lived in, loved, and ready for real life. It's about taking those elements of time away; the aesthetics, the feelings, the memories and weaving them into your everyday to inspire new memories. This is so important because Frontgate's customers, like Liz and me, really value that elevated lifestyle and the chance to infuse their homes with the cherished moments and aesthetic inspiration from their own journeys.
The breadboard from Frontgate's collection with Michael Symon is inspired his love of visiting local ... More bakeries.
Beyond the general Mediterranean inspiration, can you share an example of a specific item in the collection and the travel memory or discovery that directly led to its creation?
A particular and perhaps surprising inspiration is the hand-sponged technique utilized on our dinnerware. This technique was initially encountered by Liz and myself on tiles in a quaint antique shop in Sicily, prompting a desire to incorporate them into our home. This led to the decision to adapt the motif for our dinnerware, ensuring each piece possesses a unique, artisanal quality while retaining an approachable, relaxed feel.
The breadboard is also definitely inspired by our travels, as one of my favorite things to do daily is head to the local bakeries in the towns we are in and buy a beautiful loaf of bread to enjoy throughout the day. We do the same when we are home and love giving this as a gift to friends for special events: perfectly baked local bread and a beautiful bag and board to serve it.
How does your background as a chef, and your deep understanding of food and entertaining, translate into the design and functionality of these pieces? Are there any "chef's secrets" or practical considerations you've incorporated?
The biggest thing for me is that we try to have tools that have multiple uses, present big but store small & help elevate our presentations and ease of service. These are all things we do in our restaurants that make things feel more seamless to the guests.
What's next for you in terms of design or future collaborations? Are there other aspects of your travels or culinary journey you'd love to explore in future collections?
We're actually adding to the collection in Spring 2026! I'm always exploring new aspects of my culinary journey. While I can't reveal specifics yet, you can expect more pieces that embody bold flavors, a passion for gathering, and creative influences, staying true to our philosophy of creating pieces that look beautiful, but also feel lived in, loved, and ready for real life
Frontgate x Chef Michael Symon Serving Trays.
Carry-on or check-in?
Carry on almost always. I like to get off the plane and get to where is am going, and way too often I have had the dreaded lost baggage. As people who spent half their lives traveling, we are pretty crafty packers!
What do you always bring back from a trip?
Liz and I always try to find salt and pepper shakers from where we have been and some kind of small pottery, whether it be for the kitchen or the garden.
What are your travel essentials?
A combined charger for phone and watch, small electric clippers, headphones (no matter what), and bag of pistachios (when I remember them!).
What are your favorite hotels?
We always try to stay in the heart of cities, as Liz and I both love walking to explore. We prefer a small boutique hotel if we can find one, and if it has a tub and a balcony, that is a huge bonus. Room size isn't important to us, we are rarely in the room, therefore we are way more worried about location.