Where and when was the term California Cuisine born? The late 1970s brought to life a few Northern and Southern California restaurateurs along with like-thinking farmers, winemakers, and chefs. Michael's restaurant offered the best local ingredients cooked in ways that highlighted their natural qualities, paired them with complimentary wines, and served them in a relaxed yet stylish contemporary setting filled with fine art. 

Michael McCarty studied at University of Colorado, Boulder followed by Le Cordon Blue, Paris. He played a major role in defining this uniquely modern American attitude toward cooking, dining, and entertaining since 1979 when he opened his first acclaimed Michael’s restaurant in Santa Monica; Michael’s New York opened in 1989 and both continue to flourish.