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Steve Samson didn't set out on a culinary career. He spent three years in Columbia University’s pre-medical program before enrolling at ICE. He then worked in several New York restaurants and before long, famed restaurateur Piero Selvaggio noticed him and sent him to hone his craft in two- and three-star Italian restaurants for more than a year. In 1999, Samson returned to the US and worked as sous chef of Valentino Las Vegas. Stints followed at Selvaggio’s Posto in Sherman Oaks and Valentino Santa Monica. His work at the later lead to a 2004 James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Restaurant, given when Samson was executive chef. He then joined David Myers’ Sona, and became executive chef and partner at Pizzeria Ortica when it opened in 2009. 

In 2011, Samson opened the now-iconic Sotto in Beverly Hills. Sotto quickly became one of the most highly regarded Italian restaurants in the city,  making regular appearances on numerous "Best of" LA lists, including a standing place on the Eater's "38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles" and was named "Best New Restaurant" by Los Angeles Magazine and one of Esquire's "Best New U.S. Restaurants" among many other accolades.

In 2019, Samson closed Sotto and shifted his focus squarely to his other restaurant Rossoblu (opened in 2017), and it's adjacent pizza concept, Superfine (opened in 2018). Rossoblu identifies itself as "the story of two places: Los Angeles and Bologna." The SoCal-Italian concept was an instant hit, with the Michelin Guide awarding it a Bib Gourmand status for several years running. It was also named a "Top 20 Best Restaurants" by the Los Angeles Times and a Conde Nast Traveler "35 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles." Eater LA also named it "Most Gorgeous Restaurant of the Year" in 2017 in addition to consistently placing it on their "38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles." 

Superfine, in its own right, has also won numerous accolades, including "Best Slice in LA" by TimeOut, "Best Pizza in LA" by Thrillist in addition to making Eater's "Best Pizzeria's in LA." With this early success, Samson and his partner and wife Dina Samson opened a second, stand-alone location, Superfine, Playa in 2023.

Beyond spending time in his various restaurants, Samson is a well-regarded judge in the world of food television with appearances on such iconic shows as Top Chef: All-Stars and Hell's Kitchen.