2023 Chefs

Washington, DC

Chef Michael E. Bonk grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. After a short stint working in finance, Chef Bonk decided to pursue his career in the food world. He attended culinary school at The Art Institute of Philadelphia. After graduation, Chef Bonk moved to the DC area where he has worked under well-known chefs at award-winning restaurants, such as Vidalia with Chef RJ Cooper and Mio with Chef Nicholas Stefanelli.  In 2009, Chef Bonk took an Executive Sous Chef job at Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar working under Chef Nicholas Sharpe. In February 2011, Chef Bonk became the Executive Chef of Sonoma. Since then, he has worked to bring Sonoma back into the spotlight as a neighborhood restaurant by creating a great menu and involving himself more in the community. One example includes becoming the adopted chef of Brent through Michelle Obama’s “Chefs Move to Schools Program.”