Michael Rado

Cleveland raised, Pittsburgh approved Butcher, Chef, World Traveler, and vagabond. Michael was born 20 August 1978 in Western New York and moved around as a child, settling in the Greater Cleveland Area in 1987. After graduating Medina High School in 1996, he traveled between Cleveland and Pittsburgh honing his trade as a cook. In 2004, Michael moved to Hyde Park, New York to attend the Culinary Institute of America, where he graduated the following year with honors. Upon graduation, Michael and his fiance Katie Yek moved to Las Vegas, where he trained under culinary luminaries Daniel Boulud and Joel Robuchon. In 2009, Michael and the newly minted Mrs. Rado moved to Pittsburgh to open the Rivers Casino. They bought a home, and in 2010 their first and only child, Pearl Anne was born. In 2013, they begged, borrowed and stole every dime they could get to open Butcher on Butler, which opened its doors February 21st, 2014. Shortly thereafter, television came calling to this bearded, tattooed butcher, first with The Next Great Burger, followed by Delicious Destinations and then, fulfilling a lifelong dream, Michael was cast on The Amazing Race Season 29. When not cutting meat and making sausage, Michael can be found singing with The Cheer'ly Men, fishing, hunting, camping or doing anything outdoors, playing ice hockey, and most importantly, spending time with his family.