Windows on the World chef Michael Lomonco escaped 9/11 but dedicates cooking to friends he lost

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, chef Michael Lomonaco was heading up to his office at Windows on the World at 8:15.

Although he had an appointment at LensCrafters at noon, he stopped in the lobby of 1 World Trade to see if he could get his glasses fixed earlier.

Since 1997, Lomonaco had overseen the kitchens of Windows as well as Wild Blue and the Greatest Bar on Earth, which sat on the 106th and 107th floors of the building.

“It was a special experience for anyone I’ve ever spoken to,”remembers Lomonaco of the restaurants. “It was memorable. It was life altering. It had something to do with the location. It was such a magical way to see New York.”