best-women-chefs

For a brief but heady time, the historic Beatrice Inn reigned as the most exclusive nightspot in New York City, cultivating a dubious reputation for its celebrity-heavy clientele and its neighbor-baiting wee-hour revelry. Needless to say, it was not known for its food. That perception is now changing, thanks to a new ownership group that notably includes…

Chef Jennifer Carroll honed her seafood skills working for the one of the greats, Eric Ripert, at famed fish spot Le Bernardin in New York City. But even that hallowed temple to aquatic delicacies doesn't provide its diners with proper waterfront views. Carroll's newly announced seafood-centric restaurant, Requin, in Washington, D.C., on the other hand,…

Elle is turning 30 years old, and the monthly publication is celebrating by honoring women in the restaurant industry. As the magazine's February issue points out, women have been doing incredible things in American restaurants for years, though not always getting the credit for it. Only six female chefs worldwide, for example, have been awarded…

Nira Kehar, the Montreal-born chef/owner of award-winning New Delhi restaurant Chez Nini, is one of a kind. Seriously, there are no other young female Indian-Canadian classically trained chefs launching their own genre-defying, Montreal-inspired (read: largely meat-based) culinary experiences in Delhi right now. Go ahead and check, but you won't find anyone else serving up high-end…

Mette Williams has certainly built quite the resume. She has worked extensively with the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group over her culinary career, operating in the kitchens of some of Los Angeles’ most popular restaurants, including Postrio, Spago and CUT. In a testament to the world we live in today, it was not her stellar…

On our recent trip to Chef Fest — Made In America, a celebrity chef-studded food and cooking event at Hawaii's Four Seasons Resort Hualalei, we learned to make this salad, starring none other than rich, milky, creamy buffalo mozzarella (mozzarella di bufala) at a kitchen demo with Nancy Silverton and Matt Molina of LA's Osteria…

I had always considered “chef crush” to be a largely fictionalized term, circulated by a certain (anonymous) Food Republic staff member, perhaps down on his/her recent dating prospects. That was all in the B.C.M Era, however — namely, before I met Irish chef Clodagh McKenna. And simultaneously began to ponder why I had never previously…

[caption id="attachment_68996" align="alignnone" width="700" ] After working for about 15 years as a professional model, Clarice Lam became a pastry chef.[/caption] Clarice Lam has not exactly taken the conventional route to becoming a renowned pastry chef. The former professional model has traveled to over 280 cities, living in 11 countries in the process before focusing…

[caption id="attachment_68429" align="alignnone" width="700" ] Aliya LeeKong brings her worldly background to the Thanksgiving table.[/caption] Aliya LeeKong is one of our favorite chefs in NYC, which is why we asked her to stop by the Food Republic Test Kitchen & Interview Lounge last month, to talk turkey and more. This is the same Aliya LeeKong…

Red Rooster Harlem owner and Food Republic co-founder Marcus Samuelsson is hosting pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith for a dinner celebrating the release of her new cookbook, Baking Out Loud. Join Hedy and Marcus in Harlem on October 2nd at 6:30 for a special menu featuring sweet highlights from the book. Related: Hedy Goldsmith, Miami's Maesto…

I like to present rapini (another name for broccoli rabe) as a really straightforward dish. Blanch rapini or broccoli, or any green in the broccoli family, in salted boiling water for less than a minute depending on thickness. Toss in olive oil, a little Fresno chili or red pepper flakes, and the grated zest and juice of…

Aside from the Triangle’s bustling food truck scene, the area comprising Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill in North Carolina boasts several impressive established and up-and-coming restaurants, many of which are quickly garnering attention throughout the Southeast. No part of North Carolina’s dining scene shines brighter than Andrea Reusing’s Lantern in Chapel Hill and Ashley Christensen’s…

Any food enthusiast worth their fancy rock salt grater will recognize Alex Guarnaschelli from Food Network, Cooking Channel and Bravo. Every food enthusiast should hit her NYC packed-to-the-gills hot spots Butter and The Darby. Her New American cuisine is...well, it's pretty darn close to perfect. You see, Guarnaschelli doesn’t believe in “the perfect dish.” The…

What's sexier, a woman who can literally fire up a wok (see photo) or a professional model? Thanks to Hong Thaimee, you no longer have to choose. Currently the Executive Chef at Ngam, a modern Thai comfort food joint in NYC, Thaimee was a model and television personality who decided food was more important than...well,…

Who's the best woman chef in the world? Well according to the people that brought us the World's 50 Best Restaurants (and who will unveil their 2011 list next week), it's none other than Anne-Sophie Pic, whose story is actually pretty amazing. She was one of the only female chefs to earn three Michelin stars…