These women have decades of restaurant industry experience between them, have won multiple James Beard Foundation awards, and run some of the most popular restaurants across the country. They’ve scaled the pinnacle of their profession, yet they continue to be inspired by their peers.
In honor of Women’s History Month, ten of the most acclaimed chefs across the country nominated their favorite female chefs and restaurateurs and shared why they’re so darn inspiring. One lauded a chef’s activism post 9/11, another heralded a restaurateur for giving Indian food a place in the fine-dining pantheon, and a third was inspired by a chef’s eco-conscious efforts in the kitchen.
Read on to learn about ten accomplished female chefs and their culinary heroes.
The responses have been edited for clarity.
Chef: Iliana de la Vega, chef and owner of El Naranjo in Austin
Nominee: Barbara Sibley, chef and owner of La Palapa in NYC
Barbara is a talented, knowledgeable chef who has created an amazing place where she serves great Mexican dishes from her childhood in Mexico City. From tacos to moles, she has something for everyone. Barbara is also a great activist who prepared food for the fire fighters during 9/11 and donated thousands of meals during the pandemic.
Chef: Evelyn Garcia, chef and co-owner of Houston’s Jūn
Nominee: Stephanie Izard, the Chicago and Los Angeles chef and restaurateur behind Girl & the Goat, among others
I’ve looked up to chef Stephanie Izard ever since I was a young kid attending The Culinary Institute of America. Her food is not only delicious, but also eclectic and fearless, and has always been inspiring to me. I admire her leadership and how she has carried herself and [her] business as a celebrity chef, as well as the care she has for her team and restaurants as she expands.
Chef: Barbara Sibley
Nominee: Rohini Dey, owner of Chicago’s Vermilion
Rohini Dey has always been an inspiration as a restaurateur, entrepreneur, and activist advocating for women in the restaurant industry. She founded Let’s Talk Womxn in July 2020, a collaboration of women restaurateurs to counter the pandemic and build scale together. Rohini is a staunch supporter of women in business and education of girls on a global level. To redress the “gastro-ceiling” in her industry, she co-founded the James Beard Foundation Women’s Leadership Program in 2011, which she led and chaired for a decade. Rohini went entrepreneurial [to open Vermilion], driven by her conviction that Indian cuisine in the United States was confined to stereotypes. US fine dining is excessively Euro-centric, and most global cuisines are marginalized to an “ethnic” fringe.
Chef: Star Maye, chef and owner of Ellen 1929 in Nashville
Nominee: Zephyr Wright, late activist and chef
Zephyr Wright was an African-American civil rights activist and personal chef for President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson from 1942 until 1969. Wright was an influence in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She was able to have such a difficult conversation over food and change this country. Food has the ability to change lives if we allow it.
Chef: Beverly Kim, chef and co-owner of Chicago’s Parachute and Wherewithall
Nominee: Rachel Yang, chef and co-owner of Seattle’s Joule
I admire Rachel because she has been at the forefront of accessible fine dining in Seattle. I love how her restaurants integrate the open kitchen feel into the dining room. She has been inspiring to me as a fellow Korean American woman, chef, entrepreneur, and working mom.
Chef: Kathy Fang, chef and co-owner of Fang Restaurant in SF
Nominee: Nancy Oakes, chef and co-owner of Boulevard, also in SF
Nancy Oakes is an iconic and award-winning chef whom I respect immensely. I grew up dreaming about going to her restaurant, and when I finally did, it was a dream. And to this day, Boulevard still holds the same prestige. Everything about it, from the space to her food, evokes memories of old-school San Francisco. She is a piece of San Francisco history and a gem to the culinary food scene.
Chef: Melissa Perello, chef and owner of SF’s Frances and Octavia
Nominee: Renee Erickson, chef and owner of Seattle’s The Whale Wins, Bateau, and others
I’ve been a fan of Renee’s cooking for many years, but her latest cookbook, Getaway: Food & Drink to Transport You, was a joy to read, and an immersement in the travel experiences that galvanize so many to pursue a career in the kitchen. To add to that, her work as an eco-conscious business owner makes Renee the pinnacle of chefs in my mind, and certainly a North Star for female leadership in our industry.
Chef: Nancy Oakes
Nominee: Kim Alter, chef and owner of Nightbird in SF
Kim’s refined sense of seasonality carries a complete thought through her menus. I love her choice of ingredients and have enjoyed her past more casual adventures just as much as her refined vision at Nightbird. She always brings a playful element that defines her personal expression of a strong culinary talent. And, of course, there will always be a place in my heart for the Linden Room [the adjoining cocktail bar to Nightbird], such a great homage to the classic cocktail bar.
Chef: Bonnie Morales, chef and co-owner of Portland’s Kachka
Nominee: Ella Bakh, chef and owner of Dediko in Vancouver, Washington
Ella Bakh has accomplished what few have dared to even try. After decades of working in a completely different industry, she went to culinary school and opened a successful restaurant, Dediko, a beautiful homage to her native Georgian cuisine. What’s more is that she is passing down her family heritage to her son, Nick, who operates the restaurant alongside his rockstar mom.
Chef: Ella Bakh
Nominee: Maia Acquaviva, chef and owner of NYC’s Oda House
Maia Acqaviva helped us beyond words at the start of developing our vision to create our small restaurant here in Vancouver, Washington. Maia embodies the heart and soul of Georgian cuisine. Her open heart and passion is centered around the ideal of sharing food and culture at the table with friends and family. Maia’s generosity in sharing her skills with such ease exemplifies the woman that she is and the qualities we strive for in ourselves.
