Let’s Eat: World Tour of Food

Where are the best Women Chefs?

Research shows that 4.7% of chefs and head cooks in the US are female, while in the UK women make up just under 20% of chefs. The statistic is thought to be even lower when it comes to fine dining restaurants. (1)

Michelin just added 13 newcomers to its guide of the best restaurants in New York City — none of which have female chefs at the helm. In fact, of the 77 restaurants in the five boroughs that now have at least one Michelin star, only 6 have women running the kitchen: Take Root (Elise Kornack), The Breslin (April Bloomfield), La Vara (Alexandra Raij), Delaware & Hudson (Patti Jackson), Aquavit (Emma Bengtsson), and Uncle Boons (Ann Redding). That’s less than 8%. (2)

This makes no sense!

So, I reviewed three top food ranking lists recently to begin to create a target list of restaurants. I am working to do more to support the few women who are recognized and encourage further growth in the numbers of successful women chefs. It’s time for my Tour of Food. My goal is to visit as many restaurants on this list as possible, planning several micro-trips. Fly in. Dine. Fly out. Join me in this new adventure and let me know if you have visited any of these spots.

World 50 Best

Only three female chefs, each of whom co-runs a restaurant with a man, made the list.

Pía León, who runs Lima, Peru’s Central with Virgilio Martinez, and came in 5th
Elena Arzak, who runs Arzak in San Sebastian, Spain, with father Juan Mari Arzak. Their restaurant, known for “modern Basque” cuisine, came in 30th.
New York City Mexican restaurant Cosme, by Daniela Soto-Innes and Enrique Olvera, ranked 40th.

James Beard Winners

Mexico – no women but I REALLY want to go to these restaurants. …. so ….

Enrique Olvera, Pujol, Mexico City
Jorge Vallejo, Quintonil, Mexico City

New Orleans

Michael Stoltzfus and Kristen Essig, Coquette, New Orleans
Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits, New Orleans (Wine)
Galatoire’s Restaurant, New Orleans (Service)
Rebecca Wilcomb, Herbsaint, New Orleans Best Chef: South (AL, AR, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, FL, LA, MS)

Portland

Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton and Greg Denton, Ox Portland, OR Best Chef: Northwest (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY)
Maya Lovelace, Mae, Portland, OR (Rising Star)

Los Angeles

SUZANNE GOIN,
http://thelucquesgroup.com/restaurants.html

Other

Bertha’s Kitchen, Charleston, SC Owners: Julia Grant, Linda Pinckney, and Sharon Coakley (Woman led)
Sahadi’s, Brooklyn, NY, Owners: Christine Sahadi Whelan, and Ron Sahadi (Woman led)
Schultz’s Crab House, Essex, MD, Owners: Karen and Bob McKinney (Woman led)
Nora Pouillon, Restaurant Nora, Washington, D.C. 2017 JBF Lifetime Achievement Award

Michelin Guides

Dominique Crenn
Atelier Crenn, 3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA
Dominique Crenn is the first female chef from North America to lead her restaurant – Atelier Crenn in San Francisco – to two Michelin stars.

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