Who Are The World’s Most Famous Female Chefs? (2023)

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Who Are The World’s Most Famous Female Chefs? (1)

While the stereotype of a woman’s place is in the kitchen exists, the culinary world is actually overrun by men! Ironic, isn’t it? Find out here the most famous female chefs.

It’s the societal norm to have industries run predominately by men, which is why it’s really impressive to have females taking over a male-dominated world.

We’re taking a look at some of the world’s best female chefs and giving them the recognition that they deserve.

12 Of The World’s Most Famous Female Chefs

  1. Julia Child

    Julia Child was responsible for sharing French cuisine with America. Her cookbooks made home cooking a breeze, but did you know that she only discovered her passion for cooking late into her thirties?

    Her first cookbook catapulted her to stardom when she decided to make an omelette on live TV. Julia was offered a TV show which turned her into the world’s first-ever celebrity chef. Brings a new meaning to ladies first!

    (Video) Meet The World's Best Female Chef: Daniela Soto-Innes

  2. Clare Smyth

    With three Michelin stars, Clare Smyth is one of only a few women in the world to have achieved this prestigious accolade. She was previously the chef patron at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. Clare has gone on to open her own London Michelin-starred restaurant, Core by Clare Smyth and is a force to be reckoned with in the culinary world.

    Clare has worked hard to reach this level of success and has mentioned that a big part of her drive was to prove that women are just as capable as men when it comes to striving and succeeding in their careers.

  3. Helena Rizzo

    Brazilian born model turned chef Helena Rizzo owns and manages the Mani Restaurant. The restaurant, established in 2006, is a joint venture with her husband, Spanish chef Daniel Redondo. Together they cook the ultimate Brazilian/Spanish inspired dishes fused with gastronomic practices. Helena won the Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef award in 2014.

  4. Catherine Ann Cora

    Catherine Ann Cora first studied Exercise Physiology and Biology before heading to the Culinary Institute of America to receive her culinary training. She was the first and only woman ever featured on ‘Iron Chef America’ and is currently the executive chef for Bon Appetit magazine. Catherine Ann also founded and is president of the Chefs for Humanity organisation and has worked alongside former first lady Michelle Obama to develop the Chefs Move to Schools campaign.

    Who Are The World’s Most Famous Female Chefs? (2)

  5. Elena Arzak

    Spanish chef Elena Arzak is sticking to her family’s ritual of women taking on the culinary world – she comes from a long line of female chefs.

    With her family’s support and guidance, she has been able to nurture her talents and excel in her career. Elena is currently head chef at Arzak restaurant, which she runs alongside her father. It is the highest-ranking restaurant in Spain.

  6. Cristeta Comerford

    Cristeta Comerford is famous for becoming the White House’s first female executive chef and also the first to belong to a minority group. She studied food technology but was unable to finish her degree due to immigration. Cristeta dived into the world of work as soon as she could, landing jobs at Westin Hotel, Le Ciel, Le Grande Bistro and Sheraton as a revolving chef.

  7. Lanshu Chen

    Taiwanese chef Lanshu Chen received her training from the prestigious Ferrandi School of Culinary Arts and Le Cordon Bleu – both in France. She is currently the head chef for Le Mout Restaurant Taiwan and received the Veuve Clicquot Asia’s Best Female Chef award in 2014. Her dishes are the ultimate fusion of French and Taiwanese cuisine and her culinary objective is to find the ideal balance of bitter, salty, sweet, and sour flavours.

    (Video) Who Is The World's Best Female Chef: Pía León

  8. Nadia Santini

    Nadia Santini is an award-winning chef with no official training. Despite this, she won the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Best Female Chef award in 2013. Nadia married into a restaurateur family and they own the Del Pescatore restaurant, which is three Michelin-starred. She is the first female Italian chef to achieve this.

  9. Sarah Barber

    Sarah Barber was the first-ever female executive pastry chef at the Hotel Café Royal and went on to open the first dessert restaurant at the establishment. She is currently leading the team at The Dorchester five-red-AA-star hotel.

  10. Elizabeth Falkner

    Elizabeth Falkner was destined to become a filmmaker and even graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute in her pursuit to do so. Elizabeth only discovered her passion for cooking after visiting Café Claude. She has gone on to become one of the most inventive and experimental pastry chefs the world has ever seen.Who Are The World’s Most Famous Female Chefs? (3)

  11. Alice Waters

    Alice Waters is viewed by many as the pioneer of American cuisine. She’s a proud supporter of cooking food using locally sourced, fresh organic products. Alice received a degree in French cultural studies from Berkeley and received her culinary training from the International Montessori School. Alice also spent some time in France to learn French cooking. Her restaurant Chez Panisse is known for her farm to plate methodology and continues to have a positive influence on the agricultural community. Alice also initiated the Edible Schoolyard Project and founded the Chez Panisse Foundation to fund these gardens.

  12. April Bloomfield

    April Bloomfield missed her opportunity to join the police force and decided to join her sister in attending a catering school. She soon realised her potential and went on to study at the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies.

    Alice has also worked at a variety of restaurants to become familiar with different culinary styles and techniques. The list includes Chez Panisse, Bibendum, Kensington Place and River Café. She owns two Michelin star restaurants, The Spotted Pig and The Breslin Bar & Dining Room.

It’s awe-inspiring to see what women have been able to achieve in the culinary world despite it being male-dominated. As the industry grows, we look forward to seeing how it evolves and changes as a result of the ladies who love cooking up a storm. This list is by no means extensive and we encourage you to find out more about powerful forces of the culinary industry, including the various chefs with the most Michelin stars.

Jump To a Section Below

(Video) Meet The World's Best Female Chef: Leonor Espinosa

  • 12 Of The World’s Most Famous Female Chefs
    • Julia Child
    • Clare Smyth
    • Helena Rizzo
    • Catherine Ann Cora
    • Elena Arzak
    • Cristeta Comerford
    • Lanshu Chen
    • Nadia Santini
    • Sarah Barber
    • Elizabeth Falkner
    • Alice Waters
    • April Bloomfield
(Video) Ana Roš - the world's best female chef | DW English

FAQs

Who is No 1 chef in world? ›

Alain Ducasse: 21 stars

He's also one of only two chefs to hold 21 Michelin stars throughout their career, and the first chef to own restaurants in three cities that each carried three Michelin stars.

Who is the best female chef in America? ›

Best Female Chefs in the U.S.
  • Dominique Crenn. San Francisco, CA. ...
  • Renee Erickson. Seattle, WA. ...
  • Suzanne Goin. West Hollywood, CA. ...
  • Stephanie Izard. Chicago, IL. ...
  • Jennifer Jasinski. Denver, CO. ...
  • Barbara Lynch. Boston, MA. ...
  • Anne Quatrano. Atlanta, GA. ...
  • Susan Spicer. New Orleans, LA.

Who is a female famous chef? ›

Host of her own TV show, Rachael Ray is probably the world's most famous female chef.

Who is the best girl chef in the world? ›

Meet Leonor Espinosa: The World's Best Female Chef marrying food with art and politics. From its jungles to its deserts: the world's newly-crowned best female chef, Leonor Espinosa, draws her inspiration from Colombia's vast biodiversity and painful history.

Who is the most decorated female chef? ›

Anne-Sophie Pic is the most decorated Michelin starred female chef in the world, currently holding ten Michelin stars across her restaurants.

Who is the hottest chef in the world? ›

Widely dubbed as the “world's hottest chef”, Noriega has amassed more than 235,000 Instagram followers, with a feed as much about bulging biceps as it about his food.

What are the top 5 chefs in the world? ›

Top 10 Chefs with the Most Michelin Stars
  1. Joël Robuchon: 31 Michelin Stars. ...
  2. Alain Ducasse: 21 Michelin Stars. ...
  3. Gordon Ramsay: 17 Michelin Stars. ...
  4. Pierre Gagnaire: 14 Michelin Stars. ...
  5. Martin Berasategui: 12 Michelin Stars. ...
  6. Yannick Alléno: 10 Michelin Stars. ...
  7. Andreas Caminada: 9 Michelin Stars. ...
  8. Anne-Sophie Pic: 9 Michelin Stars.
Aug 8, 2022

Who is the highest paid celebrity chef? ›

Who Is the Highest-Paid Chef in the World? The celebrity chef with the highest net worth is Alan Wong. While Alan Wong's net worth is often disputed, he is undoubtedly one of the most successful chefs in the world.

Who was the first famous female chef? ›

Eugénie Brazier
Born12 June 1895 La Tranclière, Ain, France
Died2 March 1977 (aged 81) Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, France
ChildrenGaston Brazier (son) (1914–1974)
Culinary career
5 more rows

Who is the most famous chef today? ›

Gordon Ramsay – 7 Michelin stars

Known for his volatile kitchen demeanour and exceptional British cuisine, Gordon Ramsay is arguably the most famous chef in the world. Although he's been awarded 16 Michelin stars throughout his career, he currently holds seven.

Who was the first female celebrity chef? ›

WGBH put The French Chef on the air on Feb. 11, 1963, and Julia Child became public television's first and most enduring star. Audiences fell in love with her wavering voice, fondness for wine and butter, eagerness to hack away with a knife, and customary closing phrase, "Bon appétit." The series ran for 10 years.

How many female master chefs are there? ›

Master Chef Statistics By Gender

33.2% of master chefs are women and 66.8% of master chefs are men.

Are there any female Michelin star chefs? ›

Overall, 6.04% of the 2,286 Michelin-starred restaurants are led by women and 6.73% of the world's best 100 restaurants have a female head chef.

Who is the female Michelin star chef in the US? ›

Dominique Crenn (born 1965) is a French chef. As of 2016 she is the only female chef in the United States to attain three Michelin stars, for her restaurant Atelier Crenn, in San Francisco, California.

What female chef went to jail? ›

In 2004, Stewart was convicted of felony charges related to the ImClone stock trading case; she served five months in federal prison and was released in March 2005.
...
Martha Stewart
Websitemarthastewart.com
Signature
7 more rows

How many 3 Michelin starred female chefs are there? ›

Other three-star female chefs have since followed, with the three Michelin star accolade remaining the pinnacle of many professional chefs careers. However, even today just five female chefs can be pinpointed in a list of over 130 three Michelin starred restaurants around the world.

Who is the Big Head Chef lady? ›

Giada Pamela De Laurentiis (Italian: [ˈdʒaːda paˈmɛːla de lauˈrɛnti.is]; born August 22, 1970) is an Italian-American chef, writer, and television personality.

Who is the most famous female cook? ›

1. Chef Julia Child. As a legend in the industry, Julia Child is a star both in the kitchen and on television.

Who is the most famous TV chef? ›

The eternally angry culinary critic Gordon Ramsay is one of the most famous chefs on TV, known for the harsh words he shares with the people on his shows like Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen.

Who is the best chef in the US? ›

Thomas Keller is the USA's most decorated chef, with a current total of seven Michelin stars.

Did Gordon Ramsay lost Michelin stars? ›

Despite losing his Michelin stars, Gordon Ramsay's restaurants remain some of the best in the world. In reality, three stars don't mean as much as they used to nowadays. What is this? That said, Gordon Ramsay is still regarded as one of the best chefs in London and elsewhere, making top-notch dishes.

What chef has most Michelin stars? ›

#1: Alain Ducasse

Throughout his career, he has operated over 30 restaurants, his most famous being Ducasse in Paris. Fun fact: While Alain Ducasse currently holds the most Michelin Stars, the late Joël Robuchon earned 31 stars throughout his lifetime.

Who is the youngest chef to get 3 Michelin stars? ›

Massimiliano Alajmo (born 6 May 1974) is an Italian chef. In 2002, at the age of 28, he became the youngest chef in history to be awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide.

Who is the highest paid chef on Food Network? ›

Today, he hosts six of his own shows at Food Network, and is the network's highest-paid star, inking a multi-year deal in 2021 for a reported $80 million. (Food Network declined to comment on Fieri's salary, though a source familiar with his deal tells Variety the figure is accurate.)

How much does head chef Gordon Ramsay get paid? ›

Ariel won “Hell's Kitchen” Season 18, which pitted Rookies vs. Veterans, on February 8, 2019. She earned a head chef position at Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen Restaurant at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV, which came with a salary of $250,000.

What is Gordon Ramsay's favorite food? ›

In most of Ramsay's restaurants, you can find it on the menu. However, Ramsay has revealed his favorite American food is grits topped with shrimp and Parmesan cheese.

Who is the 2nd most famous chef in the world? ›

1. Dabiz Muñoz
  • #1 Dabiz Muñoz. Spain.
  • #2 Rene Redzepi. Denmark.
  • #3 Joan Roca. Spain.
  • #4 Massimo Bottura. Italy.
  • #5 Andoni Luis Aduriz. Spain.
  • #6 Bjorn Frantzén. Sweden.
  • #7 Disfrutar. Spain.
  • #8 Alain Passard. France.
Feb 28, 2023

Who was America's first celebrity chef? ›

Julia Child (1912–2004) is widely recognized as America's first celebrity chef. Child's media prestige was first achieved with her best-selling cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961), followed by her debut TV show The French Chef (1963).

Who was the old famous cooking lady? ›

Julia Carolyn Child (née McWilliams; August 15, 1912 – August 13, 2004) was an American cooking teacher, author, and television personality.

Who trained Gordon Ramsay? ›

After earning a vocational diploma in hotel management from North Oxon Technical College in 1987, he moved to London and began honing his culinary skills under chef Marco Pierre White at the restaurant Harvey's and under chef Albert Roux at La Gavroche.

Who is the most famous black chef? ›

The Top Black Chefs in America to Get to Know
  • Barbara B. Smith. ...
  • Carla Hall. American chef and television personality, Carla Hall has accomplished so much on her climb to fame through her cooking. ...
  • David Lawrence. ...
  • Erick Williams. ...
  • Makini Howell. ...
  • Marcus Samuelsson. ...
  • Mariya Russel. ...
  • Mashama Bailey.

Who has 3 Michelin stars? ›

They are Alain Roux, Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay, Pierre Gagnaire, Clare Smyth, Hélène Darroze and Alain Ducasse. Take a look at their career to date plus find out how the other guides rate them including Good Food Guide, AA Restaurant Guide and Hardens.

Who is Oprah's chef? ›

"Oprah Cooking with Art Smith".

Who is the youngest celebrity chef? ›

Luke Thomas, (born 2 October 1993), is a celebrity chef, author and entrepreneur who made headlines when he was just eighteen years old, being named the youngest head chef in the United Kingdom.
...
Luke Thomas (chef)
Luke Thomas
Websitelukethomas.co.uk
6 more rows

Who is the youngest female chef with a Michelin Star? ›

Internationally renowned, multi-awards Chef Pam - Pichaya Soontornyanakij has opened a string of successful restaurants and bars. Pam is also the first ever and youngest Female Chef to receive both Michelin Star and “Opening of the Year” award from the Michelin Guide at the same time.

Who is the most famous celebrity chef? ›

Gordon Ramsay

The ultra-famous chef and TV personality is probably the most well-known celebrity chef ever. His career includes a total of 16 (!) Michelin stars, numerous awards, and a long list of popular TV shows, including Hell's Kitchen, MasterChef US, and Kitchen Nightmares, which have inspired endless memes.

How many female chefs are there in the US? ›

There are over 147,434 chefs currently employed in the United States. 25.2% of all chefs are women, while 74.8% are men.
...
Chef Gender By Year.
YearMaleFemale
201676.91%23.09%
201777.35%22.65%
201876.09%23.91%
201977.34%22.66%
7 more rows
Sep 9, 2022

Are there any black Michelin star chefs? ›

Charlie Mitchell Becomes The First Black Michelin-Starred Chef In New York City. Mitchell who helms Clover Hill restaurant in Brooklyn is only the second Black chef in America to earn this culinary accolade.

What chef is married to an actress? ›

Lisa Faulkner
OccupationsActress chef presenter
Years active1992–present
SpousesChris Coghill ​ ​ ( m. 2005; div. 2011)​ John Torode ​ ( m. 2019)​
Children1
3 more rows

How many 3 star Michelin chefs are there in the world? ›

All about Michelin Star Chefs? First, there are about 2500 restaurants awarded of 1 Michelin Star in the world, 500 restaurants with 2 Michelin Stars and around 150 awarded 3 Michelin Stars.

What chefs have more Michelin stars than Gordon Ramsay? ›

Top Chefs with the Most Michelin Stars
  • Joël Robuchon: 32 Michelin Stars.
  • Alain Ducasse: 21 Michelin Stars.
  • Gordon Ramsay: 17 Michelin Stars.
  • Pierre Gagnaire: 14 Michelin Stars.
  • Martin Berasategui: 12 Michelin Stars.
  • Yannick Alléno: 10 Michelin Stars.
  • Andreas Caminada: 9 Michelin Stars.
  • Anne-Sophie Pic: 10 Michelin Stars.
Oct 6, 2022

Who is the top 3 chefs in the world? ›

1. Dabiz Muñoz
  • #1 Dabiz Muñoz. Spain.
  • #2 Rene Redzepi. Denmark.
  • #3 Joan Roca. Spain.
  • #4 Massimo Bottura. Italy.
  • #5 Andoni Luis Aduriz. Spain.
  • #6 Bjorn Frantzén. Sweden.
  • #7 Disfrutar. Spain.
  • #8 Alain Passard. France.
Feb 28, 2023

Who is the famous lady chef on TV? ›

Paula Ann Hiers Deen (born January 19, 1947) is an American chef, cookbook author, and TV personality. Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant and Paula Deen's Creek House with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen. She has published fifteen cookbooks.

Who is the most loved chef? ›

1. Gordon Ramsay. Surprise, surprise – to no one, Gordon Ramsay is the most popular chef in the world. The ultra-famous chef and TV personality is probably the most well-known celebrity chef ever.

What is a 5 star chef called? ›

Five-star chefs often go by job titles such as head chef, executive chef or chef de cuisine. They are in charge of all kitchen operations, including delegating and supervising the work of cooks and kitchen helpers.

Who is the youngest female chef with a Michelin star? ›

Internationally renowned, multi-awards Chef Pam - Pichaya Soontornyanakij has opened a string of successful restaurants and bars. Pam is also the first ever and youngest Female Chef to receive both Michelin Star and “Opening of the Year” award from the Michelin Guide at the same time.

Who has the most Michelin stars female? ›

Anne-Sophie Pic is the female chef with the most Michelin stars, holding eight stars across her five restaurants.

Who is Jennifer Aniston's chef? ›

"Her friends are in and out all the time," says Jewels Elmore, who, with her sister, Jill, shares a job as Jen's private chef. "Jen's a homebody. It's been so much fun to create a place where everybody feels comfortable, like one big family." "Comfortable" is putting it modestly.

Videos

1. The passion behind the best female chef in the world
(CGTN America)
2. Top 10 Hottest Female Chefs
(Worldz Top10)
3. Elena Arzak – the world's best female chef? | Euromaxx
(DW News)
4. Shangri-La Presents: DeAille Tam, Asia’s Best Female Chef
(Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts)
5. Behind The Scenes With The World's Best Female Chef
(50 Best Restaurants TV)
6. Most Attractive Female Chefs of All Time
(topcompdata)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Twana Towne Ret

Last Updated: 05/07/2023

Views: 5772

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Twana Towne Ret

Birthday: 1994-03-19

Address: Apt. 990 97439 Corwin Motorway, Port Eliseoburgh, NM 99144-2618

Phone: +5958753152963

Job: National Specialist

Hobby: Kayaking, Photography, Skydiving, Embroidery, Leather crafting, Orienteering, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.