Celebrity chefs

Paola Quintanar | Image: Misc. | Published: July 01, 2008

Daniel Boulud
Born and raised in France, Boulud spent over a decade honing his culinary artistry there and elsewhere in Europe. He made his name in the United States when he served as executive chef of the legendary restaurant Le Cirque, in New York City, beginning in 1986.

In 1993 he opened his first restaurant DANIEL, followed by Café Bouloud, DB Bistro Moderne and recently Bar Boulud all of them in NY. In 2003 he opened Cafe Boulud in Palm Beach and in April 2005 he opened Daniel Boulud Brasserie at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort.

He and his restaurants have been awarded several times:

• Best cooking apprentice in France (1972) he went on to train under Roger Vergé, Georges Blanc and Michel Guérard.
• Bon Appétit Magazine gave him the "Chef of the Year" denomination.
• Gourmet Magazine gave the restaurant the "Top Table" award.
• The New York Times gave the restaurant four star rating and the Wine Spectator's "Grand Award"
• "Outstanding Restauranteur" by the James Beard Foundation
• Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by the French Government
• "Culinary Humanitarian" award at the United Nations

He has been a guest in many TV shows like the Martha Stewart show, the David Letterman show and CBS Sunday Morning show; he is also the host of the TV Show "After Hours with DANIEL" on Mojo TV, which reveals where chefs go to unwind after a night behind the stove and uncovers the far out foods they crave and cook for each other.

Author of several books on and about cooking. The latest being Braise: A Journey Through International Cuisine, Harper Collins, 2006.
Source: Daniel Boulud's website
Photo: ©2002 Dinex Group

Jean-Georges Vongerichten
One of the world's famous chefs, he is also a savvy businessman and formidable restauranteur. He owns and operates 18 restaurants around the world including Jean Georges, Spice Market, Perry St, JoJo, Vong Vong's, Thai Kitchen, V, etcetera.

Born and raised in Alsace, France. He trained in a work study program at the Auberge de I'll and as an apprentice to chef Paul Haeberlin. After his training, he traveled and worked in Singapur and Hong Kong. Is in Asia where he developed his love for the exotic and aromatic flavours of the East that has become his signature and speciality.

Author of several cook books

including Simple to Spectacular, Broadway Books, 2000 and Asian Flavors of Jean-Georges, Broadway Books, 2007.

Source: Jean Georges Website

Gordon Ramsay
Born and raised in the UK, his training started in London and in France in the kitchens of Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon where he was able to enhance his expertise in classic French cooking.

In 1998 he opened his first restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, UK, voted the Top Restaurant in the UK from 2001 to 2005 . He also owns Pétrus in St. James, Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, The Conrad Tokyo in Japan, Gordon Ramsay at The London, and Maze Prague in Prague. His company Gordon Ramsay Holdings Limited has took over the operation of restaurants like The Savory Grill, MENU and Boxwood Café.

He is the author of several cookbooks including Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Heaven, Penguin, 2004 and Gordon Ramsay Makes it Easy, Quadrille, 2005. He also has written his autobiography Humble Pie, Harper Collins, 2006 and the follow up Playing with Fire, Harper Collins, 2007 where he gives insight into his success and his company Gordon Ramsay Holdings.

He is the star of the show Hell's Kitchen on Fox TV and The F-Word on Channel 4.
Source: Gordon Ramsay's website

Jamie Oliver
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been credited with getting the Government to increase funding for school meals - something that many parents have been trying to do for years. An established star of TV cookery programmes, Jamie Oliver has wowed all generations of food lovers with his fresh, no-nonsense cooking style and his inspiring recipes.

Jamie grew up surrounded by good food: his parents ran the Cricketers pub in Essex and, from the age of eight, he started cooking and helping the chefs.

The use of quality fresh produce at the pub gave Jamie a love of good ingredients. He trained in catering at Westminster Kingsway College in London. After college, he travelled to France to learn more about his trade. Back in London he worked as head pastry chef for Antonio Carluccio at The Neal Street Restaurant. But was at Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers River Café where he was spotted by a TV producer.

He's been the star of TV Shows that include the Naked Chef series, Jamie at Home, Jamie's school dinners series, and Jamie Oliver's Twist among others.

Author of several cookbooks that include The Naked Chef, Jamie's Kitchen, Jamie's Italy and Jamie at Home.

Source: BBC Chef Bios and Jamie Oliver's website