Famous American Food Experts
Do you know that food tasting is a professional job? Yes, you heard it right. Some people actually get paid to taste lip-smacking and mouth-watering delights from top chefs. Same goes for food photography as well. Clicking tempting delicacies from various angles is an art and not a child’s play. If you ever had your hands on a lifestyle magazine, you would know that the food section is simply an unputdownable segment. You have expert comments from food nutritionists, critic comments about the new restaurant off the block, secret recipes of some delicious deserts by renowned chefs, unknown facts of foodstuff from food scientists and some handy tips on preserving and preparing food by food aficionados - a complete world on its own, isn’t it? Well, that is most of what we mean by the phrase ‘food experts’. From chefs to critics, food lawyers to food scientists, nutritionists to microbiologists, food photographer to farmer, the profile of food experts varies. They give us an insight into the world of professional and in-house cooking, some rare and unknown facts about fares, some tips on having a balanced diet, a bevy of not-to-miss world-class eateries, incredible recipes, and so much more. They personify everything related to food. And it to these that we have this section here. Dig in to find out some interesting information about American food experts, their life and their ‘food’ work.
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Birthdate: June 25, 1956
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: June 8, 2018
Anthony Bourdain was an American celebrity chef. He was also a renowned author, media personality and travel documentarian. His shows about the exploration of international culture and cuisine were very popular. Apart from writing several books on food and cooking and travel explorations, Bourdain also wrote fiction and historical non-fiction. In June 8, 2018, he died by suicide in France.
2
Julia Child(American Chef, Author and Television Personality)
Birthdate: August 15, 1912
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Pasadena, California, United States
Died: August 13, 2004
Julia Child gained fame with her culinary show The French Chef and her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She also founded The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. She received several Emmys and the Peabody Award for her work, and had a rose named after her.
3
Bobby Flay(Celebrity Chef Known for His Work with 'Food Network' & Owner of 'Bobby's Burger Palace', 'Mesa Grill')
Birthdate: December 10, 1964
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay is best known for his Food Network shows, such as the Emmy-nominated Hot Off the Grill with Bobby Flay. He launched many restaurants, such as the Las Vegas-based Mesa Grill and 19 outlets of Bobby's Burger Palace. He has also taught at the French Culinary Institute.
4
Rachael Ray(American Celebrity Chef and Host of the Food Network Show ‘30 Minute Meals’)
Birthdate: August 25, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Warrensburg, New York, United States
Celebrity chef Rachael Ray is best known for her Food Network show 30 Minute Meals. She also made waves with her talk show Rachael Ray and her culinary shows such as Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels. She has also authored several cookbooks and launched the magazine Every Day with Rachael Ray.
Birthdate: June 1, 1988
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Poplarville, Mississippi, United States
Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the central figures of the Indian independence movement along with personalities like Mahatma Gandhi. He became the first prime minister of India and left behind such a legacy that his direct descendants continue to play an important role in Indian politics.
6
David Chang(American Restaurateur and Founder of the Momofuku Restaurant Group)
Birthdate: August 5, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Arlington County, Virginia, United States
David Chang revolutionized the culinary world with his brand Momofuku, which owns several noodle bars across the world, including a 2-Michelin-star restaurant. He has produced the Netflix shows Ugly Delicious and Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Several issues of his food magazine Lucky Peach have been NYT bestsellers.
Birthdate: September 19, 1960
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Mario Batali is an American chef, restaurateur, writer, and media personality. He started hogging the limelight after appearing on some of Food Network's shows, such as Iron Chef America and Molto Mario. Also a well-known philanthropist and social activist, Batali established the Mario Batali Foundation in 2008, which funds pediatric disease research and various children's educational programs.
8
Paula Deen(American Chef, Cookbook Author and TV Personality)
Birthdate: January 19, 1947
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Albany, Georgia, United States
Culinary show host and chef Paula Deen is known for her Emmy-winning Food Network show Paula's Home Cooking. She owns Paula Deen's Creek House and The Lady & Sons restaurant. Apart from writing several cookbooks, she has also appeared in the film Elizabethtown and the show Dancing with the Stars.
Birthdate: August 22, 1970
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Giada De Laurentiis is an Italian-American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and writer. She won the Gracie Award under the Best Television Host category for hosting Giada at Home. The founder of a catering business called GDL Foods, Giada De Laurentiis has been an influential figure in the American culinary business over the last few years.
10
Emeril Lagasse(Celebrity Chef & Restaurateur Known for His Show 'Essence of Emeril' on The Food Network)
Birthdate: October 15, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Fall River, Massachusetts, United States
Celebrity chef Emeril Lagassé is known for his signature New New Orleans style of cooking and his catchphrases such as “Bam!” He owns several restaurants, has written many cookbooks, owns a non-profit for underprivileged children, and has also hosted Food Network shows such as Essence of Emeril and Emeril Live.
Birthdate: July 8, 1949
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria
Wolfgang Puck is an Austrian-American restaurateur. In 1973, Puck moved to the US and opened a restaurant named Spago in 1982. He then established himself as a respected restaurateur by opening several other restaurants. In 2013, he was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. Also an actor, Puck has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
12
Ree Drummond(American Blogger, Author and Television Personality)
Birthdate: January 6, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bartlesville, Oklahoma, United States
Ree Drummond is an American author, blogger, food writer, television personality, and photographer. In 2010, she was named in Forbes magazine's Top 25 Web Celebrities list. Riding on the success of her blog The Pioneer Woman, which was adjudged Weblog of the Year for three consecutive years at the Weblog Awards, Drummond went on to present her own television program.
Birthdate: August 1, 1933
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Died: May 4, 2009
14
Alton Brown(American Television Personality and Food Show Presenter)
Birthdate: July 30, 1962
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Alton Brown soared to fame as the creator of the Food Network culinary show Good Eats. He has also hosted shows such as Iron Chef America and Feasting on Asphalt. He has authored several bestselling cookbooks. He also created two culinary shows on YouTube during the COVID-19 lockdown.
15
Katie Lee
(Cook, Author, journalist)
Birthdate: September 14, 1981
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Huntington
16
Typhoid Mary(The First Person to be Identified as an Asymptomatic Carrier of the Pathogenic Bacteria 'Salmonella Typhi')
Birthdate: September 23, 1869
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cookstown, County Tyrone, Ireland
Died: November 11, 1938
Irish immigrant Mary Mallon, or Typhoid Mary, worked as a cook in affluent American households. When people started falling ill in and around places where Mary had worked, it was discovered that she was an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid. Escaping every time, she caused three deaths and was eventually forcibly isolated.
Birthdate: August 19, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Chilmark, Massachusetts
Chris Fischer is an American farmer and chef who achieved national recognition in 2018 when he married popular actress and stand-up comedian Amy Schumer. Fischer, who worked at the Beach Plum Inn & Restaurant, won the Coastal New England Rising Stars Award in 2014. In 2016, he was honored with the James Beard Award for co-authoring The Beetlebung Farm Cookbook.
18
Eddie Huang(Chef and Co-Owner of "BaoHaus", a Gua Bao Restaurant)
Birthdate: March 1, 1982
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Chef and food expert Eddie Huang co-owns the gua bao restaurant BaoHaus in Lower Manhattan. He has hosted shows such as Snack Off and Huang's World. His bestselling memoir, Fresh Off the Boat, was made into a sitcom of the same name. He has also been a food blogger.
19
Ina Garten(Author and Host of the Food Network Show ‘Barefoot Contessa’)
Birthdate: February 2, 1948
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Ina Garten is an American author and TV host best known for hosting Food Network's cooking show, Barefoot Contessa. Over the years, Garten has released several best-selling cookbooks, including The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home.
20
Marcela Valladolid(American Chef and Author Known for Her TV Shows: ‘Mexican Made Easy’ and ‘Best Baker in America’)
Birthdate: July 19, 1978
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States
Chef Marcela Valladolid was the host of the Food Network television series Mexican Made Easy. A graduate of the Los Angeles Culinary Institute, she is also a classically trained pastry chef. She started her own catering company and soon began hosting cookery shows on TV. She has also authored several cookbooks.
21
Adam Richman(TV host on various dining and eating-challenge programs on the Travel Channel.)
Birthdate: May 16, 1974
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Birthdate: October 14, 1955
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, United States
Birthdate: November 14, 1971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Amritsar, India
Birthdate: November 9, 1981
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Ohio, United States
Birthdate: June 20, 1972
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
26
Lidia Bastianich(Italian-American Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur Known for Her Cooking Shows)
Birthdate: February 21, 1947
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Pula, Croatia
Lidia Bastianich is an Italian-American television host, celebrity chef, restaurateur, and author. She owns many restaurants in the US, including one in Manhattan. Bastianich is the recipient of several awards and honors, including a couple of Lifetime Achievement Awards. Also a philanthropist, Lidia Bastianich supports various non-profit organizations, such as the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which aims at promoting Italian-American heritage.
27
Buddy Valastro(Celebrity Baker, Reality Star Best Known for His TV Series ‘Cake Boss’, ‘Next Great Baker’ and ‘Kitchen Boss’)
Birthdate: March 3, 1977
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hoboken, New Jersey, United States
Baker Buddy Valastro, who owns Buddy V's Ristorante and Carlo's Bakery, gained fame as a reality star with his show Cake Boss. He has also appeared on shows such as Kitchen Boss, Buddy's Bakery Rescue, and Next Great Baker. He suffered a brutal hand injury in 2020.
28
Anne Burrell
(American Chef and Television Presenter)
Birthdate: September 21, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cazenovia, New York, United States
Anne Burrell is an American chef and TV personality who hosts cooking television series like Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and Worst Cooks in America. She has also competed in several cooking competition shows like Chopped All-Stars Tournament. In 2015, Anne Burrell won the fourth season of Chopped and earned $75,000, which she donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
29
Duff Goldman
(American Pastry Chef, Television Personality and Cookbook Author)
Birthdate: December 17, 1974
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Duff Goldman is an American pâtissier, cookbook author, and television personality. The executive chef of Charm City Cakes shop, Goldman's work has been featured on several cooking television shows like Iron Chef America, Duff's Happy Fun Bake Time, and Food Network Challenge. Duff Goldman has made cakes for influential personalities like Barack Obama, Sir Roger Moore, and Tom Clancy.
30
Andrew Zimmern
(Television presenter, Writer)
Birthdate: July 4, 1961
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York City
Birthdate: July 25, 1959
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Worcester, Massachusetts, US
32
Paul Wahlberg(Chef, Actor and Owner of the Restaurant ‘Wahlburgers’)
Birthdate: March 20, 1964
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Chef and reality star Paul Wahlberg co-owns the restaurant Wahlburgers with his brothers, Mark and Donnie. He gained fame with his appearance on the A&E reality show named after his restaurant. He has previously worked as an executive chef and been associated with restaurants such as The Charles Hotel.
Birthdate: September 19, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
34
Cat Cora
(Chef best known for her featured role as an "Iron Chef" on Iron Chef America)
Birthdate: April 3, 1967
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Jackson, Mississippi, United States
35
Sandra Lee
(Television chef, author known for her "Semi-Homemade" cooking concept)
Birthdate: July 3, 1966
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States
36
Jose Andres
(Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur and Founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK))
Birthdate: July 13, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mieres, Asturias, Spain
Jose Andres is a Spanish-born American restaurateur and chef. Andrés, who owns restaurants in many American cities like Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., New York City, Las Vegas, and Chicago, is credited with introducing the concept of small plates dining to America. Jose Andres was honored with the 2015 National Humanities Medal for founding a non-profit organization called World Central Kitchen.
37
Alice Waters
(American Chef, Restaurateur, and Author)
Birthdate: April 28, 1944
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chatham, New Jersey, United States
38
Gesine Bullock-Prado
(Pastry chef, TV personality, author)
Birthdate: March 6, 1970
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Birthdate: October 9, 1958
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
40
James Beard
(American Chef, Cookbook Author and Television Personality)
Birthdate: May 5, 1903
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States
Died: January 23, 1985
Birthdate: December 19, 1980
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Americus, Georgia, United States
42
Carla Hall
(Chef who appeared in the fifth and eighth seasons of Top Chef, Bravo's cooking competition show)
Birthdate: May 12, 1964
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee, United States
43
Rick Bayless
(American Chef and Restaurateur)
Birthdate: November 23, 1953
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
44
Christine Ha
(First blind contestant of MasterChef and the winner of its third season in 2012)
Birthdate: May 9, 1979
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Birthdate: September 6, 1936
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lowell, Indiana, United States
Birthdate: April 28, 1949
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: August 14, 2006
47
David Burtka(Actor and Professional Chef Known for His Role in the TV Show ‘How I Met Your Mother’)
Birthdate: May 29, 1975
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dearborn, Michigan, United States
David Burtka is an American actor and chef. He is known for his roles in popular television series, such as How I Met Your Mother. An openly gay actor, David Burtka serves as an inspiration to the LGBT community. Along with his husband Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka contributes to the welfare of the LGBT community.
Birthdate: April 4, 1975
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Passaic, New Jersey, United States
Died: September 21, 2019
49
Grant Achatz
(American Chef and Restaurateur Known for His Contributions to Molecular Gastronomy or Progressive Cuisine)
Birthdate: April 25, 1974
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Saint Clair, Michigan, United States
50
Kelis
(Singer-songwriter and chef who is known for her hit singles "Milkshake" and "Bossy.")
Birthdate: August 21, 1979
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Harlem, New York, United States