Chefs are a part of one of the largest industries in the world, without whose presence the food industry would cease to exist. They are highly-skilled certified cooks, who are well-versed in all the facets of food planning and execution. Traditionally, chefs go through laborious training and have to be extremely passionate when it comes to their profession. Before ascending to the position of head chef, they originally start out as ‘sous-chefs’ or apprentices in the kitchen and slowly progress to executive chef and finally, head chef. One of the oldest documented professional chefs in the world was Guillaume Tirel, who was fondly known as ‘Taillevent’. From then on, there has been an explosion in the number of chefs around the world, all working towards making the food industry bigger, from their respective homelands and while specializing in diverse cuisines. From Adriano Zumbo to Nigella Lawson and Luke Thomas to Sanjeev Kapoor, there is no dearth of chefs around the world who are all working towards a common aim with their signature white jackets and white hats—to promote the joy of cooking and serving others while consistently working towards building a bigger and a more passionate world for food. Here is a compilation of biographies of some of the most famous chefs. To learn more fascinating facts and details about them, read their biographies that include trivia, interesting facts, timeline and life history.
A celebrated chef and restaurateur, British national Gordon Ramsay is also a writer and television personality. His TV shows about competitive cookery and food is quite popular. The Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in Chelsea, is his signature restaurant. Known for his bluntness, short temper and strict manner, Ramsay has historically expressed a dislike for vegetarianism and veganism.
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.
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.
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.
Primarily a restaurateur, Guy Fieri is a testimony to the fact that any professional can become famous if they are passionate enough in doing what they do best. From being a restaurateur, he went on to become a TV personality, hosting shows for Food Network channel. By mid-2010, he had become the face of the network.
Jamie Oliver is an English restaurateur and chef who gained international recognition after appearing on popular TV shows, such as Jamie's Kitchen and The Naked Chef. In 2005, his Feed Me Better campaign helped introduce several children to healthier foods. He also established a charity restaurant called Fifteen, which employs disadvantaged young people.
Trisha Yearwood is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, author, and celebrity chef. She is credited with releasing several chart-busting albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide. Also known for her philanthropic activities Trisha Yearwood has been supporting Habitat for Humanity, a charity home building group, for many years now.
Jill St. John is an American actress best known for portraying the first American Bond girl Tiffany Case in the 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever. Jill St. John is also credited with founding the Aunts Club, a group of women who provide financial support for children.
