LGBTQ Chefs In The World

The food industry has not typically been one that has celebrated openness. But times are changing. Now food has become a symbol that has found commonality, gained recognition, promoted inclusion and encouraged activism in the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ chefs are gaining popularity in the world. Many have their own restaurants and some of them are the owners of popular restaurant chains. They also represent the essence of different styles and nationalities in their cooking. 

American gay chef James Beard was a crucial figure in the food and restaurant industries. He has been the author of many culinary books and an original star of television cooking shows. He founded the James Beard Foundation, which annually recognises the highest honours for culinary excellence from the U.S.A. gourmet restaurant industry. Receiving this award is equal to Oscars for a chef.

Moreover, there are several other LGBTQ chefs around the world with outstanding reputations for their restaurants, cooking, television shows and culinary books. They hail from New Zealand, India, Canada, Israel, Turkey, United States, Great Britain and France.

Here is the list of well-known LGBTQ chefs from across the world:

Australia 

• Jordan Bruno:- Television chef and Mr. Gay World 2018.
• Kylie Kwong:- Television chef, former restaurant owner( Billy Kwong) and cookbook author.

India 

• Ritu Dalmia, Owner of restaurant chain Diva, author of several cookbooks, and host of celebrity television cooking shows.

Canada

• Ken Kostick, Television chef.
• Meredith Laurence, QVC Television chef and creator of the 'Technique' line of cooking products.
• Antoni Porowski, Host of television show 'Queer Eye', and former private Chef.

Israel

• Yotam Ottolenghi, Founder of the Ottolenghi chain of delis in the U.K., and chef-owner of restaurant Nopi. LGBTQ activist.

France

• Eric Lanlard, Celebrity baking chef and television host.

Great Britain

• Laurence Isaacson, Co-founder of the restaurant chain Groupe Chez Garard with 24 restaurants in the U.K. Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
• Edd Kimber, Winner of the inaugural season of The Great British Bake Off.
• Allegra McEvedy, Television host, author, and restaurateur, she is a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
• Jonathan Phang, Television food show host, cookbook author.
• Ruby Tandoh, Finalist of the Great British Bake Off (2013).
• John Whaite, Winner, Great British Bake Off (2012). Columnist, author, cookery school owner.

New Zealand

• Ross Burden, Celebrity chef, author.
• Peter Gordon, Television chef and owner of several restaurants.
• David Halls, Television chef on show 'Hudson and Halls' with partner Peter Hudson
• Peter Hudson, Television chef on show 'Hudson and Halls' with partner David Halls.

Turkey

• Yigit Pura, Inaugural winner of the television show 'Top Chef: Just Desserts'.

United States

• Ted Allen, Emmy award winner. Host of television show 'Chopped'.
• Mitchell Anderson, Actor. Restaurant owner and Chef.
• Jesse Brune, Celebrity chef and personal trainer.
• Anne Burrell, Host of several television cooking shows.
• David Burtka, Former television and film actor, now co-owner of Gourmet M.D. in Los Angeles. Married to actor Neil Patrick Harris.
• Ashley Christensen, founder/owner of AC Restaurants, including Poole's Restaurant. Cookbook author.
• Cat Cora, Former host of television show 'Iron Chef America', she has been inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame.
• Pink Delongpre, Owner of the restaurant Bacon & Brine in California.
• Angela Dimayuga, Mission Chinese Food, New York city.
• Tiffani Faison, Runner-up in the inaugural season of television show 'Top Chef'.
• Elizabeth Falkner, Consultant and judge of several television cooking shows. Member, Culinary Hall of Fame.
• Susan Feniger, Co-host of the television show 'Too Hot Tamales'.
• Clark Frasier, James Beard Award-winning restaurateur.
• Mark Gaier, James Beard Award-winning restaurateur..
• Gabrielle Hamilton, Owner and Chef, Prune Restaurant, New York City.
• Anna Hieronimus, Co-owner, Take Root restaurant, Brooklyn, New York.
• Lou Hogan, Contributor to Gourmet magazine, and author of 'The Gay Cookbook' (1965).
• Kristen Kish, winner of Season 10 Top Chef, and owner of Arlo Grey restaurant in Austin, Texas.
• Elise Kornack, Co-owner, Take Root restaurant, Brooklyn, New York.
• Anita Lo, Chef-owner of New York City restaurant Annisa.
• Ashley Merriman, Chef at Prune Restaurant, New York City.
• Preeti Mistry, Executive Chef, Navi Restaurant, and cookbook author
• Niki Nakayama, Owner of n/Naka Restaurant and the only female kaseiki chef in the world.
• Art Smith, James Beard Award winning cookbook author, and former chef to Oprah Winfrey.
• Rita Sodi, Native of Florence, Italy, she is the chef-owner of 'I Sodi' restaurant in New York City.
• Jeremiah Tower, famed creator of California Cuisine at his restaurant Stars in San Francisco.
• Jody Williams, Chef-owner of Restaurant Buvette in New York City and Paris, she is also a judge on the television show 'Chopped'.

LGBTQ chefs have played a great role in motivating others to be creative in the kitchen, enjoy life to the fullest and eat well.