For female chefs, the kitchen still feels like a man's world, but recently, a number of gender-centric events and accolades have been filling the food circuit, attempting to remedy the solution.
San Pellegrino announced its short list for its first-ever Best Female Chef award, and much of Manhattan's top talent has signed on to participate in a female chef dinner series, designed to "showcase and celebrate the talented women in the hospitality industry."
It's great to see women getting wider acknowledgment for their contributions to the restaurant industry, but I can't help but wonder if singling them out will only emphasize the divide between male and female chefs. Are female-specific industry acknowledgments helping to further women in whites — or simply perpetuating the differences between guys and gals in the kitchen?
Source: Flickr User Julien Haler
I was disappointed to hear that one of my favorite Food Network personalities, Ina Garten (or the Barefoot Contessa), has turned down the request to cook with a Make-A-Wish cancer patient. Apparently, a 6-year-old boy with leukemia asked to cook with Garten not once, but twice — and he was repeatedly told no. According to Garten's reps, the Hamptons chef is currently too busy to meet with the boy. For years, I've been a huge fan of Garten and her reliable, delicious recipes. However, this makes me wonder if it's just an act. How do you feel about her?
Update: It turns out that Garten wasn't aware of the boy's request and she has agreed to meet with him and his family!
When it comes to traditional gender roles, celeb chef Giada De Laurentiis has the cooking part down. Giada, who's been with her husband since 1989, recently opened up about her marriage, telling Redbook magazine that she enjoys playing the role of doting wife and mother, and that in fact, it's crucial to a long-lasting relationship. Explaining that she tries to be the "young girl he met 20 years ago," she says:
"All men want to be treated like kings in a relationship, and I think if women don't indulge that sometimes, their men are likely to stray and look for someone who can give that to them."
It sounds to me like Giada subscribes to the same school as Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger, which suggests that letting "men be men" is the secret to a healthy relationship. And when it comes to fidelity, she also seems to think the cheated-on spouse shares some culpability if she doesn't give her husband enough attention. The sentiment is definitely a throwback, but Giada has the long relationship that implies it's working for her. What do you make of her thoughts?
We asked you who your favorite male and female chefs were, and now it's time to reveal the winners! Although the votes were very close, the flamboyant spiky-haired Anne Burrell beat out Italian cooking queen Giada de Laurentiis by one percent!
Her scrumptious recipes (like clams oreganata and spaghetti with meatballs) and her helpful, but unpretentious way of giving cooking advice make us huge fans of Anne Burrell as well. With a second season of Worst Cooks in America and a cookbook on the way, 2011's sure to be a great year for Burrell!
As for the men, British chef Jamie Oliver edged out Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio to take home the win. It's been a busy 2010 for Oliver — he's changing the way schools serve food, and we applaud his efforts. Don't forget to check out all our Best of 2010 coverage!
From cookbooks to television shows, the nation's most popular female chefs had a busy 2010. As part of our end of the year coverage, we want to know who was your favorite female cooking queen. Share your thoughts below!
