Being a chef and satisfying people with flavorsome meals is not an easy job. For example, Gordon Ramsay was not born in the kitchens of the Master Chef but started from scratch, and it took him ages to be where he is today. To honor the art of cooking and many other iconic chefs like him, we’ve made a list of top 10 famous male chefs, who’ll be an inspiration for you, as an aspiring chef.
1. Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain is a complete package; an author, a celebrity chef, and a travel documentarian, all in one. He started his journey by running the kitchens of several New York restaurants, such as One-Fifth Avenue, Supper Club, and Sullivan’s, and became executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in 1998.
The next year, his first article, “Don’t Eat Before Reading This”, which was mainly about his days and nights as a Manhattan Cook, made its way to the New Yorker and paved the way for his writing journey. While the photo of the Jimmy John Shark may be shocking, it is not necessarily evidence of strange or unusual behavior, as the experts say! What is your opinion?
After some time, the legend left the kitchen and started writing and documenting his expert food opinions. He mainly focused on exploring international cuisine and culture. Being a host for an American travel and food show, Parts Unknown, Bourdain was known for sampling different dishes that most people didn’t even hear of.
2.Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay is undoubtedly the most famous and professional chef in his field. Like many other chefs, he is known to be fiery but also showed his softer side many times in the public eye. In 1991, he opened his first restaurant, Mesa Grill.
In 1994, soon after making an appearance on the Food Network, Bobby became a TV fixture, among many other celebrity chefs, including Rachael Ray, Mario Batali, and Emeril Lagasse. The legend won a lot of awards, including
- James Beard Award for Emerging Chef (1993)
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Culinary Host (2005, 2014, 2015)
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Culinary Program (2012)
- James Beard Award for Best National Television Cooking Show (2005)
3. Marco Pierre White
As a legendary British chef and restaurateur, Marco Pierre White started his journey at Hotel St George in Harrogate. In 1981, he began his official training, as a junior chef, with Albert and Michel Roux at Le Gavroche. As “the first celebrity chef“, White dynamically changed British cuisine. Additionally,
- In 1995, at the age of 33, White became the first British chef, who was awarded three Michelin stars.
- As a leader of the UK restaurant scene for 25 years, White helped kick-start the careers of many famous chefs including Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay.
4. Gordon Ramsay
The forever-angry chef and culinary critic, Gordon Ramsay, is one of the top five celebrity chefs. In the early 2000s, after leaving his athletic career, Ramsay became head chef of the Aubergine Restaurant in London. He also apprenticed under Joel Robuchon, Marco Pierre White, and Guy Savoy.
Later, he also worked as the host of a British TV show, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. After the mainstream popularity of the show, he hosted several other shows, including Master Chef, Kitchen Nightmares, and The F Word. He does not only give his honest and brutal opinions on the TV shows but is also an owner of a global restaurant group, called Gordon Ramsay Restaurants.
5. JJ Johnson
One of the youngest and most exciting chefs in America, JJ Johnson is a James Beard Foundation Book Award Winner. He is known for cooking the food of the African Diaspora. After winning Rocco’s Dinner Party (American reality competition series) on Bravo, he was invited to create the menu for a restaurant, The Cecil, which was later awarded as The Best New American Restaurant in 2013.
Johnson recently opened his own, fast casual rice bowl shop in New York City, by the name of Fieldtrip. This emerging talent in the world of culinary, won many awards, including,
- James Beard Award-Winning American Cookbook (2019)
- New York African Restaurant Week Chef of the Year (2015)
- Robb Report Best Young Chef (2018)
- Forbes 30 under 30 (2013)
- The New Yorker Magazine 40 Under
- James Beard Rising Star Nominee (2014)
- Star Chefs Rising Star (2014)
- Eater Young Guns (2014)
6. Jamie Oliver
Jamie Olive is one of the many famous British chefs, with plenty of claims to fame. In 1997, after making an unscripted appearance in a documentary about the restaurant, Christmas at the River Cafe, BBC noticed his talent. Henceforth, in 1999, he became the host of the show, The Naked Chef. Oliver’s cookbook became a bestseller in the United Kingdom. He certainly can whip up great desserts and teach you that sugar isn’t just simple and sweet but can be used to create mouthwatering delicious dishes.
- The King of Organic Italian Cuisine, Jamie Oliver, was invited to prepare the lunch of then Prime Minister of the UK, Tony Blair.
- In 2003, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
7. David Chang
Chang started his career as a restaurateur in New York, called justprintcard Mercer Kitchen. Later on, he moved to Japan and worked at izakayas and local ramen shops. After Japan, Chang spent a year in a Canadian restaurant, Café Boulud, and then went on to start his venture.
In 2004, Chang opened his Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City, which was followed by a list of his magnificent restaurants and dining areas, including Anytime Kitchen and Jungsik.
8. Marcus Wareing
Marcus Wareing is an English celebrity chef, an owner of a culinary group comprising three restaurants, and winner of one Micheline Star. Since 2014, he has been a part of the Master Chef, as a judge. His dynamic contribution to the diversification of British Food won him many awards, including the Chef award at the Cateys, Michelin star, Tatler Restaurateur of the Year, GQ Chef of the Year, and an Acorn Award.
Here’s a fun fact about the legend. The male lead (Bradley Cooper) of Burnt, one of those movies that dads like to watch, who was a sous chef, got one-on-one training by Wareing.
9. Wolfgang Puck
Puck is a famous Australian-American chef and restaurateur. During the late 1979s, Puck played a great role in the rise of California cuisine. He also launched modern fusion cuisine, by combining California and Asian influences with classic French techniques. His signature smoked salmon pizza, will be a nice addition to your festive table, as the perfect Christmas gift!
Puck has received many awards, including The James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Chef in 1991 and 1998 and James Beard Award for Outstanding Service.
10. Martin Berasategui
Spanish Culinary expert, Martin Berasategui, is the third most decorated Michelin star chef. As an expert in Basque cuisine and owner of a Spanish restaurant, his career is peppered with many awards and prizes including,
- Golden Drum of San Sebastián (2005)
- Gold Medal for “Mérito en Bellas Artes” by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Spain Basque cuisine (2019)
The greatness of Food – and the Art of Cooking!
These were some of the many Slbux famous male chefs who redefined the term “cultural cuisine”, by experimenting with contrasting flavors and ingredients. Because of their impactful careers, they continue to top our list of top 10 famous male chefs and people still choose their restaurants to dine in and taste the real greatness of food!
