Female Chefs Who Shaped My Kitchen & Hosting Style -

If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen and wanted to have the people you love over to share in good food and community but didn’t know where to start, then we’ve got something in common. These four female chefs offered me the inspiration I needed to jump in and get cooking: Suzanne Goin, Nancy Silverton, Julia Child, and Martha Stewart.

The female chefs I’m about to tribute aren’t my mentors—don’t misunderstand. But these female chefs inspired me to open my doors, invite my people in, and share life through food and entertaining. Through them, I learned how to cook exciting new things. I discovered my passion for hosting, and I realized that food is as much about curiosity as it is about flavor.

Most important of all, as I gained confidence and entertained A LOT—as things went wrong and as things went right—I learned that my people weren’t coming for the food or the fancy table settings. They showed up for love and community. These female chefs helped me see that.

So, grab your whisk, a glass of champagne, and let’s take a look at the female chefs who have inspired so many of my kitchen adventures.

Suzanne Goin

I discovered Suzanne Goin while doing research for a trip I was taking to LA with a friend to run a half marathon. Her restaurant was highly rated and the menu was perfect. However, we didn’t make it to the restaurant; sore muscles and a post race craving for basic carbs didn’t deliver us to her doorstep. But I was so intrigued with the menu I bought 2 of her cookbooks and cooked from them for another 5 years before I was finally able to eat in one of her restaurants. It did not disappoint.

Suzanne Goin is the queen of California cool. She is the child of a farmer’s market falling in love with French technique. Her legendary restaurants in LA are Lucques, A.O.C. and The Hungry Cat. Her food is elegant but with a simplistic approach. I’ve cooked so many of her dishes but this Pea Pancake was a hit at a dinner party I just hosted so I hope you try it out.

sweet pea pancakes with crab and creme fraiche

Nancy Silverton

My Mozza Girl. Another trip to LA but this time we went to the restaurant. My family ate riccotta stuffed zucchini blossoms; phenomenal but very outside of our comfort zone at the time. But the real star of the show were the braised meatballs. I quickly bought her cookbook and have fed many people I love her recipes.

Nancy is an icon

Julia Child

I’m embarrassed to say how late in life I discovered this Grande Dame. Let’s blame youth and that she is the original so she wasn’t exactly pop culture as I came into the kitchen. I knew who she was but had no idea WHO SHE WAS. I’m now proud to say I own a signed copy of her Mastering the Art of French Cooking and I display it with pride.

The woman loved butter so who can’t love this woman.

Martha Stewart

This woman was my first step into entertaining. As a young lady in my twenties and then a young mom I discovered her magazine. I ripped out pages and placed them in page protectors; organized by theme in a binder. Her word was gospel to me and she was my life coach in hosting. I followed her every word; learned about foods I’d never heard about and Martha Stewart was my first cooking school.

Her attention to detail is what attracted me to her. She wasn’t warm and fuzzy but she had fabulous ideas.

These Chefs Don’t Know Me

It’s interesting that these four women don’t know me and yet they’re a big part of my life. They’ve basically sat at my table with my friends and family and shared in our stories and memories. Again and again, food has been a sign of my love for my people; often it’s been messy and chaotic but I think always pretty good.