It’s no surprise that Cat Cora has become a world renowned chef. Her culinary aspirations began at an early age, and by 15, she had developed a business plan for her own restaurant. In 2005, she made television history on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America” as the first and only female Iron Chef, and in November 2006 Bon Appetit Magazine bestowed her with their Teacher of the Year Award, an award she calls, “the greatest recognition she could achieve as a chef.” That month, she was also honored with another great culinary distinction when she was named Executive Chef of the magazine. Since then, Cora has continued to evolve her craft, becoming an accomplished author, restaurateur, contributing editor, philanthropist and television host.
Following advice from her mentor Julia Child, Cat left her native Mississippi for New York, where she received the education of her dreams at The Culinary Institute of America. While in New York, she apprenticed with and then worked for Chef Anne Rozenweig at Arcadia and worked at the Beekman Tavern under Chef Larry Forgione of An American Place.
Cat’s culinary education continued in Europe completing apprenticeships with two of France’s three-star Michelin chefs, George Blanc of Vonnas and Roger Verge. After returning to New York again, Cat honed her skills as a Sous Chef at The Old Chatham Shepherding Company under Chef Melissa Kelly. She soon headed West to plant her roots in Northern California, where she served as Chef de Cuisine at Napa Valley’s Bistro Don Giovanni.
Cat made her TV debut in 1999, as co-host of Food Network’s Melting Pot with Rocco Di Spirito. She went on to host My Country My Kitchen: Greece, Date Plate, and was one of the featured hosts on Fine Living’s Simplify Your Life. A documentary, Cat’s In The Kitchen, was also made about her first James Beard dinner in April, 2002.
Preceding Iron Chef America, Cat co-hosted Kitchen Accomplished on Food Network, where she worked with a design expert and contractor to surprise a homeowner with a 3-day kitchen makeover. In 2006, Cat appeared in NBC’s Primetime Miniseries, Celebrity Cooking Showdown, where celebrities were paired with famous chefs and competed in a timed cook-off à la Iron Chef America.
In May 2012, Cora stepped out of her chef’s jacket into a new role as co-host alongside Curtis Stone for Bravo’s hit series, Around the World in 80 Plates. Cora has hosted, guest judged and appeared as herself in a number of hit food shows, including America’s Best Cook, NBC’s Celebrity Cooking Showdown, and Food Fighters. She also makes regular appearances on a wide variety of talk shows.
Since this wasn’t enough, Cat went on to create some of the world’s special restaurants, including Ocean by Cat Cora, Singapore, and Kouzzina at Disneyworld. She is also setting a new standard for restaurants at airports. If you have not yet, you must visit Cat Cora’s Kitchen, which is owned and operated by Hojeij Branded Food’s, at Atlanta Hartsfield, Concourse A, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Salt Lake City International Airport, and my personal favorite, Terminal 2 at San Francisco International.
And now you can tap your own inner Iron Chef, and simplify your life, with Cat Cora’s Kitchen app for iPad.
Cat Cora is not only Iron Chef, she is also Iron Mom – to four boys! She once observed that “if men were the ones to give birth, maternity leave would be a lot longer!” What I think she wanted to say was that “if men were the ones to give birth, everyone would be an only child!”