Ann Cashion facts for kids

Ann Cashion is a very talented chef and restaurant owner. She has won a special award called the James Beard Foundation Award. Her popular restaurants are located in Washington D.C..

Ann Cashion's Early Life and Training

Ann Cashion was born in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1954. She went to Harvard University and graduated in 1976. After college, she studied at Stanford University for two years.

How Ann Cashion Became a Chef

Ann decided to follow her passion for cooking. She left Stanford to start a career in food. Her first job was at a bakery in Berkeley, California. She then traveled to Italy and France. There, she learned from experienced chefs. This is called an apprenticeship.

Starting Her Career in Washington D.C.

In 1984, Ann Cashion moved to Washington, D.C. She worked at a well-known restaurant called Restaurant Nora. Later, she became the head chef at Austin Grill. She was also the executive chef at Jaleo. At Jaleo, she hired another famous chef, José Andrés.

Opening Her Own Restaurants

In 1995, Ann Cashion opened her very first restaurant. It was called Cashion's Eat Place. This restaurant was in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of D.C.

Awards and Recognition for Cashion's Eat Place

Cashion's Eat Place quickly became very popular. Readers of Gourmet magazine voted it the "Best New Restaurant." A food writer for The Washington Post, Phyllis Richman, also listed it as one of her 50 favorite places. Many important people ate there, including President Bill Clinton. In 1997, Ann Cashion was named "Chef of the Year." This award came from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. She was also invited to cook at the famous James Beard House.

Johnny's Half Shell Opens

Ann Cashion teamed up with her partner, John Fulchino. In 1999, they opened a second restaurant. It was called Johnny's Half Shell. This was a smaller restaurant with 35 seats. It was located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Gourmet magazine also recognized Johnny's Half Shell. They called it one of "America’s best new restaurants."

Winning a Major Award

In 2004, Ann Cashion won a very important award. She received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. This is a huge honor for a chef.

Restaurant Changes and New Ventures

Ann Cashion and John Fulchino sold Cashion's Eat Place in 2007. They sold it to two employees who had worked there for a long time. The restaurant kept its name until it closed in 2016.

Moving Locations and New Restaurants

Johnny's Half Shell moved to the Capitol Hill neighborhood in 2006. The new location was much bigger. It could seat over 400 people. It became a popular spot for events, including fundraisers for members of Congress.

In 2007, Ann Cashion opened another restaurant next to Half Shell. This new place was called Taqueria Nacional. Bon Appétit magazine named it one of the five best Mexican restaurants in the United States.

More Moves and Closures

Taqueria Nacional moved to the Logan Circle neighborhood in 2013. Johnny's Half Shell moved back to Adams Morgan in 2016. It took over the same building where Cashion's Eat Place used to be.

In 2019, Taqueria Nacional opened another location in Mount Pleasant. The Logan Circle location of Taqueria closed in 2020. Johnny's Half Shell also closed in 2020. This happened when indoor dining was stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ann Cashion's Legacy

Ann Cashion was featured in a book from 1997. The book was called Women of Taste. In 2016, Bon Appétit magazine named Washington, D.C. its restaurant city of the year. They specifically mentioned Ann Cashion as one of the city's "incredible chefs." Her work has greatly influenced the food scene in Washington, D.C.