Carrie Nahabedian facts for kids
| Born | July 22, 1958 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Cooking style | Modern European |
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Carrie Nahabedian (born July 22, 1958) is a famous American chef. She is well-known for her amazing cooking at NAHA, a restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. NAHA has earned a special award called a Michelin star, which means it's one of the best restaurants. Carrie Nahabedian also won a big award called the James Beard Foundation Award in 2008.
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About Carrie Nahabedian
Early Life and Cooking Start
Carrie Nahabedian learned a lot about cooking from her mother. She was also inspired by the famous chef Julia Child. Carrie said watching Julia Child cook was like "watching an artist painting."
Carrie began her cooking journey with a three-year training program. This was at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Chicago. After that, she moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey. There, she became an assistant chef at the Resorts Casino Hotel.
Working in Top Restaurants
Carrie Nahabedian returned to Chicago to work at Le Perroquet. She then traveled to Europe to gain more experience in different restaurants. When she came back to the United States, she made history. She became the first woman to work at Le Francais in Chicago.
She continued to work at several other restaurants in Illinois. In 1989, she joined the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. She started as a sous chef, which is a senior chef. Later, she became the executive chef, leading the whole kitchen. This was her first time in such a big role. She stayed with the Four Seasons Hotels chain. She then moved to the Four Seasons Hotel Biltmore in California.
After eight years with the Four Seasons hotels, Carrie Nahabedian returned to Chicago. She opened her very own restaurant called NAHA. This restaurant quickly became famous. It earned a Michelin star, a very important award in the food world. NAHA still holds this star today.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Major Cooking Awards
In 2008, Carrie Nahabedian received a big honor. She won the James Beard Foundation Award for the Great Lakes region. This award is like the "Oscars" for chefs.
City Honors
The Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, honored Carrie Nahabedian. He declared September 22, 2009, as "Carrie Nahabedian Day." On the same day, she was added to the Chicago Culinary Museum's Chefs Hall of Fame.
In 2012, her restaurant NAHA received another award. It earned four diamonds from the AAA Motor Club. This shows it's a top-quality restaurant. As of 2012, Carrie Nahabedian was one of only ten female chefs in the United States to have a Michelin star.
Family Background
Carrie Nahabedian has Armenian descent. Her grandmother, Rose, was from Armenia.
