Dominique Crenn facts for kids
Crenn in 2013
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| Born | April 7, 1965 Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Yvelines, France |
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| Cooking style | French cuisine |
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Dominique Crenn (born on April 7, 1965) is a famous French chef. She is known for her amazing cooking and creative dishes. As of 2016, she was the only female chef in the United States to earn three Michelin stars for her restaurant, Atelier Crenn, in San Francisco. Dominique Crenn has also appeared on many popular TV shows, including those on Food Network.
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Early Life and Culinary Inspiration
Dominique Crenn was born in Locronan, France. When she was 18 months old, she was adopted by a French couple from Versailles. She spent many summers on her family's farm in Brittany.
Her mother loved to cook and try new foods. She often took young Dominique to different restaurants in Paris, like Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese places. Her father was a politician. He would take Dominique with him when he dined at fancy Michelin star restaurants. His friend, a food critic, often joined them.
These experiences, from the farm to high-end restaurants, helped Dominique develop her love for food. She didn't like how male-dominated the French cooking world was at the time. So, she first studied economics and international business.
Dominique Crenn's Journey to Becoming a Top Chef
Dominique Crenn moved to the United States in the late 1980s to follow her dream of becoming a chef. She started her career in San Francisco, California. Her first job was at a well-known restaurant called Stars, run by the famous chef Jeremiah Tower.
After two years, she worked at other restaurants like Campton Place and Yoyo Bistro. Later, she became the head chef at the Intercontinental Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. She was the first female head chef in Indonesia. However, she had to leave the country in 1998 due to difficult times there.
Returning to the United States and Earning Michelin Stars
When she returned to the United States, Dominique Crenn became the executive chef at Manhattan Country Club in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles. Then she worked at Abode Restaurant and Lounge in Santa Monica, California.
In 2008, she joined Luce in San Francisco. There, she earned her first Michelin star in 2009. She received another one-star ranking the next year.
TV Appearances and Culinary Competitions
In 2009, Crenn competed on The Next Iron Chef. She reached 7th place in the season. In 2010, she appeared on Iron Chef America and won her battle against chef Michael Symon. Later, in 2022, she was featured as an Iron Chef on the Netflix show Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend.
Opening Her Own Restaurants
In 2011, Dominique Crenn opened her own restaurant, Atelier Crenn, in San Francisco. The Michelin Guide quickly gave it a two-star rating. This made Crenn the first female chef in the United States to receive two stars. Atelier Crenn earned two stars again in 2014.
In 2016, she was named the Best Female Chef by The World's 50 Best Restaurants. That same year, she appeared on Season 2 of Chef's Table, a popular documentary series on Netflix. In 2018, Atelier Crenn earned its third Michelin star, a very rare achievement.
In 2015, she opened Petit Crenn. This restaurant was inspired by the food she ate as a child in Brittany. In March 2018, she opened Bar Crenn, a wine bar next to Atelier Crenn. Bar Crenn earned one Michelin star in its first year. This means Dominique Crenn currently holds four Michelin stars across her restaurants. In 2018, she also won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: West.
Working on "The Menu" Film
In 2021, Dominique Crenn joined the creative team for the movie The Menu. She worked as a consultant for the character Chef Julian Slowik, played by Ralph Fiennes. She also helped create the amazing dishes shown in the film.
In 2024, Time magazine named Dominique Crenn one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Dominique Crenn's Unique Cooking Style
Dominique Crenn sees herself as an artist. She calls her dishes "poetic culinaria." This means her food is not just tasty, but also beautiful and tells a story. Critics have said that Atelier Crenn's food is visually stunning, has interesting textures, and is very creative. It has gained international attention.
Crenn is also known for treating her staff very well. She avoids the yelling and strictness that used to be common in professional kitchens. She also likes to greet her guests, walking from table to table to say hello.
Personal Life
In December 2019, Dominique Crenn got engaged to actress Maria Bello. They were married on May 12, 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Dominique Crenn para niños
