Dominique Crenn facts for kids
Crenn in 2013
|
|
| Born | April 7, 1965 Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Yvelines, France |
|---|---|
| Cooking style | French cuisine |
| Spouse | |
|
Rating(s)
 |
|
Dominique Crenn (born 7 April 1965) is a famous French chef. She is known for her amazing cooking and for being a leader in the food world. She was the first 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 TV shows, including the Food Network.
Contents
Early Life and Culinary Journey
Dominique Crenn was born in France. She was adopted when she was 18 months old by a French couple. She spent her summers on a family farm in Brittany, which helped her learn about fresh ingredients.
Her mother loved to cook and try new foods. She took young Dominique to many different restaurants in Paris, like Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese places. Dominique's father was a politician. He would take her with him when he ate at fancy Michelin star restaurants with his friend, who was a food critic. These experiences helped Dominique develop her love for food and cooking.
Even though she loved food, Dominique first studied economics and international business. She didn't like how male-dominated the French cooking scene was at the time.
Building a Chef's Career
Dominique Crenn moved to the United States in the late 1980s to follow her dream of becoming a chef. She started working in San Francisco, California. Her first job was at a well-known restaurant called Stars.
After two years, she worked at other restaurants in San Francisco. Later, she became the head chef at a hotel restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia. She was the first female head chef in Indonesia! However, she had to leave the country in 1998 because of civil unrest.
When she returned to the United States, she worked as an executive chef in Los Angeles, California. In 2008, she joined Luce, a restaurant in San Francisco. There, she earned her first Michelin star in 2009, and another one in 2010.
TV Appearances and Competitions
Dominique Crenn has also been on television. In 2009, she competed on The Next Iron Chef. She reached 7th place in the season. In 2010, she competed on Iron Chef America against Chef Michael Symon and won the cooking battle.
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 called Atelier Crenn in San Francisco. The Michelin Guide quickly gave it two stars. This made her the first female chef in the United States to receive two Michelin 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. She also appeared on Chef's Table, a documentary series on Netflix. In 2018, Atelier Crenn earned its third Michelin star, which is a very high honor in the cooking world.
Dominique Crenn opened another restaurant called Petit Crenn in 2015. This restaurant was inspired by the food she ate as a child in Brittany, France. In 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 received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: West.
Cooking Style and Philosophy
Dominique Crenn sees herself as an artist. She calls her dishes "poetic culinaria." This means her food is not just delicious, but also beautiful and thoughtful. Her restaurant, Atelier Crenn, is known for its creative and unique dishes that surprise and delight people.
She is also known for treating her staff very well. She avoids the yelling that used to be common in professional kitchens. She also likes to greet her guests, walking around to talk to people at their tables.
Recent Achievements
In 2021, Dominique Crenn worked as a consultant for the movie The Menu. She helped create the dishes shown in the film and advised the actor who played the main chef.
In 2024, Time magazine named Dominique Crenn one of the 100 most influential people in the world. This shows how important and respected she is in the food industry and beyond.
Personal Life
Dominique Crenn was married to actress Maria Bello. They were married in May 2024. However, they ended their marriage in May 2025.
See also
In Spanish: Dominique Crenn para niños
