Gabrielle Hamilton (chef) facts for kids
Gabrielle Hamilton (born in 1966) is a famous American chef and author. She owns and runs a restaurant called Prune in New York City. Gabrielle Hamilton also wrote a popular book about her life, called Blood, Bones, and Butter.
Early Life and Learning
Gabrielle Hamilton grew up in New Hope, PA. She was born in 1966. Her French mother greatly influenced her cooking style. Her mother taught her not to waste food. The family often gathered fresh ingredients. They found these items in their garden, forests, and fields.
Gabrielle went to Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. Later, she earned a special degree. This was a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing. She got this degree from the University of Michigan. Gabrielle's sister, Melissa Hamilton, is also a food writer and chef. Their father used to own a restaurant called Hamilton's Grill Room.
Her Amazing Career
Gabrielle Hamilton started her career in catering. In 1999, she opened her own restaurant. It is called Prune and is located in the East Village in New York. She had no formal restaurant training. She also did not go to culinary school.
Prune is a small restaurant with only 30 seats. It quickly became very popular. Many diners, food critics, and other chefs loved it. Famous chefs like Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert admired her work. Prune was even listed in the Michelin guide in 2014. This guide highlights great places to eat.
Gabrielle Hamilton also appeared on TV. She was featured in the PBS show The Mind of a Chef. She also appeared as a guest judge on The Taste on ABC.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prune had to close temporarily. Gabrielle wrote an article for The New York Times. She talked about her restaurant's closure. She also discussed how the pandemic affected other restaurants.
Her Family Life
Gabrielle Hamilton has two children. Their names are Marco and Leone.
Awards and Special Honors
Gabrielle Hamilton has won many important awards. She received the James Beard award for best chef in New York City in 2011. She won another James Beard award in 2012 for her book. In 2018, she won the Outstanding Chef award.
She also earned a James Beard award for journalism in 2015. This was for an article she wrote for Afar magazine. The article was called "Into the Vines." It explored the wines and winemakers of Sicily, Italy.