Jody Adams (chef) facts for kids

Jody Adams (born around 1956 or 1957) is a famous American chef. She also owns several restaurants. Jody Adams runs TRADE and Porto in Massachusetts. For over 20 years, she owned and was the main chef at Rialto in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1997, she won a big award called the James Beard Award. It was for being the Best Chef in the Northeast of America.

Early Life and Education

Jody Adams grew up in New England. Her mother often cooked delicious New England food for her. This helped Jody learn about cooking from a young age.

Jody went to Brown University. She studied anthropology there. While at Brown, Jody also worked at a cooking school. This school was in Providence, Rhode Island. She liked working in the kitchen much more than studying in college.

After finishing university, Jody traveled around Europe. She spent five months exploring different countries. This trip likely helped her learn about new foods and cooking styles.

Jody Adams's Cooking Career

Jody Adams decided to become a chef. She was encouraged by famous chefs like Julia Child. In the early 1980s, she worked at Seasons Restaurant in Boston. Later, in 1983, she helped open Gordon Hamersley's bistro. She was the sous chef there, which is like a second-in-command chef.

In 1990, Jody became the main chef at Michaela's. This restaurant was in East Cambridge, Massachusetts. She created menus with food from Italy and New England. In 1993, Food & Wine magazine named her one of the top ten chefs in the United States. This was because of her great work at Michaela's.

In 1994, Jody Adams and her partner opened Rialto. It was located in the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square. The restaurant quickly became very popular. Within four months, The Boston Globe gave it four stars. Jody was nominated five times for the James Beard Award while at Rialto. She finally won the award in 1997.

In 2002, Jody Adams wrote a cookbook. It was called In the Hands of a Chef: Cooking with Jody Adams of Rialto Restaurant. In 2007, she became the only owner of Rialto. That same year, Esquire magazine called Rialto one of the best restaurants in the country.

Jody opened her second restaurant, TRADE, in Boston in 2011. Five years later, in 2016, she opened two more. Saloniki is a Greek fast-food style restaurant. Porto serves Mediterranean food in the Back Bay area. She opened these with partners Eric Papachristos and Jon Mendez.

Rialto closed in June 2016. Jody Adams left the restaurant in April of that year. In 2019, she opened Greek Street. This was another restaurant with her partners. In 2022, two new Saloniki restaurants opened. One is on Newbury Street and the other in Beacon Hill.

Television and Writing

Jody Adams has also appeared on TV. She was a contestant on Top Chef Masters. This is a cooking competition show. She also writes a blog with her husband, Ken Rivard. The blog is called The Garum Factory. It shares recipes for people to cook at home. Ken Rivard takes the pictures for the blog.

Jody also appeared on a kids' TV show. She was a chef in an episode of Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman.

Personal Life

Jody Adams is married to Ken Rivard. They have two grown-up children. Jody also helps many charities. She supports the Greater Boston Food Bank and Partners in Health. She also helps Share Our Strength. Jody is a founder of Massachusetts Restaurants United. This group helps restaurants in Massachusetts.

One of Jody's favorite foods to cook is scallops. She says scallops are a "quintessential New England fare." This means they are a classic food from the New England area.