Judy Rodgers facts for kids
Judy Rodgers (October 28, 1956 – December 2, 2013) was a famous American chef. She also owned a restaurant and wrote cookbooks. She became very well-known at Zuni Café in San Francisco, California. She became the head chef there in 1987. Rodgers' cooking was inspired by Chez Panisse, where she had worked. It was also influenced by French food, which she learned about as an exchange student. She lived with the family of Jean Troisgros in France. Her book, The Zuni Café Cookbook, was published in 2002. It helped spread her careful and thoughtful way of cooking to many people.
Early Life and Learning
Rodgers was born on October 28, 1956, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her journey into cooking began in 1973. A family friend helped her spend a year in France as an exchange student. She lived with the family of Jean Troisgros. The Troisgros family restaurant, Les Frères Troisgros, was very famous. It was known as one of the best restaurants in the world. Judy carefully wrote down what she ate and how it was cooked. In 1974, she moved to California. She went to Stanford University to study art history.
Becoming a Chef
Towards the end of her time at Stanford, Judy met Alice Waters. Alice Waters owned a restaurant called Chez Panisse in Berkeley. Judy quickly started working there and soon managed the lunch service. Alice Waters believed in using fresh food that was in season. Judy shared this belief strongly. Her cooking style was also shaped by books from famous food writers. She also learned from a French chef named Pepette Arbulo. Later trips to Italy also helped her develop her unique taste and style.
After returning to the United States, Rodgers worked for Marion Cunningham. She cooked "homey, American food" at the Union Hotel in Benicia, California. One of the dishes she made was Caesar salad. A special version of this salad later became a favorite at Zuni Café.
In 1987, Judy Rodgers was asked to become the chef at Zuni Café. It was a Mexican café on Market Street in San Francisco. Soon after she arrived, a brick oven was built in the dining room. Her famous roasted chicken for two, served with bread salad, quickly became a popular dish. It joined the Caesar salad as a Zuni Café classic.
The Zuni Cafe Cookbook
The Zuni Cafe Cookbook: A Compendium of Recipes and Cooking Lessons from San Francisco's Beloved Restaurant was published in 2002. This book shared Judy Rodgers' recipes. It also gave detailed instructions on how important it is to taste ingredients and dishes while cooking. The book also included wine suggestions from Gerald Asher. After Judy's death, a food critic named Jonathan Gold praised the book. He called it "possibly the greatest, most generous cookbook ever written by a working American chef."
Judy Rodgers passed away in 2013 at age 57. She died from cancer in Berkeley, California.
Awards and Recognition
Judy Rodgers received many important awards for her cooking and her cookbook:
- James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef 2004
- James Beard Foundation Cookbook of the Year 2003
- James Beard Foundation Cooking from a Professional Point 2003
- James Beard Foundation Restaurant of the Year 2003
- James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame 2022 for The Zuni Cafe Cookbook (awarded after her death)
