Karen Akunowicz facts for kids
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| Born | September 17, 1978 Kearny, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Education | University of Massachusetts Amherst, Cambridge School of Culinary Arts |
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LJ Johnson
(m. 2014) |
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Current restaurant(s)
Fox & the Knife Boston (2019–present)
Bar Volpe, Boston (2021–present) Fox & Flight, Boston (2024–present) |
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Previous restaurant(s)
Myers + Chang
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Television show(s)
Top Chef: California
Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. |
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Award(s) won
2018 James Beard Award, Best Chef: Northeast
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Karen Akunowicz, born on September 17, 1978, is a talented American chef. She is well-known for her restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts. Karen owns and runs Fox & the Knife, an Italian restaurant in Boston. This restaurant has been recognized as one of the best new restaurants. In 2018, she won a special award called the James Beard Foundation Award for being the Best Chef in the Northeast region.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Karen Akunowicz grew up in Kearny, New Jersey. She finished Kearny High School in 1996.
After high school, she went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Later, she moved to Boston. While working in restaurants, Karen thought about studying social work. But she decided to follow her passion for cooking instead. She then attended the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts to become a chef.
Culinary Career
Karen Akunowicz gained experience working in different kitchens. She cooked at L'Avian Blu in Modena, Italy. She also worked at Boston restaurants like Via Matta and Oleana.
Later, she became the head chef and a partner at Myers+Chang. This restaurant was owned by another famous chef, Joanne Chang. Karen was nominated for a James Beard Award in 2015. She then won the award for Best Chef: Northeast in 2018.
In 2017, Karen also helped write a cookbook. It was called Myers+Chang at Home: Recipes from the Beloved Boston Eatery.
Opening Her Own Restaurants
In 2019, Karen Akunowicz opened her very own restaurant. It is called Fox & the Knife. This Italian restaurant is located in South Boston.
Fox & the Knife quickly became very popular. In 2019, Food and Wine Magazine and Eater International named it the Best New Restaurant in America. USA Today also gave it this title in 2020. The restaurant was also nominated for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in America in both 2019 and 2020.
In November 2021, Karen opened her second restaurant. It is called Bar Volpe and is also in South Boston. This restaurant focuses on delicious Southern Italian food.
In March 2024, Karen opened another restaurant. It is a smaller version of Fox & the Knife. This new spot, called Fox & Flight, is located inside Logan International Airport in Boston.
Television Appearances
Karen Akunowicz has appeared on several cooking shows. In 2014, she competed on Beat Bobby Flay. She cooked Chicken & Waffles but lost to Bobby Flay.
In 2015, Karen was a contestant on season 13 of Top Chef. She later returned to the show as a guest judge on Top Chef Canada in 2019. In 2020, Karen competed again on Top Chef: All-Stars L.A.. In 2022, she also competed in Season 3 of Tournament of Champions.
Personal Life
In 2014, Karen Akunowicz married her partner, LJ Johnson. In July 2022, she shared that she was expecting her first child. Her daughter, Rogue, was born on September 23, 2022.
