Nancy Oakes facts for kids
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Oakes in 2012
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| Cooking style | New American cuisine |
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| Spouse | Bruce Aidells |
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Current restaurant(s)
https://prospectsf.com/ |
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Previous restaurant(s)
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Award(s) won
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Nancy Oakes is a famous American chef. She is the head chef at a well-known restaurant called Boulevard. In 2001, she won a very important honor, the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Chef. This award is like the "Oscars" for chefs!
Contents
Nancy Oakes' Cooking Journey
Starting Out in San Francisco
Nancy Oakes began her cooking career in San Francisco. She learned a lot from Pat O'Shea at the Mad Hatter restaurant. This restaurant was in a part of the city called the Richmond District.
After gaining experience, Nancy decided to open her own restaurant. She launched L'Avenue in 1988. Even though L'Avenue closed in 1993, it was a very important place. The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper said L'Avenue was one of five restaurants that really changed the food scene in San Francisco.
Opening Boulevard and Prospect
When L'Avenue closed, Nancy Oakes opened her second restaurant, Boulevard. This restaurant is special because it's in a building that survived the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It's one of only two buildings on the waterfront that made it through!
Nancy has worked in Boulevard's kitchen ever since it opened. She also helps with her third restaurant, Prospect.
Winning Top Awards
Nancy Oakes has been recognized many times for her amazing cooking. From 1995 to 2000, she was nominated almost every year for the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Chef. She finally won this prestigious award in 2001.
Her restaurant, Boulevard, also received many nominations. It was nominated eight times in a row for the Best Restaurant Award. Boulevard finally won this award in 2012. Nancy has said that Boulevard started as a local spot. Over time, it became a "destination restaurant," meaning people travel from far away just to eat there!
In 2021, Nancy Oakes teamed up with Anna Weinberg and Ken Fulk. Together, they opened another restaurant called Tosca Cafe.
Nancy Oakes' Family Life
Nancy Oakes is married to Bruce Aidells. Bruce is also well-known in the food world. He started the Aidells sausage company and has written many cookbooks.
