Rick Moonen facts for kids

Rick Moonen is an American seafood chef. He is known for using sustainable fishing practices. People sometimes call him the "Godfather of Sustainability." This means he was one of the first chefs to really care about protecting our oceans.

Rick Moonen's Journey as a Chef

Rick Moonen studied cooking at the Culinary Institute of America. This is a famous school for chefs. After graduating, he worked in some of New York City's best restaurants. These included places like La Côte Basque and Le Cirque. He spent six years at The Water Club.

Later, he became a top chef and partner at a restaurant called Oceana. He then opened his own restaurant in New York, named rm. This restaurant earned three stars from The New York Times. He also helped open a Greek restaurant called Molyvos, which also got three stars. Not many chefs in New York had two restaurants with three stars each!

In 2005, Rick Moonen moved to Las Vegas. He opened two new places at Mandalay Bay. These were Rick Moonen's RM Seafood and r bar café.

Protecting Our Oceans

Rick Moonen is a big supporter of sustainable seafood. This means choosing fish and other seafood that are caught or farmed in ways that don't harm the ocean or fish populations. He wants to make sure there will be enough fish for the future.

He helped start groups like the Chef’s Coalition and Seafood Choices Alliance. These groups work to teach people about sustainable seafood. He is also part of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Seaweb. Rick Moonen has spoken many times in Washington, D.C., about protecting the environment.

Other Achievements

Rick Moonen is an advisor for the French Culinary Institute. He also helps out at the Culinary Institute of America. He writes for Food & Wine Magazine. He is often a guest chef at the James Beard House, which is a special place for chefs.

In 2010, Rick Moonen was a finalist on the TV show Top Chef Masters. This show features very talented chefs competing against each other.

Restaurants

• Rick Moonen's RM Seafood
• Rx Boiler Room

Awards and Recognition

Rick Moonen has received many awards for his cooking and his work for the environment.

• He was nominated for Best Chef: West at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in 2016.
• In 2010, he won a James Beard Award for a documentary called "Chef's A Field."
• The Nevada Restaurant Association named him Restaurateur of the Year in 2009.
• He was named Chef of the Year by the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 2011.
• In 2013, he received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American Culinary Federation.
• USA Today called him an "Earth's Power Player" in 2013. This meant he was one of five leaders helping the planet's health.
• He was added to the American Culinary Federation Hall of Fame.
• In 1993, he won the Chef of the Year Award for the Northeast Region.
• He was the second-place winner on Top Chef Masters in 2010.
• He was a guest judge on Top Chef 6: Las Vegas.
• He received the Seafood Champion Award in 2006.