Rick Moonen facts for kids

Rick Moonen is a well-known American chef who specializes in seafood. He is famous for being one of the first chefs to support sustainable fishing practices. This means he works to make sure fish are caught in ways that protect the ocean and ensure there will be plenty of fish for future generations. Because of his important work, he is often called the "Godfather of Sustainability."

Rick Moonen studied cooking at the Culinary Institute of America. After he graduated, he worked in some very famous restaurants in New York City, 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 was very successful and earned three stars from The New York Times, which is a big honor! He also helped open another restaurant, Molyvos, which also received three stars. Rick Moonen was one of the few chefs in New York to have two different restaurants earn three stars. In 2005, he closed his New York restaurant to open Rick Moonen's RM Seafood and r bar café in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay hotel.

Protecting Our Oceans

Rick Moonen is a strong supporter of sustainable seafood. He believes it's important to protect our oceans and the fish that live in them. He helped start groups like the Chef’s Coalition and the Seafood Choices Alliance. He is also a member of other important organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society and Seaweb.

Rick Moonen has spoken up many times about environmental issues. He has even gone to Washington, D.C., to talk to leaders about policies that help keep our oceans healthy. He also worked as a spokesperson for American caviar, helping to promote a sustainable way to get this special food.

Teaching and Television

Rick Moonen is also involved in teaching and sharing his knowledge. He is on the board of advisors for the French Culinary Institute. He is also a member and fellow of the Culinary Institute of America, where he once studied. He writes for Food & Wine Magazine and is often invited to cook as a guest chef at the James Beard House, which is a very respected place for chefs. In 2010, Rick Moonen was a finalist on the TV show Top Chef Masters on Bravo, where he showed off his amazing cooking skills.

Rick Moonen's Restaurants

• Rick Moonen's RM Seafood
• Rx Boiler Room

Awards and Honors

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

• 2016 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards: Nominee for Best Chef : West
• 2010 James Beard Award Winner for a documentary called "Chef's A Field"
• 2009 Nevada Restaurant Association Restaurateur of the Year
• 2011 Chef of the Year from Monterey Bay Aquarium
• 2013 Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American Culinary Federation
• 2013 USA Today named Moonen an Earth's Power Player, recognizing him as one of five leaders helping the future health of our planet
• Inducted into the American Culinary Federation Hall of Fame
• 1993 Chef of the Year Award for the Northeast Region from Chefs in America
• 2010 Top Chef Masters Second Place Winner
• Guest Judge on Top Chef 6: Las Vegas (for the "Restaurant Wars" episode)
• 2006 Seafood Champion Award