Ris Lacoste facts for kids
Chef Ris Lacoste
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| Born | New Bedford, Massachusetts |
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| Education | University of Rochester in New York Anne Willan's La Varenne Écôle de Cuisine |
Doris (Ris) Lacoste is a famous American chef and restaurant owner. She is also a kind person who helps her community. Ris has been a chef in Washington D.C. for more than 30 years. She owns a popular restaurant there called RIS.
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Growing Up and Early Jobs
Ris Lacoste was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts. She was the fifth of seven children in a French Canadian family. When she was just 12 years old, Ris started working. She helped out at her mom's grocery store, Gorka's Market. This store sold Polish food, and Ris learned a lot about it there. At 16, she worked as a waitress at Friendly's. This was a well-known restaurant chain in New England. She worked there for four years.
Ris's Education Journey
High School and College
Ris graduated at the top of her class from St. Anthony Catholic High School. She then went to the University of Rochester. At first, she wanted to become a doctor. Later, she moved to the University of California at Berkeley. Here, she hoped to become a United Nations translator. She was good at French, Spanish, and Latin. Ris earned a degree in French literature from Berkeley.
Learning to Cook in Paris
In 1981, Ris moved to Paris, France. She wanted to get even better at speaking French. She got a job at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine. This was a famous cooking school. Ris worked as a receptionist and helped with editing. In return, she got to study French cooking for free. She learned from amazing chefs like Anne Willan. Anne was an English cookbook author and owned La Varenne. Ris later wrote many articles for Fine Cooking magazine.
Becoming a Top Chef
Working with Chef Kinkead
Ris came back to the United States in 1982. She started working for a chef named Robert Kinkead. The next year, she went back to France. She joined a hot air balloon team in Burgundy. After that, she returned to New England. She worked with Chef Kinkead again at Harvest Restaurant. This restaurant was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, near Harvard Square.
In 1985, their team opened a new restaurant called 21 Federal. It was located in Nantucket. A second 21 Federal opened in Washington, D.C. in 1987. These restaurants closed in 1993. Ris kept working with Chef Kinkead. He opened Kinkead's American Brassiere. This restaurant was very popular in D.C. for 20 years.
Leading 1789 Restaurant
In 1995, Ris became the head chef at 1789 Restaurant. This restaurant was in Georgetown. It was part of the Clyde's Restaurant Group. During her time there, she won many awards. In 1999, she was named Chef of the Year. Her restaurant, 1789, was named Restaurant of the Year. She also won awards from The Washington Post and Wine Spectator. These awards were for her amazing American cooking.
Ris was also nominated for the Best Chef Award by the James Beard Foundation. In 2002, she helped host Julia Child's 90th birthday party. Julia Child was a very famous chef. The party happened at the same time a copy of Julia's kitchen opened at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Ris cooked the special dinner for this event. A documentary called Cooking for Julia was made about it in 2004.
Opening Her Own Restaurant: RIS
After ten years, Ris left 1789 Restaurant in 2005. She then opened her own restaurant, RIS, in December 2009. RIS is an American bistro. It serves lunch, dinner, and food to take home. The menu changes with the seasons. It also has many wines, beers, and special cocktails.
Many of Ris's dishes are very famous in D.C. These include her "Scallop Margarita" and French onion soup. People also love "My Mother's Meatloaf" and Portuguese steak. To honor her friend and mentor, Chef Kinkead, Ris always has one of his favorite dishes on her menu.
Helping Others and the Community
Ris Lacoste has also helped many other restaurants. She has advised places like Jeffrey Buben's Vidalia Eye. She also helped the Abi Najm family's Street Cafe.
Outside of the kitchen, Ris loves going to Farmers' markets. She is a strong supporter and board member of these markets. She believes farmers' markets inspire her cooking. They also help the local community and support sustainable farming.
Awards and Special Honors
Ris Lacoste has received many important awards:
- Outstanding Restaurant of the United States, James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, 2023
- Duke Zeibert Lifetime Achievement Award, RAMW 2023
- Ris Lacoste Day, June 5, Official Proclamation, Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser, 2023
- Tom Sietsema's 6 Favorite Places to Eat, 2023
- Most Powerful Women of 2015, Washingtonian Magazine
- Meals From The Masters, Celeb Chefs Brunch, 2014
- Restaurant of the Year, RAMW, 2000
- Best Chef, James Beard Foundation Nominee, 1999
- Chef of the Year, RAMW, 1999
- Award of Excellence, Wine Spectator, 1995
- D.C. Michelin Guide's Recommended Restaurant
- Torch Award For Community Spirit, Foggy Bottom West End Village Board
- WACA Legend Award
On Television
Ris Lacoste has appeared on TV shows:
- Good Day Cafe, FOX 5 Washington, 2014
- The District Dish, Washington, DC, 2009
- Cooking For Julia, PBS 2004
