Stephanie Izard facts for kids

Stephanie Izard is a famous American chef and TV star. She made history as the first woman to win Top Chef, a popular cooking competition on Bravo. She won during the show's fourth season.

Stephanie owns and runs three amazing restaurants in Chicago: Girl and the Goat, Little Goat, and Duck Duck Goat. She also has restaurants in Los Angeles. She opened her very first restaurant, Scylla, when she was just 27 years old. In 2013, she won a special award called the James Beard Foundation Award for "Best Chef: Great Lakes" for her work at Girl and the Goat. She has also appeared on other TV shows like Iron Chef Gauntlet, where she earned the title of Iron Chef!

Early Life and Learning to Cook

Stephanie Izard was born in Evanston, Illinois, near Chicago. She grew up in Stamford, Connecticut. Her parents helped her get interested in food from a young age.

She went to the University of Michigan and got a degree in sociology in 1998. After that, she decided to follow her passion for cooking. She went to the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Scottsdale, a special cooking school, and finished in 1999.

Stephanie's Cooking Journey

After finishing culinary school, Stephanie worked in different kitchens. She learned a lot at places like the Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.

In 2001, Stephanie moved back to Chicago. She worked at a restaurant called Vong. There, she met other chefs and friends who would later help her with a cookbook called Girl in the Kitchen. This book shared her cooking tips and ideas.

Opening Restaurants

In 2004, when Stephanie was 27, she opened her first restaurant, Scylla. It was in the Bucktown area of Chicago. The restaurant was named after a creature from Greek stories. Scylla focused on seafood and had creative dishes. It received great reviews and awards, but Stephanie closed it in 2007.

After winning Top Chef, Stephanie met Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz. Together, they opened Girl and the Goat in Chicago in 2010. This restaurant became very popular. It serves a unique menu with Mediterranean flavors and uses all parts of the animal, which is called "nose-to-tail" cooking.

Saveur magazine even called Girl and the Goat “America’s Best New Restaurant.” In 2011, it was nominated for a James Beard Award. That same year, Food & Wine magazine named Stephanie a "Best New Chef."

In 2011, Stephanie announced she would open a second restaurant called Little Goat. This restaurant was a chance to make more of the delicious bread from Girl and the Goat. Little Goat is like an upscale diner and serves breakfast all day.

In 2015, Stephanie opened her third Chicago restaurant, Duck Duck Goat. It's in the Fulton-Randolph Market District.

In 2021, Stephanie opened her first restaurant outside Chicago, a second Girl and the Goat location in Los Angeles.

In 2023, Little Goat moved to a new spot in Lake View. Stephanie hopes to open a secret bar, called a speakeasy, next to it in the future.

TV Appearances

Top Chef

Around the time Scylla closed, Stephanie joined Top Chef Season 4, which was filmed in Chicago. She won the competition, becoming the first female winner! She won $100,000. During the season, she won many challenges. In the final round, she cooked a four-course meal that impressed the judges.

Stephanie also won the "Fan Favorite" award for that season, getting an extra $10,000. For a long time, she was the only Top Chef winner who also won Fan Favorite.

Other Shows

In 2012, Stephanie was featured on a Hulu show called A Day in the Life. The episode showed what a typical day was like for her at her restaurant.

Stephanie also appeared on Food Network's Iron Chef America. She competed against Iron Chef Michael Symon in a bread challenge but lost. However, in 2017, she competed in Iron Chef Gauntlet. She won the final round, beating famous chefs like Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, and Michael Symon. This earned her the title of Iron Chef!

You might also see Chef Izard on Guy's Grocery Games, either as a judge or as a chef competing.

Other Cool Projects

In 2011, Stephanie released her first cookbook, Girl in the Kitchen. To promote the book, she went on a "Goat Tour" across the country. In each city, she cooked with a chef friend. These dinners helped raise money for Share Our Strength, an organization that helps feed hungry children.

In 2016, Stephanie started her own line of sauces and spice mixes called This Little Goat. These products are inspired by foods from around the world.

Stephanie's Life

Stephanie Izard lives in Los Angeles with her son, Ernie, who was born in 2016.

Awards and Honors

• 2013 James Beard Foundation Award "Best Chef: Great Lakes" Winner
• 2012 James Beard Foundation Award "Best Chef: Great Lakes" Nominee
• Named one of the "Top 10 Chefs to Follow on Twitter" by Bon Appétit Magazine