Suzette Gresham facts for kids
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Suzette Gresham, also known as Suzette Gresham-Tognetti, is a famous American chef. She is known for her amazing cooking skills. She has earned two Michelin stars for her restaurant, Acquerello, located in San Francisco, California. Michelin stars are a very special award for restaurants that serve excellent food.
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Suzette's Journey to Becoming a Chef
Suzette Gresham started her professional cooking career in 1988. She was hired as the head chef at a hotel called The Donatello in San Francisco. This was her first time leading a kitchen. Before this, she worked for United Airlines.
When she first arrived at The Donatello, some kitchen staff were surprised. They thought she might be the pastry chef because she was a woman. But once they saw her work, they quickly respected her talent. The hotel's owners faced financial problems in 1989, which led to a change for Suzette.
Opening Acquerello
In 1989, Suzette Gresham and Giancarlo Paterlini decided to open their own restaurant. Giancarlo was the manager who handled the "front of house" at The Donatello. This means he managed the dining room and customers. Their new restaurant, Acquerello, opened in the Nob Hill area of the city. Suzette was the head chef, and Giancarlo managed the front of house.
Suzette believes in teaching her kitchen staff. She makes sure they learn a lot while working with her. She even gives them extra "homework" and leaves cook books for them to read. She also offers to pay for books her staff buy to learn more.
Earning Michelin Stars
Acquerello received its first Michelin star in 2007. This was a huge honor for Suzette and her team. Then, in 2014, Acquerello earned a second Michelin star! This made Suzette Gresham one of only three female chefs in the United States at that time to hold two Michelin stars. This shows how incredibly talented and dedicated she is to her craft.
New Restaurants and Ventures
After running Acquerello for 24 years, Suzette Gresham and Giancarlo Paterlini opened another restaurant in 2013. They named it 1760, after its address on Polk Street. Suzette oversaw the food as the chef patron, which means she was the main chef and owner. The restaurant 1760 closed its doors in 2020.
In 2021, a new place called Sorella opened at the same location. Sorella is a cocktail bar that also serves small, tasty dishes. Suzette Gresham is still involved with the culinary team at Sorella, helping to create delicious food for guests.
