Tanya Holland facts for kids
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| Born | July 14, 1965 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
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| Cooking style | New Soul |
| Education | University of Virginia, La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine |
| Spouse | Phil Surkis (2007–2016) |
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Previous restaurant(s)
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Tanya Holland, born on July 14, 1965, is a famous American chef, restaurant owner, and writer. She is well-known for her amazing soul food cooking. Tanya has also hosted a podcast and written several cookbooks.
She was a contestant on the TV show Top Chef during its 15th season. Tanya owned a popular restaurant called Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland, California, from 2008 to 2022. This restaurant was very famous and won many awards.
Tanya has written three cookbooks: "New Soul Cooking," "Brown Sugar Kitchen," and "California Soul." Her third book came out in October 2022. She is also a leader in the food world, working with the James Beard Foundation. She often speaks about making the restaurant industry fair for everyone. In 2020, she started her own podcast called Tanya’s Table Podcast.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tanya Holland was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on July 14, 1965. Her parents were Annette and Hollis Holland. When she was two years old, her family moved to Rochester, New York.
Tanya's parents loved to cook, and they inspired her. Her father was from Virginia, and her mother was from Louisiana. When Tanya was eight, her parents started a cooking club with friends. They would try different foods from around the world, like French, Mexican, Indian, and Southern dishes.
Tanya finished high school in 1983. She then went to the University of Virginia, where she studied Russian Language and Literature. After college, she went to a special cooking school in Burgundy, France, called La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine. She earned her cooking diploma there in 1992.
Starting Her Cooking Journey
Tanya began her career in restaurants in New York City. She worked as an assistant manager at places like Cornelia Street Café. She also managed catering, helped with wine, and served food. Eventually, she decided she wanted to be a chef in the kitchen.
While in France, she learned from famous chefs like Michel Sarran. She trained at restaurants like Le Mas Du Langoustier and Restaurant L’Essential.
Becoming a Chef
In 1994, Tanya returned to the kitchen as a cook at Mesa Grill. She also worked as a food styling assistant, helping make food look good for magazines.
She spent time cooking at restaurants on Martha’s Vineyard Island, like The Oyster Bar. She also cooked at Hamersley's Bistro in Boston. Tanya became an Executive Chef at The Delux Café in Boston and The Victory Kitchen in Brooklyn, where she received great reviews.
Cooking in California
In 2002, Tanya moved to California. She has lived in Oakland, California, since 2003. In 2008, she opened her first restaurant, Brown Sugar Kitchen, in West Oakland. People loved her dishes, especially her chicken and waffles and BBQ shrimp & grits.
Brown Sugar Kitchen moved to Downtown Oakland in 2019. It closed in 2022. Tanya also had a barbecue restaurant called B-Side BBQ from 2011 to 2015. She opened another Brown Sugar Kitchen location in the San Francisco Ferry Building from 2019 to 2020. From 2021 to 2022, she also ran Town Fare, a cafe inside the Oakland Museum of California.
Writing and Podcast Work
Tanya has written for many magazines, including Food and Wine and Signature Bride. She has also been featured in major publications like The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
In 2020, Tanya launched her podcast, Tanya's Table Podcast. In the first season, she talked with famous guests like Samin Nosrat and Questlove. The second season, which ran from December 2020 to March 2021, featured guests like Ayesha Curry and Danny Glover.
Teaching and Mentoring
Tanya loves to share her cooking knowledge. In 1998, she taught at the Cambridge Culinary Institute. She continues to teach cooking classes at schools and markets across the country.
She has also been a "Culinary Diplomat" for the United States. This means she traveled to places like Kazakhstan and Mexico to teach about American food. Tanya also advises Stanford University on their dining programs.
Television Appearances
Tanya Holland has appeared on many TV shows. In 2017, she was a contestant on Top Chef, where she placed 9th. In 2020, she hosted her own show on the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network called "Tanya's Kitchen Table."
Here are some of the TV shows she has been on:
- MasterChef (2021)
- Tanya's Kitchen Table (2020)
- Selena + Chef (2020)
- Iron Chef (2017)
- Top Chef (season 15, 2017–2018)
- Home & Family (2015–2017)
- CBS This Morning (2016)
- The Talk (2013–2015 & 2020)
- The Chew (2013)
- My Momma Throws Down (2012)
- Eye on the Bay & Check Please! Bay Area (2008–2010)
- Soul Cities (2009)
- G. Garvin's Road Tour (2008)
- Byron Allen's Every Woman (2005)
- The Wayne Brady Show (2004)
- The Jane Pauley Show (2004)
- Sara Moulton's Cooking Live (2001)
- Emeril's Holiday Special & Ready Set Cook (2001)
- Melting Pot Soul Kitchen (2000–2003)
- Today Show (2000)
Awards and Recognition
Tanya Holland has received many awards for her cooking and restaurants:
- She earned "Bib Gourmand" awards from the Michelin Guide in 2010 and 2018.
- Her restaurant was "Michelin Recommended" in 2012.
- Oakland Magazine named her "Best Soul Food" in 2009 and 2010.
- Food & Wine Magazine called her "Best New Barbecue in America" in 2012.
- Travel & Leisure Magazine named her "Best New Barbecue in USA" in 2013.
- She was named "Woman Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2013.
- In 2013, she was honored as "Restaurateur/Chef of the Year" by the California Travel Association.
- Ebony Magazine recognized her as having the "Best Barbecue in America" in 2014.
On June 5, 2012, the mayor of Oakland, Jean Quan, and the city council declared that day "Tanya Holland Day." This was to celebrate her important role in making Oakland a famous food city. On August 2, 2014, Mayor Jean Quan also gave Tanya Holland the Key to the City of Oakland.
