Dining Out

Dining Out

Celebrating 10 Female Chefs That We Love, From Anna Olson to Molly Yeh

Posted by Dan Clapson. Last updated on September 28, 2020 by Food Network Canada Editors

There’s always a lot of talk about the culinary arts being a male-dominated industry, but over the years we've seen that perception change (albeit slowly). Here are ten Food Network Canada female chefs from across Canada and the United States that inspire us in the kitchen.

  • Lynn Crawford
     
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    Lynn Crawford

    <p>When thinking about Canadian female chefs, it’s near impossible not to have Lynn Crawford come to mind. Before she owned her popular eatery, Ruby Watchco, she skillfully ran the kitchen at The Four Seasons. When she’s not filming episodes for <em><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/junior-chef-showdown/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Junior Chef Showdown</a></em>, <em><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/iron-chef-canada/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Iron Chef Canada</a></em> or whatever else she has on the go, Crawford runs the kitchen at Ruby Watchco with co-chef and partner Lora Kirk making food that Torontonians and city visitors alike just can’t seem to get enough of. </p>
  • Kardea Brown
     
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    Kardea Brown

    <p>South Carolina resident Kardea Brown is known for her contemporary Southern cooking — like this <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/delicious-miss-brown/blog/kardea-brown-fish-fillet-sandwich/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fish fillet sandwich</a>. When not hosting <em><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/delicious-miss-brown/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Delicious Miss Brown</a></em> or cooking up a storm, she's making guest appearances on <em>Beat Bobby Flay</em>, <em>Chopped Junior</em>, <em>Cooks vs. Cons</em>, <em>Family Food Showdown</em> and <em>Farmhouse Rules</em>.</p>
  • Eden Grinshpan
     
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    Eden Grinshpan

    <p>Another Canadian fave, Toronto-born <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/chopped-canada/photos/10-things-about-eden-grinshpan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eden Grinshpan</a> is a chef, <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/food-network-insider/photos/food-network-canada-chef-cookbooks/#!food-network-canada-cookbooks-anna-olson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cookbook author</a> and current host of <em>Top Chef Canada</em>. She also has the education to back it all up: she is a graduate of London's Le Cordon Blue Pastry and Cuisine, as well the management program at The Institute of Culinary Education.</p>
  • Molly Yeh
     
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    Molly Yeh

    <p><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/fun-with-food/photos/things-you-didnt-know-molly-yeh-girl-meets-farm/#!MW0103_0188" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Molly Yeh</a> is known for her fusion cooking that incorporates both sides of her heritage: Jewish and Chinese. The <em><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/girl-meets-farm/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Girl Meets Farm</a></em> host is also a musician and cookbook author. We're particularly fans of her gorgeous (and often sprinkle-covered) <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/girl-meets-farm/photos/molly-yeh-dessert-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dessert recipes</a>.</p>
  • Anna Olson
     
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    Anna Olson

    <p>Everyone's favourite pastry chef — Anna Olson — resides in Welland, ON, in the Niagara Region. She has hosted plenty of Food Network shows, including: <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/great-chocolate-showdown/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Great Chocolate Showdown</em></a>, <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/junior-chef-showdown/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Junior Chef Showdown</em></a>, and <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/bake-with-anna-olson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Bake With Anna Olson</em></a>. Here are more <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/inspired-with-anna-olson/photos/surprising-facts-about-anna-olson/#!anna-olson-inspired" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">things you didn't know about our resident baker</a>.</p>
  • Valerie Bertinelli
     
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    Valerie Bertinelli

    <p>Valerie Bertinelli is a Golden Globe Award-winning actress, but as it turns out, she's also a homegrown pro in the kitchen. From quiche to <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/valeries-home-cooking/photos/best-italian-recipes/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lasagna</a> to pizza, we can always rely on the <em><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/valeries-home-cooking/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Valerie's Home Cooking</a></em> host for some good ol' comfort food classics.</p>
  • Padma Lakshmi
     
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    Padma Lakshmi

    <p>Padma Lakshmi is an established food expert, activist and writer having written four cookbooks and hosted food television series, including <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/top-chef/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Top Chef</em></a>, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award. Padma also owns several businesses including a home decor line and a culinary line. </p>
  • Giada De Laurentiis
     
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    Giada De Laurentiis

    <p>Giada De Laurentiis is an Italian-American chef, <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author and founder of the catering business GDL Foods. She's hosted plenty of Food Network favourites: <em><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/giada-at-home/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Giada at Home</a></em>, <em><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/winner-cake-all/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Winner Cake All</a></em> and <em><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/everyday-italian/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Everyday Italian</a></em>. Here are <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/giada-de-laurentiis-popular-pasta/#!giada-recipes-baked-rigatoni-sausage" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Giada's most popular pasta dishes</a>.</p>
  • Ree Drummond
     
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    Ree Drummond

    <p>Ree Drummond, a former city girl, is cooking up a storm on her ranch in Oklahoma. Her show <em><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/the-pioneer-woman/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Pioneer Woman</a></em> is a massive success; and we love everything from her <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/the-pioneer-woman/photos/pioneer-woman-best-tex-mex/#!quesadillas-shrimp-pepepers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tex-Mex recipes</a> to her <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/the-pioneer-woman/photos/pioneer-woman-top-cakes-pies/#!raspberry-cream-pie" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">desserts</a> and more.</p>
  • Ina Garten
     
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    Ina Garten

    <p>Most of us know <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/barefoot-contessa-back-to-basics/photos/fun-facts-ina-garten/#!inagarten_whitehouse" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ina Garten</a> as <em>The Barefoot Contessa</em> — and this powerhouse has done it all: from working in the White House (as a budget analyst for Presidents Ford and Carter) to flipping houses to launching her own line of pantry staples.</p>
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