Cat Cora

What makes Cat Cora a Global Shaker?

In 2005, Cat Cora made television history when she became the first-ever female Iron Chef on Food Network’s hit show: Iron Chef America.

A true powerhouse, Cat continued to shatter the glass ceiling as one of the first females to dominate the historically male culinary industry becoming a world-renowned chef, author, restaurateur, contributing editor, television host and personality, actress, avid philanthropist, health and fitness expert, lifestyle entrepreneur and proud mother of six.

The Jackson, Mississippi native, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America and went on to cook at two 3-star Michelin restaurants in France, has been captivating audiences since she made her TV debut in 1999, as co-host of Food Network’s Melting Pot with Rocco Di Spirito. She went on to host My Country My Kitchen: Greece, Date Plate, and was one of the featured hosts on Fine Living’s Simplify Your Life.

After Cora’s Iron Chef debut, she was featured extensively on a number of television shows.

Catch her most recently on ABC’s culinary competition series Family Food Fight where she served up her culinary knowledge as a judge, as a co-host on BRAVO’s “Around the World in 80 Plates” as well as FOX’s “My Kitchen Rules.”

In 2006, Cora was awarded Bon Appetit Magazine’s “Teacher of the Year Award” and was named the Executive Chef of the magazine and in 2012 the trailblazer became the first female inducted into The American Academy of Chefs Culinary Hall of Fame.

She has opened more than 18 restaurants across the United States and globally, highlighting her platform on health, wellness and sustainability: Cat Cora’s Kitchen, located in numerous airport locations throughout the U.S., Cat Cora’s Taproom located in the Detroit Metro Airport, Ocean by Cat Cora, an award-winning restaurant in Singapore, Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney World, CCQ at Macy’s, Postino in San Francisco’s East Bay, Mesa Burger which can be found in Santa Barbara and Goleta, and Olilo by Cat Cora and Wicked Eats by Cat Cora have over 500 pop-ups across the country.

As if that wasn’t enough, Cora is also a prominent published author of three successful cookbooks, one children’s book and, in 2015, her raw and remarkably candid memoir called Cooking as Fast as I Can: A Chef’s Story of Food, Family and Forgiveness.

Outside the kitchen, Cora is best known for her philanthropic efforts. She is the President and Founder of Chefs for Humanity, a non-profit dedicated to reducing hunger worldwide by supporting humanitarian relief and promoting nutrition education.

And, in 2018, she launched her Women’s Empowerment Culinary Internship Program to mentor, give back and help women succeed in the culinary arts.

For helping to address the most pressing needs in her community and country, President Barack Obama awarded Cat Cora The President’s Volunteer Service Award and The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for building a stronger nation through her volunteer service.

In her home town, she is proud to be featured in the permanent collection of the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Museum’s Kitchen Table exhibit.

In 2019, Cora joined the family of Vancouver based Montessori cooking school, Little Kitchen Academy as their ambassador, advisor and honorary recipe developer.

She currently resides in California with her wife Nicole and their six boys.

Last updated: March 13, 2020

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