Suzanne Tracht (born 1963) is an American chef. In 2002, Food & Wine named her to their Best New Chefs. She has appeared as a guest on many shows, such as Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef Masters, Today, Entertainment Tonight, and many more. [1] She has won many awards and honors for her cooking, specifically her signature braising. [1]
Suzanne Tracht | |
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| Born | 1963 (age 60–61) |
| Culinary career | |
Current restaurant(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
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Television show(s) | |
Award(s) won
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Early life
editTracht was born and raised in 1963, in Phoenix, Arizona.[2][3] At 19, she began a three-year apprenticeship at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel under chef Siegbert Wendler, which is where she began cooking professionally.[4][5][6][7]
Career
editAfter her apprenticeship under Wendler ended, Tracht worked at the Westin Century Plaza and then the Hotel Bel-Air, where she worked with George Morrone. In 1991, She moved to Beverly Hills, California to become the sous chef of Noa Noa, a Cal-Asian fusion restaurant.[3]
In 1992, Tracht worked at a restaurant in Southern California named Campanile where she became chef de cuisine, working with Nancy Silverton and Mark Peel.[4][8] Tracht has said that working at Campanile was one of the most valuable and experiences in her culinary career. [9] In 1996, Tracht then opened a Cal-Asian fusion restaurant named Jozu, as executive chef.[2][3] During her time at Jozu, she worked with Preech Narkthong, who would become her chef de cuisine when she opened her first restaurant.[10] Tracht's work at Jozu helped her gain popularity and following. In its first year open, Jozu was placed at number two in for “L.A.’s Best New Restaurants” list in the Los Angeles magazine’s annual restaurant issue. [11]
In 2001, Tracht opened steakhouse restaurant Jar, an acronym for "just another restaurant", in Los Angeles's Beverly Grove neighborhood with Peel.[8][4][12][11] The Wall Street Journal described it as "a modern take on a classic, 1940s-style chop house".[8] It is known for its pot roast and char siu pork.[10] Jar has been among Los Angeles’ top 75 restaurants list named in the magazine for many consecutive years. [13]
In 2007 Tracht opened Tracht's in Long Beach.[8] She closed it after a few years.[4] Today, Tracht is recognized as one of the top female chefs in the United States.
Reception and awards
editAccording to the Wall Street Journal, Tracht "has become nationally known for her pot roast", which has been on the menu continuously since Jar and Tracht's opened.[8] In 2014, Jonathan Gold said, "She should be winning national awards, but she is content with making a great wedge salad and the best pot roast in town."[10] In 2022 Time Out called Jar "a dining institution" in Los Angeles.[10]
In 2002, after she opened Jar, Food & Wine named her one of their Best New Chefs.[2] In 2007 she was inducted into Nation's Restaurant News's Fine Dining Hall of Fame.[3]
In 2003, 2005, and 2009, Tracht participated in Fortune magazine’s Most Powerful Women Summit. [14]In 2009, Tracht was named Chef of the Year by high-end luxury magazine Angeleno. That same year, Tracht was honored at the 2009 Women in Food James Beard Foundation Awards gala in New York. She has been a featured chef in multiple occasions: she was a featured chef at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, as well as a host chef for Argentina444. [15]
Philanthropy
editTracht has supported local food resource center SOVA and Project Angel Food, which delivers meals to people with serious illness.[16][5]
Personal life
editReferences
edit- ^ "Suzanne Tracht | Jar Restaurant | Los Angeles". Jar Restaurant. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Abdelnour, Salma (31 March 2015). "America's Best New Chefs 2002". Food & Wine. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d Willan, Ann (10 November 2012). "LaVarenne » 2012 Celebrity Chef Series–Suzanne Tracht". École de Cuisine La Varenne. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Kuh, Patrick (26 October 2017). "Let's Take a Moment to Appreciate The Enduring Brilliance of Chef Suzanne Tracht". Los Angeles Magazine.
- ^ a b McCave, Lesley (5 January 2010). "Q & A With Suzanne Tracht, Part 2: The Jar Chef on the Importance of Keeping Things Simple, Heading to Abu Dhabi, and NOT Eating Dog - LA Weekly". LA Weekly. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Suzanne Tracht: from dishwashing station to owner & chef". Start TV. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Staff, Start TV. "Suzanne Tracht: from dishwashing station to owner & chef". Start TV. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e McLaughlin, Katy (29 March 2009). "L.A.'s Easygoing Star". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "LaVarenne » 2012 Celebrity Chef Series–Suzanne Tracht". lavarenne.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Yeo, Patricia Kelly (20 October 2022). "This Beverly Grove steakhouse has kept Angelenos satisfied for 21 years—and counting". Time Out Los Angeles. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ a b "LaVarenne » 2012 Celebrity Chef Series–Suzanne Tracht". lavarenne.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ McCave, Lesley (4 January 2010). "Q & A With Suzanne Tracht: The Jar Chef on Plans for Suzpree and LAX - LA Weekly". LA Weekly. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "LaVarenne » 2012 Celebrity Chef Series–Suzanne Tracht". lavarenne.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "LaVarenne » 2012 Celebrity Chef Series–Suzanne Tracht". lavarenne.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "LaVarenne » 2012 Celebrity Chef Series–Suzanne Tracht". lavarenne.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ Schreffler, Laura (9 November 2016). "The 10 Most Philanthropic Celebrity Chefs in the City of Angels". Haute Living. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
Further reading
edit- MacVean, Mary (21 January 2012). "Chef Suzanne Tracht comes home to a cozy kitchen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 July 2023.