Anne Kearney is an American

chef A chef is a trained professional cook and tradesman who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation, often focusing on a particular cuisine. The word "chef" is derived from the term ''chef de cuisine'' (), the director or head of a kitche ...

and

restaurateur A restaurateur is a person who opens and runs restaurants professionally. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who owns a restaurant, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspec ...

. In 2002 she won a James Beard Foundation award as "Southeast Regional Best Chef". With a background at Bistro at the Maison de Ville and Peristyle with John Neal and as line cook and culinary assistant at

Emeril Lagasse Emeril John Lagassé III ( ; born October 15, 1959) is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, cookbook author, and National Best Recipe award winner for his "Turkey and Hot Sausage Chili" recipe in 2003. He is a regio ...

's Emeril's, she was given the opportunity to purchase Peristyle from Neal's estate in 1995. Kearney's food is an American interpretation of

Provençal Provençal may refer to: *Of Provence, a region of France * Provençal dialect, a dialect of the Occitan language, spoken in the southeast of France *''Provençal'', meaning the whole Occitan language *Franco-Provençal language, a distinct Roman ...

bistro fare.

Early life

She was born in Ohio. Kearney earned her toque at the Greater Cincinnati Culinary Arts Academy.

Career

Five years after graduation, she moved to New Orleans, where she worked at Mr. B's bistro, then at Bistro at the Maison de Ville hotel under John Neal. In 1991, she followed Neal to Peristyle. After Neal died, the 27-year-old Kearney bought Peristyle from his estate. Kearney credits her stint as sous-chef at Peristyle for her classic French cooking techniques. She worked for three years with

, where she cooked on the line, developed cookbook recipes, and researching and writing Emeril's television show scripts. Kearney returned to Peristyle as its chef and proprietor shortly after Neal died. In 2004, Kearney sold Peristyle and moved back to Ohio. She cultivated and worked on Two Small Tomatoes, her all-natural organic garden. On November 27, 2007, Kearney opened Rue Dumaine in Washington Township, Ohio. That was the street on which Peristyle had been located. Rue Dumaine won awards and recognition for their food. In July 2017, following the sale of the property where her restaurant was located, Kearney closed Rue Dumaine to pursue other culinary adventures. In February 2019, she was approached by restaurateurs John and Trudy Cooper to be the executive chef & partner of Oak & Ola, a "Euro-American" restaurant located in

Tampa Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough County ...

, Florida. She expanded her love of French ingredients and flavor profiles to Italy, Germany, Spain, England, Belgium and beyond.

Recognition

*2012: James Beard Foundation Award Finalist: Best Chef, Great Lakes Region *2011: OpenTable Diners' Choice Awards *2010: Zagat "Extraordinary to Perfection" *2002: James Beard Foundation Award Winner: Best Chef, Southeast Region *2001: James Beard Foundation Award Finalist: Best Chef, Southeast Region *1999: James Beard Foundation Award Finalist: Best Chef, Southeast Region *1998: ''

Food & Wine ''Food & Wine'' is an American monthly magazine published by Dotdash Meredith. It was founded in 1978 by Ariane and Michael Batterberry. It features recipes, cooking tips, travel information, restaurant reviews, chefs, wine pairings and season ...

'' pictured Kearney on the cover of its "10 Best New Chefs in America" issue *1998: '' Gourmet'' included Peristyle among its Top Food in New Orleans selections *1997: Nominee for Gallo of Sonoma Rising Star Chef Award

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kearney, Anne American women restaurateurs American restaurateurs Living people American women chefs James Beard Foundation Award winners 1967 births 21st-century American women