5 famous chefs in the world & their success stories

Before we decide a career, we research the domain and experts to understand the career scope. In Hospitality Industry, aspirants look forward to famous chefs around the world. Read this article to know about famous chefs of all times. 

Famous Chefs all around the world

Hospitality industry is booming, and especially with Culinary Art. Moreover, with social media, the content creators bring innovative concepts for different cuisines around the world. There are TV shows, Vlogs, Blogs, and much more that showcases Culinary skills around the world. However, only a few could prosper to be known by their name in the hospitality industry. In this article, we bring famous chefs of all time, and their journey. 

Listed among Most good looking chefs of the world and their success stories

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.”- George Bernard Shaw

Well, I do not know about you but this saying is absolutely true for a foodie like me. And considering my open admission here, a career behind the stove would have been an ideal choice for me. But alas! My skills with pans and salts are not as enhanced as my taste buds.

India as a nation has always considered it to be a given that a lady should know her way around the kitchen. However, the times are changing and there are many men around the world who are working really hard to rule the kitchen. (I hope Indian men take the hint!)

So, if you too have the inclination to learn and master the flavours and cuisines of the world, then a career as a Chef would be an ideal choice for you. And to bring a little inspiration in your life, this article talks about some famous chefs and their success stories.

Image Courtesy: www.akispetretzikis.com

Akis Petretzikis

Claim to fame: Winner of MasterChef Greece

Akis was brought up in Thessaloniki and by the age of 16 (years) he started working in his family business. At the age of 18 years, he left for Athens to become an Accountant. However, on arriving in the city he realised that his true calling in life was to become a Chef. So, to explore this field he enrolled to take classes at – Le Monde (School of Culinary Arts).

At the time of graduation he had two degrees, that is, he was trained as a Chef as well as an Accountant. He then chose his profession to be a Chef and went on to work at many restaurants/hotels in Greece and further went to England to learn the art of international cooking.

At present Akis Petretzikis has his own cookery show at MEGA channel. He is also a food consultant for many five star hotels/restaurants spread all across the world. He has also authored cookbooks like – Menu by Akis Petretzikis and You should try this. He has also initiated a new project called "Akis Petretzikis Kitchen Lab" which is a culinary laboratory.

Image Courtesy: www.jamieoliver.com

Jamie Oliver

Claim to fame: First TV show – The Naked Chef and selling million copies of his book “Jamie's 30 Minute Meals”

For the handsome, Jamie Oliver, cooking is in his blood. Born in Essex, Jamie’s parents ran their own pub/restaurant – The Cricketers where young Jamie used to help them in the kitchen. Always fascinated with making new sumptuous dishes, Jamie quit school at the age of 16 and joined Westminster Catering College.

His official website informs that he has had a successful stint with many television shows such as: The Naked Chef (BBC), Jamie’s Kitchen, Jamie’s Great Italian Escape, Jamie’s School Dinners, Return to School Dinners, Jamie at Home , Jamie’s Chef, Jamie’s Ministry of Food , Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals, Jamie’s 15 Minute Meal,  Jamie’s Money Saving Meals, Jamie Does, Jamie’s Great Britain. He also featured in the Emmy Award-winning show “Jamie’s Food Revolution” (on ABC). He is also credited for TV shows like Jamie’s Fowl Dinners, Jamie Saves Our Bacon, Eat to Save Your Life, and Jamie’s Fish Suppers (all for Channel 4).

In 2010, he wrote his first cookbook, Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals, which went on sell a million copies. He has written more than 20 cookbooks since then.

Image Courtesy: @TheVikasKhanna on Twitter.com

Vikas Khanna

Claim to fame: Michelin star awardee for Junoon (his restaurant) and host of MasterChef India.

Born in Amritsar, Vikas Khanna is known to develop his own recipes from a very young age. Khanna often shares that it was his grandmother who became his first guide in the world of culinary arts.

A graduate from Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal; Khanna also pursued courses at Culinary Institute of America, Cornell University as well as New York University.

At the tender age of 17, Khanna opened his first venture - Lawrence Gardens Banquets. In 2009, he opened his restaurant “Junoon” in Manhattan for which he earned a Michelin star in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Khanna has hosted various editions of the popular show MasterChef India. He has also featured on other TV shows like – Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen, Throwdown! With Bobby Flay, the Martha Stewart Show and MasterChef Australia.

He is also known to have written around 19 cookbooks.

Khanna’s cooking skills are known to impress one and all but he is also admired the world over for his good looks. In a poll conducted by the Eater Blog, he was voted to be “New York’s Hottest Chef” in 2011 and 2012. The People magazine in 2011 named him among the “Sexiest Men Alive”. Further, the magazine also stated that he is the “Hottest Chef of America”. In 2012, Khanna was awarded to be “GQ India Man of the Year”.

Khanna has also prepared two meals for US President Barak Obama. The first one was a satvik meal and the other one was Himalayan cuisine.

Image Courtesy: @ChefStuart_ on Twitter.com

Stuart O'Keeffe

Claim to fame: TV Show - Private Chefs of Beverly Hills on Food Network

Born in Ireland, Stuart O’Keeffe became passionate about cooking by watching his mother prepare family meals. He is often quoted as saying that he would give a miss to his school homework to help his mother and aunt prepare pies and pastries. He also states that by the age of 7 he became the “right handy sous-chef” of his family kitchen.

O’Keeffe is known to use fresh as well as locally sourced ingredients in his dishes and he reveals that his cooking style has been influenced by his mother.

A trained Chef, O’Keeffe pursued BA in Culinary Arts from Dublin Institute of Technology. Right after graduation he travelled through Europe and finally moved to France where he learned high-end French cuisine and cooking, by working in a small restaurant.

O’Keeffe specialises in New American and Continental cuisines.

Brand Ambassador of Tupperware, O’Keeffe has featured in TV shows like Stuart’s Kitchen and has also made appearances in Marie, The Home and Family Show, CBS’s The Talk as well as Republic of Telly. He can also be seen in Asiana Airlines’ commercials.

Image Courtesy: Alain Allegretti Facebook Page

Alain Allegretti

Claim to fame: Critical acclaim for all his restaurants

From Nice, Alain Allegretti grew up on a farm in France and started cooking early on in life with his grandmother. He later went to a culinary school and started working in a professional kitchen at the age of 20.

In 2005, Alain became the Executive Chef of Atelier, a restaurant of New York’s Ritz-Carlton hotel.

Alain opened his first restaurant at New York city in 2008 by the name – Allegretti. He is the Executive Chef as well as owner of the famous “La Promenade de Anglais” in Chelsea. This restaurant of his received a lot of critical acclaim and earned a two star review from the New York Times wherein Pete Wells was quoted as calling Alain – The king of modern French cuisine.

Not only is Alain known to make the most delicious food but he is also voted to be the “Hottest Chef in New York” by Eater’s in 2008.  

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