Dominique Crenn

Dominique Crenn is a French-born chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author who, as of 2021, is the first female and first female-identifying chef in the United States to be awarded three Michelin stars. Born in Versailles, France to Syrian and French parents, she began cooking at an early age while playing in her grandmother’s kitchen. At 18, she left France for San Francisco in search of the American Dream and fell in love with the West Coast’s vibrant food culture, eventually concluding that food was her lifelong passion.

Now a celebrated chef and restaurateur, Crenn was the chef and partner of two award-winning restaurants in San Francisco, Atelier Crenn and Bar Crenn. At Atelier Crenn, her menu focuses on producing magical and delicious plant-based cuisine, while Bar Crenn serves seasonal and market-inspired dishes and wines. In 2012, San Francisco Magazine named her the “Best Chef in the Bay Area” and in the same year she published Metamorphosis of Taste, her critically-acclaimed debut cookbook.

In 2018, Crenn took the culinary world by storm when she was awarded three Michelin stars for her flagship restaurant, Atelier Crenn, making her the first female chef in the United States to be awarded this honor. In addition to this noteworthy achievement, she was also named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2018. Later that year, she released her second cookbook, BENU: A Culinary Journey of Discovery, which examines cuisine through the lens of her personal relationships and experiences.

In 2020, Crenn released her third cookbook, A Twin in the Kitchen, which celebrates the connection between family and food. In the book, she shares recipes, stories, and personal photos from her childhood. Crenn believes that a meal should always be more than just food; it should be a shared culinary experience that evokes memories and allows us to connect with one another.

Through a combination of hard work, determination, and passion, Crenn has become one of the most acclaimed chefs in the world. Thanks to her unyielding dedication and commitment to excellence, she has been able to break boundaries and make huge strides in the culinary industry. Her unique approach to food and her willingness to explore the way we think about meals are what sets Crenn apart from other chefs.

In the coming years, Crenn plans to continue to push the boundaries of cuisine and create inspiring and delicious dishes. She hopes to continue to break down barriers within the culinary world and inspire a greater number of women and non-binary individuals to pursue careers in the food industry. Her cookbooks, Metamorphosis of Taste, BENU: A Culinary Journey of Discovery, and A Twin in the Kitchen are all inspiring guides for budding cooks and serve as reminders of the importance of using food as a way to reconnect with family and friends.