Emeril Lagasse American chef Date of Birth: 15.10.1959 Country: USA

1. Biography of Emeril Lagasse
2. Early Life and Education
3. Career and Achievements
4. Television and Philanthropy
5. Personal Life

Biography of Emeril Lagasse

Emeril John Lagasse, an American chef, is known as the creator of the "new New Orleans cuisine," which combines traditional ingredients with Eastern, Hawaiian, and other exotic flavors. His culinary books have become bestsellers, his TV shows are among the highest-rated programs, and his recipes for astronauts won a competition held by NASA. Emeril's empire, which includes food production, restaurants, equipment, books, and programs, generates an annual income of over $150 million.

Early Life and Education

Emeril John Lagasse (or Lagass) was born on October 15, 1959, in Fall River, Massachusetts, USA. His father was a Franco-Canadian from Quebec, and his mother came from a Portuguese family. Emeril had a passion for music and excelled in playing all percussion instruments. As a teenager, he began working in a Portuguese bakery and discovered his love for culinary arts. He enrolled in culinary training at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School. Despite his musical talents, Emeril chose to pursue a culinary education at Johnson & Wales University. To pay for his education, he worked at the restaurant "Venus de Milo," where he met Elizabeth Kief, whom he married in 1978. In the same year, Lagasse enrolled in the university and graduated with honors. He then completed internships in France, in Paris and Lyon.

Career and Achievements

In 1982, Lagasse became the executive chef of Commander's Palace, a renowned restaurant in New Orleans, replacing the legendary Paul Prudhomme. Feeling the weight of responsibility, Emeril literally lived and slept in the restaurant's kitchen. In 1983, Lagasse was nominated for the title of Best Chef, and in 1990, he opened his own restaurant, "Emeril," in New Orleans, which was named "Restaurant of the Year" by Esquire magazine the following year. Currently, Lagasse owns 13 restaurants specializing in Creole and Cajun cuisine in New Orleans and other cities across the United States. The "Emeril" brand also produces and sells spices, sauces, dry and fresh ingredients, as well as knives and kitchen appliances.

Television and Philanthropy

From this point on, Emeril Lagasse frequently appeared on television, participating in programs such as "Top Chef," "Cooking with Master Chefs," and his own show, "Emeril Live," which won the CableACE Award in 1997. He also hosted the show "The Essence of Emeril," and his famous spice blend of the same name was released in multiple variations. Since 1998, he has been a featured correspondent on ABC's morning show "Good Morning America," where viewers appreciate his unique style and catchphrases like "Bam!" and "Kick it up a notch." Lagasse's use of natural lard in American cuisine, accompanied by the phrase "Pork fat rules!" is also unconventional.

In 2009, Emeril Lagasse was a judge on the culinary show "Bravo's Top Chef" and other competitions featuring top chefs. He lent his voice to the character Marlon the Alligator in the Disney animated film "The Princess and the Frog" (2009), and a parody of the famous chef and his signature phrases appeared in the animated series "Futurama" (as the alien chef Elzar). In 2012, Lagasse appeared in an episode of the television series "Treme" (HBO channel). He is also the author of twenty culinary books, with his latest, "Emeril's Kicked-Up Sandwiches," published in 2013.

Emeril Lagasse participated in a NASA competition for astronaut meals in 2006. Several of his invented recipes, using special spice blends, were selected to compensate for changes in taste perception due to microgravity. It is also worth mentioning Lagasse's charitable activities. In 2002, he founded a foundation that provides grants for education to students with special needs, promotes healthy eating in schools and childcare centers, and organizes the Du Vin charity carnival. In 2013, Lagasse's foundation was recognized as the "Charity of the Year."

Personal Life

As for the personal life of the famous chef, his first marriage, which produced daughters Jessica and Jillian, ended in 1986. In 1989, Emeril married fashion designer Tari Hohn, but that union was also short-lived. In his current marriage to broker Alden Lovelace, Lagasse has a son, Emeril John Lagasse IV (2003), and a daughter, Meril (2004).