| Women chefs are surging ahead in the top jobs in | | | | the founder of Olivado Oil, the purpose of the |
| the culinary profession. While women have cooked | | | | contest is not just to celebrate creative recipes. |
| for the families of presidents and kings, none | | | | It is also to promote healthy eating and to assist |
| have been named to be the head chef either at | | | | women chefs to advance in the culinary |
| court or in the White House. The famous | | | | profession. |
| restaurants and hotels in Europe and the U.S. have | | | | This year's contest was won by three American |
| long depended upon women in a housekeeper | | | | chefs, Angie Armenise, Ellie Basch, and Charlotte |
| uniform to serve their customers, but very few | | | | Fekete, who each received a 10-day trip to |
| of them have ever appointed women to | | | | Australia to honor their winning recipes. Angie |
| executive chef positions. Although women make | | | | Armenise won the seafood category with her |
| up more than half of food service employees, | | | | recipe for Sea Bass fresca style. Angie is the |
| less than one in five women work as chefs or | | | | executive chef of Pinelli Marra Restaurant in |
| head cooks. Many critics say that women in the | | | | Providence RI. She was born and raised in |
| culinary profession face serious discrimination: | | | | Chicago, and in her womens mock turtleneck she |
| women are often permitted only entry level jobs, | | | | is an aficionado of big city food, action, style, and |
| and they are not permitted to rise to positions | | | | trends. Her goal is to create delicious food for |
| where they could provide serious competition with | | | | people who will really appreciate it. Her ambition is |
| the men. In America women have always been | | | | to grow a bit every day; and to give back in any |
| cooks in neighborhood restaurants, but the chefs | | | | way she can. Ellie Basch won the vegetable |
| in elegant restaurants have always been | | | | category with her citrus salad. She is the owner |
| exclusively male. In England women have run the | | | | and chef of Everyday Gourmet catering company |
| kitchens of many noble families, but chefs in royal | | | | in Richmond VA. She also runs a nonprofit |
| households are always men. The Royal Society of | | | | organization which operates a cooking school for |
| Chefs has never admitted a single woman to | | | | low income women. Ellie is a native of Indonesia, |
| membership. | | | | and spent her childhood working in her mother's |
| However, this situation is changing. In order to | | | | catering company, where she mastered the herbs |
| advance the cause of talented women in chef | | | | and spices which are the trademark of Indonesian |
| pants, the Women Chefs and Restaurateurs | | | | cuisine. She originally came to the United States to |
| association, together with Olivado Oil, are now | | | | study, but was eventually drawn back into the |
| sponsoring an annual competition called Chef | | | | culinary arts. Charlotte Fekete won the East |
| Quest - Celebrating Women Chefs. Helene | | | | West category with her recipe for steak with |
| Kennan, the president of Women Chefs and | | | | Jalapeno slaw. Charlotte recently graduated from |
| Restaurateurs, says that WCR members are | | | | college, and she is chef at Fire and Flavor Grilling |
| among the most creative in the profession and as | | | | Company in Lake Oconee FL. She also creates |
| women they understand the balance of good | | | | recipes for a local culinary magazine, Lake Oconee |
| health and good taste. According to Chris Nathan, | | | | Living. |