Executive chef at Butter restaurant As the daughter of esteemed cookbook editor Maria Guarnaschelli, Alex spent her childhood surrounded by food. Guarnaschelli learned to eat according to whatever book her mother was working on: one year was Classic Indian Cooking by Julie Sahni; another year was Italian with The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper. After graduating from Barnard College, she began working for acclaimed American chef Larry Forgione. She then moved to France to do a work-study at La Varenne in Burgundy and on to Paris for four-day stage at the Michelin three-star restaurant Guy Savoy. Four days turned into over five years. Guarnaschelli also worked as sous chef at La Butte Chaillot, another Savoy establishment. Guarnaschelli returned to New York and joined Daniel Boulud at restaurant Daniel, where she soon became sous chef at the Manhattan standard. Guarnaschelli then moved to Los Angeles for two years as sous chef at Joachim Splichal’s Patina restaurant in West Hollywood. In 2003, she became the executive chef at Butter Restaurant, where she creates her own American and green market-inspired menu. She also presides over the wine list which has won a Wine Spectator Award six years straight. Guarnaschelli also taught at Institute of Culinary Education for and became a member of their Advisory Council. Guarnaschelli has many national television appearances: Good Morning America, The Today Show and Chelsea Lately. She has also appeared on Katie Couric, Dr. Oz and The CBS Morning Show. She has been featured in The New York Times, Time Out, Food and Wine, Saveur and People and is also a regular blog contributor on People.com where she explores topics ranging from cooking at the restaurant, shopping tips and cooking at home. She appeared on Alex’s Day Off, a show produced by Bobby Flay, airing on Cooking Channel. She also is a regular judge on the highest rated Food Network primetime show Chopped, and emerged the victor on The Next Iron Chef Redemption and is an Iron Chef as a result. Guarnaschelli is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier. She works to help a number of charities, especially Wellness in the Schools, Share Our Strength and Alex’s Lemonade Stand. She has also contributed writing to Saveur, Wine Enthusiast, Food and Wine Magazine and Food Network Magazine. Her first cookbook, a New York Times bestseller, Old School Comfort Food, came out in the fall of 2013, published by Clarkson Potter. Alex Guarnaschelli is a celebrity chef who loves to get creative in the kitchen with the flavors of Fisher® nuts.
