First jobs of famous chefs, Celebrity chefs don't start at the top. While some launched their careers in the kitchen (like this popular "Top Chef" host), others discovered their culinary talents later in life (like this former bank teller). Check out these stories of famous chefs and their humble beginnings.Sunny Anderson
Sunny Anderson put on a poodle skirt and laced up her skates to serve burgers at a fast food restaurant in this Texas city. Anderson is now on Food Network, where she is the host of "Cooking for Real" and "How'd That Get on My Plate?"
Lidia Bastianich
After immigrating to New York from this small region near Italy's mainland, Lidia Bastianich went on to open a restaurant with her husband with a name meaning "good road" (what is the name?). In 1998, PBS offered her her own cooking series, which was named “Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen,” and Bastianich became a household name.
Mario Batali
Famous for his Italian cuisine and bright red hair, Mario Batali developed his love for food while growing up in a family that loved to cook. He grew up in this European country, graduated from college and gained culinary skills through an apprenticeship with this legendary chef. Batali then learned Italian cuisine in Northern Italy before opening his first restaurant in New York City.
Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain was 44-years-old and had been working in the restaurant industry for almost 30 years when he wrote an article for this New York newspaper intended to entertain other chefs. But he withdrew the submission and sent it to the New Yorker instead. Two days later, Bourdain had a book deal. The best-selling read helped launch Bourdain's career as a writer and entertainer.
Alton Brown
With the idea of starting his own cooking show, Alton Brown went to this culinary school, where he learned the tricks of making food delicious and started the show that made him a household name, "Good Eats." On his show, Brown used his humor and nerdy personality to teach viewers how to cook.
Julia Child
Larger-than-life Julia Child revolutionized American cuisine through her top-selling cookbooks and television programs by teaching a simplified version of complicated French cooking. She found her love for French food when she lived and studied culinary arts there, going on to publish the groundbreaking cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" with two others in 1961, which helped Child make her way to television.
Tom Colicchio
Before Tom Colicchio became famous for hosting this award-winning reality show, he was just another award-winning chef and restaurateur in New York City. After heading a few popular spots in the city, Colicchio opened Craft to rave reviews. He built on the restaurant's name and in the 2000s opened Craftsteak and Craftbar.
Paula Deen
Paula Deen, whose career recently went into a tailspin over admitted racist comments, got her title as the Queen of Southern Cuisine through her love of butter and her bright personality. After her family moved to Savannah, Ga., in 1989, she decided to use her cooking talents to open a catering service. Her sons delivered the food and they expanded the business to a $10 million empire that includes restaurants and her TV show "Paula's Home Cooking."
Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri, known for his platinum blond spikes, shades and passion for diner comfort food, started out in business at a young age. After opening a few restaurants in California, he became a contestant in this Food Network reality show competition. He won and got his own cooking show, "Guy's Big Bite" and later found success by featuring all-American road food on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay was a high-school dropout who became one of the most popular grill masters in America. After working the salad station at his father's restaurant, Flay returned to school and received a degree in culinary arts from this French cooking school. Flay later became executive chef of the popular Mesa Grill, where he earned a Michelin star in 2008. He has hosted 12 cooking shows on Food Network, including "Boy Meets Grill" and "Throwdown! with Bobby Flay."
Lorena García
Before Lorena Garcia became a restaurateur and TV host, the Venezuelan-born chef had dreams of going into law. But she soon realized her real passion was cooking. She graduated with a degree in culinary arts and opened two popular restaurants in Miami’s Design District that featured a mix of Latin and Asian-inspired dishes, then later got her start in television when she hosted cooking shows on Telemundo, which led to shows such as "Top Chef All-Stars" and "America's Next Great Restaurant" (watch a clip).
Ina Garten
With no formal culinary training, Ina Garten left her job in science and followed her passion to this seaside community, where she became the owner of Barefoot Contessa, a small specialty food store. Garten expanded the store (how many cooks did she have at one point?) and in 1999, she released a best-selling cookbook and was approached by the Food Network to star in her own cooking show.
Duff Goldman
Duff Goldman is a pastry chef known for his crazy cakes and rocker personality. Goldman studied culinary arts at this school in Napa Valley and worked at several popular restaurants, including the French Laundry, before returning to Baltimore. In 2002, he opened Charm City Cakes, where he showcased his creativity (he is a graffiti artist and metal sculptor) by transforming celebration cakes into anything from monsters to elephants. The Food Network caught wind of the chef and offered him his own show, "Ace of Cakes," which aired for 10 seasons.
Emeril Lagasse
Emeril Lagasse made a name for himself by "kicking it up a notch" on his show "The Essence of Emeril," and he is credited with kick-starting the then-struggling Food Network with his bold flavors and outgoing personality. Lagasse got his start as a New Orleans-based chef and opened his first restaurant in 1990. In 1993, Lagasse published the best-selling cookbook "Emeril's New New Orleans Cooking," which helped catch the attention of executives at Food Network. They offered him his own cooking show, and Lagasse has since built an empire including books, cookware and restaurants.
Nigella Lawson
Nigella Lawson has become one of the United Kingdom's most recognizable chef personalities and is known for her relaxed preparations of delicious dishes and her sexy style. Her television series helped introduce her to an American audience. She has been featured on "Top Chef" and is the food editor for the UK version of Vogue.
Gordon Ramsay
Known for his foul mouth and aggression in the kitchen, Gordon Ramsay made a name for himself in London's restaurant world after heading the renowned Aubergine. There, he earned two Michelin stars and at 32, opened his own restaurant. The London eatery was noted as one of the best in the world, and Ramsay's famous temper and harsh treatment of his staff helped him land a BBC cooking show.
Rachael Ray
Before E-V-O-O became a household name, Rachael Ray made her way through the food industry. Inspired by this pizza chain's campaign, which promised "pizza in 30 minutes or less," Ray taught a 30-Minute Meals cooking class. The local CBS station took notice and hired Ray for a weekly on-air gig. This led to a call from Food Network, which offered her a show where she could make her 30-minute meals for a nationwide audience.
Marcus Samuelsson
Marcus Samuelsson was born in Ethiopia but moved to this country after his mother died in a tuberculosis epidemic. He was adopted by a homemaker and a geologist and became interested in cooking through his maternal grandmother. After working as an apprentice for this restaurant, he went on to be named "Best Chef: New York City" by the James Beard Foundation and published an award-winning cookbook before hosting his own cooking show "Inner Chef."
Marcus Samuelsson
Marcus Samuelsson was born in Ethiopia but moved to this country after his mother died in a tuberculosis epidemic. He was adopted by a homemaker and a geologist and became interested in cooking through his maternal grandmother. After working as an apprentice for this restaurant, he went on to be named "Best Chef: New York City" by the James Beard Foundation and published an award-winning cookbook before hosting his own cooking show "Inner Chef."
Jamie Oliver
English chef Jamie Oliver found his passion in cooking at the young age of eight when he helped peel potatoes at his parent's pub. Oliver grew up to lead this popular cafe in London and was featured in a documentary about the restaurant. The day after it aired, five producers called looking to give that "cheeky kid" his own show, "The Naked Chef" (watch a clip of the show).
Giada De Laurentiis
Born in Rome, Giada De Laurentiis grew up in a large Italian family where she grew to love her culture and food. She is the granddaughter of this film producer and spent time at his restaurant in DDL Foodshow in Los Angeles. Giada graduated with this degree and decided to begin a culinary career and trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She founded GDL Foods, a catering company in Los Angeles, and was discovered by a Food Network executive when she was featured in Food & Wine magazine. She became a household name after hosting "Everyday Italian" (watch a clip) and has since published many best-selling cookbooks.
Title: First jobs of famous chefs
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