Chef Goin's culinary ascent scales new heights

By Richard Leong

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Two years after winning an award for best California chef Suzanne Goin is in the running for a top prize in the James Beard Foundation awards that will be announced next month.

Only three female chefs, Judy Rogers, Lidia Bastianich and Goin's mentor Alice Waters, have won the outstanding U.S. chef of the year award.

Goin broke into the upper echelon of the U.S. culinary world when she opened her first restaurant in her early 30s. Her flagship eatery, Lucques, has been a showcase of her acclaimed Mediterranean-inspired cuisine using organic, California-grown ingredients.

The 41-year-old California native also operates several other restaurants in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara area. She runs The Hungry Cat with husband and chef David Lentz.

Goin spoke to Reuters about awards and mentoring other chefs.

Q: What led you to become a chef?

A: "It was actually a slow realization for me. I grew up in a very food-focused family so restaurants and cuisine were always an important part of life to me. As soon as I got to college, I waitressed for six months until a kitchen position opened and then I cooked there all through college. When I graduated, I realized that in my heart I really just wanted to keep working at the restaurant so I decided to try it out."

Q: What will it mean to you if you win the James Beard Foundation award?