Celebrity Chefs

In the 1990s or possibly earlier, the term celebrity chef was coined and applied to a class of chefs who became well known for presenting cookery advice and/or demonstrations via mass media, especially television. The term may also be applied to a historically famous chef such as Martino da Como. The term is sometimes also used in a slightly derogatory way - implying that one who has "sold out" to the media may be seen as somehow inferior to a traditional working chef in a restaurant.

For example, Emeril Lagasse is associated with restaurants, television shows, and publications. Michelin star winner Gordon Ramsay does not want to be called a celebrity chef, despite having appeared on several television reality shows and written several books. Others such as Gary Rhodes are perhaps more relaxed about the title, yet still have owned and operated several highly successful upmarket restaurants. Many consider Antoine Carême (died 1833) to have been the first celebrity chef.

A number of celebrity cooks have been dubbed "TV chefs" without having earned the title within the restaurant industry, including: Rachael Ray, Sicily Yoder, Sandra Lee, and Jeffrey Smith (AKA The Frugal Gourmet).

Rachael Domenica Ray (born August 25, 1968 in Glens Falls, New York) is a television personality and author. She hosts the syndicated talk/lifestyle program Rachael Ray and two Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals and Rachael Rays Tasty Travels. Ray has also written a series of cookbooks based on the 30 Minute Meals concept, and launched a magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray'', in 2006.

Alton Crawford Walter Brown (born July 30, 1962 in Los Angeles, California, United States) is an American food personality, cinematographer, author, and actor. He is the creator and host of the Food Network television show Good Eats and the miniseries Feasting on Asphalt and Feasting on Waves, and he is the main commentator on Iron Chef America. Brown is also the author of several cooking how-to books and a regular contributor to Bon Appétit and Men's Journal magazines.

He brings a knowledge and enthusiasm for the science of cooking and food, and a humorous approach to his shows. Bon Appétit magazine named him "Cooking Teacher of the Year" in 2004. He was named Best Food Guru by Atlanta magazine in 2005. In 2008, he guest starred on Nickelodeon's hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants in the show's sixth season episode, House Fancy.

Brown pronounces his given name AL-t?n rather than ALL-t?n.

Gordon James Ramsay, OBE, (born 8 November 1966) is a British chef, television personality and restaurateur.Gordon Ramsay - The man - Biography He has been awarded a total of 16 Michelin Stars, and in 2001 became one of only three chefs in the United Kingdom to hold three Michelin stars at one time. Ramsay currently ranks 3rd in the world in terms of Michelin Stars behind Joël Robuchon and Alain Ducasse.Robuchon, with restaurants in Hong Kong and Macau, holds a record total of 18 Michelin stars, followed by Alain Ducasse with 15, Gordon Ramsay with 10 and Thomas Keller, with seven.

Ramsay is known for presenting TV programmes about competitive cookery and food, such as Hell's Kitchen, The F-Word and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares''.

'James Trevor Jamie' Oliver, MBE (born 27 May 1975), frequently nicknamed The Naked Chef''', is an English chef and media personality, well known for his growing list of food-focused television shows and his more recent roles in campaigning against the use of processed foods in national schools and his campaign to change diets and cooking habits across the United Kingdom.

Christopher Richard "Rick" Stein OBE (born January 4 1947) is an English chef, restaurateur and television presenter.