Allegra McEvedy
Encyclopedia
Allegra Sarah Bazzett McEvedy MBE
(born 1970) is an English
chef
, broadcaster and writer.
, her father Colin McEvedy
was a consultant psychiatrist
, historian and writer; her mother a writer. Privately educated at St Paul's Girls' School
, she went to school with Observer food columnist Daisy Garnett. Her mother died when she was aged 17, and combined with her coming out as gay, she found adjusting to adult life difficult and was expelled from school.
in London. She also obtained the Higher Certificate from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust
.
She later worked at Green’s, The Belvedere in Holland Park, Alfred’s, The Groucho Club
and The River Café
. She got her first Head Chef position at Tom Conran’s The Cow, in Notting Hill
, at the age of 24.
During a spell in the USA, facilitated by being awarded a special visa as ‘an alien with extraordinary ability in the culinary arts’, McEvedy worked at Rubicon and Jardinière in San Francisco, and ran the kitchen at Robert De Niro
’s New York restaurant Tribeca Grill
(regularly doing 500 covers a night). Whilst in New York, she catered for an exclusive Democratic Party fundraiser, personally cooking for President Clinton.
Upon returning to London, McEvedy joined The Good Cook group, initially as Head Chef of The Tabernacle, a community restaurant in Notting Hill, and later as Head Chef of The Good Cook in Kensington High Street. In Summer 2000, she set up the first outdoor café in the Zaha Hadid
Pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery
. From 2002-2004, she was the inaugural Chef in Residence at the Institute of Contemporary Arts
.
in 2004. Six months after opening, LEON was named the “Best New Restaurant in Great Britain” at the Observer Food Monthly Awards. In March 2009 McEvedy gave up her role at LEON to focus on writing and television work, but she remains a shareholder in the business.
of The Times “Without doubt, the coolest food book I have ever seen.”
Since 2007, McEvedy has been Chef in Residence at The Guardian
, for which she writes a weekly column and features, and contributes a monthly live, internet “cook-along”.
A six-part BBC2 series Economy Gastronomy presented by McEvedy and Paul Merrett
began in August 2009, accompanied by a book of the same title.
She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to the hospitality industry.
did the canapes, with the wedding cake a £1,000 tier of Neal's Yard cheeses.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1970) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
, broadcaster and writer.
Biography
Born and raised in HammersmithHammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, her father Colin McEvedy
Colin McEvedy
Colin Peter McEvedy , was a British psychiatrist, historian, demographer and non-fiction author. He was born in Salford, Lancashire and died in London....
was a consultant psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
, historian and writer; her mother a writer. Privately educated at St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School is a senior independent school, located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, in West London, England.-History:In 1904 a new day school for girls was established by the trustees of the Dean Colet Foundation , which had run St Paul's School for boys since the sixteenth century...
, she went to school with Observer food columnist Daisy Garnett. Her mother died when she was aged 17, and combined with her coming out as gay, she found adjusting to adult life difficult and was expelled from school.
Career
In 1991, McEvedy completed her classical French training at the Cordon BleuLe Cordon Bleu
Le Cordon Bleu is the world's largest hospitality education institution, with 35 schools on five continents serving 20,000 students annually. Its primary education focus is on hospitality management and the culinary arts...
in London. She also obtained the Higher Certificate from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust
Wine & Spirit Education Trust
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, often referred to as WSET, is a British organisation which arranges courses and exams in the field of wine and spirits. WSET was founded in 1969, is headquartered in London and is generally regarded as the world's leading provider of wine education. The courses...
.
She later worked at Green’s, The Belvedere in Holland Park, Alfred’s, The Groucho Club
Groucho Club
The Groucho Club is a well-known private social club located at Dean Street in Soho, London. Its members are mostly drawn from the media, entertainment, arts and fashion industries....
and The River Café
The River Café (London)
The River Café is a restaurant in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, England, specializing in Italian cuisine. It is owned and run by chef Ruth Rogers and until early 2010, Rose Gray....
. She got her first Head Chef position at Tom Conran’s The Cow, in Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, at the age of 24.
During a spell in the USA, facilitated by being awarded a special visa as ‘an alien with extraordinary ability in the culinary arts’, McEvedy worked at Rubicon and Jardinière in San Francisco, and ran the kitchen at Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
’s New York restaurant Tribeca Grill
Tribeca Grill
Tribeca Grill, opened in 1990, is a restaurant in New York, USA co-owned by Robert De Niro, Drew Nieporent and Lou Diamond Phillips, among others. The Executive Chef is Stephen Lewandowski. The "large mahogany bar is from the revered Maxwell's Plum restaurant."-References:* *...
(regularly doing 500 covers a night). Whilst in New York, she catered for an exclusive Democratic Party fundraiser, personally cooking for President Clinton.
Upon returning to London, McEvedy joined The Good Cook group, initially as Head Chef of The Tabernacle, a community restaurant in Notting Hill, and later as Head Chef of The Good Cook in Kensington High Street. In Summer 2000, she set up the first outdoor café in the Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid, CBE is an Iraqi-British architect.-Life and career:Hadid was born in 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq. She received a degree in mathematics from the American University of Beirut before moving to study at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London.After graduating she worked...
Pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery
Serpentine Gallery
The Serpentine Gallery is an art gallery in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, central London. It focuses on modern and contemporary art. The exhibitions, architecture, education and public programmes attract approximately 750,000 visitors a year...
. From 2002-2004, she was the inaugural Chef in Residence at the Institute of Contemporary Arts
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
.
LEON
McEvedy co-founded LEON, a healthy fast-food restaurant group, with Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent. LEON opened its first outlet in Carnaby StreetCarnaby Street
Carnaby Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in London, United Kingdom, located in the Soho district, near Oxford Street and Regent Street. It is home to numerous fashion and lifestyle retailers, including a large number of independent fashion boutiques...
in 2004. Six months after opening, LEON was named the “Best New Restaurant in Great Britain” at the Observer Food Monthly Awards. In March 2009 McEvedy gave up her role at LEON to focus on writing and television work, but she remains a shareholder in the business.
Writing and TV
In 2000, McEvedy published her first book, The Good Cook (Hodder), and in October 2006 published her second book, Allegra McEvedy’s Colour Cookbook (Kyle Cathie). It won the International Association of Culinary Professionals 2007 Cookbook award in the Chefs and Restaurants category. In October 2008 her third book, Leon: Ingredients & Recipes (Conran Octopus), was called by Giles CorenGiles Coren
Giles Coren is a British food critic, television presenter and novelist. He is known for expressing controversial opinions, and for his television appearances with the comedian Sue Perkins.-Personal:...
of The Times “Without doubt, the coolest food book I have ever seen.”
Since 2007, McEvedy has been Chef in Residence at The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, for which she writes a weekly column and features, and contributes a monthly live, internet “cook-along”.
A six-part BBC2 series Economy Gastronomy presented by McEvedy and Paul Merrett
Paul Merrett
Paul Merrett is a chef and TV personality based in Godalming who is known for being a frequent guest chef on Saturday Kitchen, a resident chef on Sunday Feast, and starred in The Best along with Silvana Franco and Ben O'Donoghue. Paul Merrett owns and runs the Victoria Pub and Dining Rooms in Sheen...
began in August 2009, accompanied by a book of the same title.
She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to the hospitality industry.
Personal life
In August 2006, she joined her partner Susi Smither in a civil partnership, conducted traditionally in a church. At the reception, Heston BlumenthalHeston Blumenthal
Heston Marc Blumenthal OBE is an English chef and owner of The Fat Duck, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire voted Best Restaurant in the UK by The Good Food Guide 2007 and 2009, and voted best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2005...
did the canapes, with the wedding cake a £1,000 tier of Neal's Yard cheeses.
Charity work
- Spokesperson for Fairtrade
- Patron of Notting Hill Farmers’ Market, The Food ChainThe Food ChainThe Food Chain is a London, United Kingdom-based charity working to provide food and nutritional services to people living with HIV and related illness. Formed on Christmas Day 1988, its stated aim is "to ensure that those living with HIV.....
and London Gay Symphony Orchestra - Fellow of the RSA
- On Advisory Board for Good Catch Sustainable Fish Forum