Anita Lo
Encyclopedia
Anita Lo is an American chef
and restaurateur. In 2001, she was named by Food & Wine
magazine one of ten “Best New Chefs in America”.
. She graduated from Concord Academy
and then from Columbia University
, where she earned a degree in French literature. While a student at Columbia, Lo spent time at its French language institute in Paris. It was there that she developed a love for French cuisine. A year after graduating from college she moved back to Paris to enroll at the culinary school L’Ecole Ritz-Escoffier. While a student there, she interned with top French chefs Guy Savoy
and Michel Rostang.
. She then moved to Mirezi restaurant, where she earned headlines and rave reviews from restaurant critics, including Ruth Reichl
from the New York Times.
. Annisa received a two-star review from the New York Times, Lo was named to Food & Wine
magazine's list of the ten “Best New Chefs in America”, and The Village Voice
named her the “Best New Restaurant Chef.” On July 4, 2009, Annisa was destroyed by fire. The restaurant reopened in April 2010 at the same location. The reopened restaurant was reviewed again by The New York Times and again received two stars. Scism also left Anissa in June 2010, leaving Lo as the sole owner.
bar with several locations in New York City. She left Rickshaw in 2010, saying that she wanted to devote more time to the recently re-opened Anissa and to her other professional interests.
. She competed against Iron Chef Mario Batali
in Battle Mushrooms, defeating Batali by a score of 54-45. She was the first challenger to win a battle on Iron Chef America and remained the only female challenger to win until Traci Des Jardins
defeated Batali in Episode 5 of Season 2.
In 2009, Lo was a contestant on the first season of Top Chef Masters
. She finished in fourth place among the 24 competing chefs, earning $20,000 for her chosen charity, SHARE
.
In 2011, Lo was a contestant on Chopped: All-Stars Tournament. She lost to Nate Appleman.
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 ...
and restaurateur. In 2001, she was named by Food & Wine
Food & Wine
Food & Wine is a monthly magazine published by American Express Publishing. It was founded in 1978 by Ariane and Michael Batterberry. It features recipes, cooking tips, travel information, restaurant reviews, chefs, wine pairings and seasonal/holiday content and has been credited by The New York...
magazine one of ten “Best New Chefs in America”.
Early life and education
Lo, a second-generation Chinese American, grew up in Birmingham, MichiganBirmingham, Michigan
Birmingham is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan and an affluent suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103...
. She graduated from Concord Academy
Concord Academy
Concord Academy is a coeducational, independent, college preparatory school for grades nine through twelve, located in Concord, Massachusetts...
and then from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where she earned a degree in French literature. While a student at Columbia, Lo spent time at its French language institute in Paris. It was there that she developed a love for French cuisine. A year after graduating from college she moved back to Paris to enroll at the culinary school L’Ecole Ritz-Escoffier. While a student there, she interned with top French chefs Guy Savoy
Guy Savoy
Guy Savoy is a world-renowned French chef, and is the Head Chef and owner of the eponymous Guy Savoy restaurant in Paris and sister restaurant in Las Vegas.The Paris restaurant has garnered the 3 Michelin stars, being elevated in 2002...
and Michel Rostang.
Career
After completing culinary school in Paris, Lo returned to New York where she worked at several restaurants including Chanterelle, Can, a French-Vietnamese restaurant, and Maxim'sMaxim's
Maxim's refers to several commercial enterprises:*Maxim's Paris - a restaurant and brand owned by Pierre Cardin*Maxim's Catering - a restaurant and bakery chain based in Hong Kong...
. She then moved to Mirezi restaurant, where she earned headlines and rave reviews from restaurant critics, including Ruth Reichl
Ruth Reichl
Ruth Reichl - pronounced RYE-chil - is an American food writer, co-producer of PBS's Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie, culinary editor for the Modern Library, host of PBS's Gourmet's Adventures With Ruth, and the last editor-in-chief of the now shuttered Gourmet magazine...
from the New York Times.
Annisa
In 2000, Lo and her business partner Jennifer Scism opened Annisa, in New York's Greenwich VillageGreenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
. Annisa received a two-star review from the New York Times, Lo was named to Food & Wine
Food & Wine
Food & Wine is a monthly magazine published by American Express Publishing. It was founded in 1978 by Ariane and Michael Batterberry. It features recipes, cooking tips, travel information, restaurant reviews, chefs, wine pairings and seasonal/holiday content and has been credited by The New York...
magazine's list of the ten “Best New Chefs in America”, and The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
named her the “Best New Restaurant Chef.” On July 4, 2009, Annisa was destroyed by fire. The restaurant reopened in April 2010 at the same location. The reopened restaurant was reviewed again by The New York Times and again received two stars. Scism also left Anissa in June 2010, leaving Lo as the sole owner.
Rickshaw
In 2005, Lo co-founded Rickshaw, a dumplingDumpling
Dumplings are cooked balls of dough. They are based on flour, potatoes or bread, and may include meat, fish, vegetables, or sweets. They may be cooked by boiling, steaming, simmering, frying, or baking. They may have a filling, or there may be other ingredients mixed into the dough. Dumplings may...
bar with several locations in New York City. She left Rickshaw in 2010, saying that she wanted to devote more time to the recently re-opened Anissa and to her other professional interests.
Bar Q
In 2008, Lo opened Bar Q, a barbecue-Asian fusion restaurant in Greenwich Village. Bar Q received favorable food reviews but somewhat critical reviews for service and was not universally well received by residents in the neighborhood. It closed after ten months.Television appearances
In 2005, Lo appeared on the first season of Iron Chef AmericaIron Chef America
Iron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
. She competed against Iron Chef Mario Batali
Mario Batali
Mario Batali is an American chef, writer, restaurateur and media personality. In addition to his classical culinary training, he is an expert on the history and culture of Italian cuisine, including regional and local variations. Batali co-owns restaurants in New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles,...
in Battle Mushrooms, defeating Batali by a score of 54-45. She was the first challenger to win a battle on Iron Chef America and remained the only female challenger to win until Traci Des Jardins
Traci Des Jardins
Traci Des Jardins is an American chef and restaurateur who co-owns Jardinière, a French influenced California fine-dining restaurant in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, California; chef/partner of Public House, a sports pub serving local, sustainable classic pub food near AT&T Park;...
defeated Batali in Episode 5 of Season 2.
In 2009, Lo was a contestant on the first season of Top Chef Masters
Top Chef Masters
Top Chef Masters is an American reality competition show currently broadcast on the cable television network Bravo. It is a spinoff of Bravo's hit show Top Chef. In the series, 24 world-renowned chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges...
. She finished in fourth place among the 24 competing chefs, earning $20,000 for her chosen charity, SHARE
SHARE cancer support
SHARE is a "highly regarded New York City peer support" organization of women affected by breast or ovarian cancer. SHARE is a professionally managed volunteer organization...
.
In 2011, Lo was a contestant on Chopped: All-Stars Tournament. She lost to Nate Appleman.