Ron Siegel
Encyclopedia
Ron Siegel is an American
chef
working in San Francisco. He is currently Chef of the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton
Hotel, taking over for Chef Sylvain Portray in 2004. Siegel is perhaps best known for his 1998 appearance on Iron Chef
, becoming the first ever U.S. citizen to win in Kitchen Stadium. His cooking style is known for blending haute French cuisine with subtle Japanese touches.
. Siegel enrolled at the California Culinary Academy
in San Francisco and in 1991 went to work as a line cook at Aqua Restaurant, a seafood restaurant in the Bay Area.
In 1993, Siegel moved to New York
to work at Daniel, and returned a year later to work at The French Laundry in Yountville, California
as a sous-chef to Thomas Keller
.
A rising star in the making, Siegel left The French Laundry to become Chef of Charles Nob Hill in San Francisco in 1996, which specialized in a fusion of French and California cuisine.
In 2001, Siegel left Charles Nob Hill to become executive chef of Masa's of San Francisco. Siegel remained at Masa's until June 2004 when he took over the Dining Room of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Focusing on French cuisine with a Japanese influence, Siegel has maintained the Dining Room's reputation as one of the top restaurants in the country.
. Siegel faced Iron Chef French Hiroyuki Sakai
in a battle using the theme ingredient lobster
. Siegel was at an immediate disadvantage in the competition since neither of the two sous-chefs provided for him could speak English. Siegel produced five dishes:
In the end, Siegel swept Sakai 4-0. In a post-battle interview, and completely in keeping with the competitive tone of the show, Siegel indicated his willingness to return and defeat another Iron Chef.
In 1999 Food & Wine magazine
declared Siegel one of the best new chefs of the year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 ...
working in San Francisco. He is currently Chef of the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton
Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton is a brand of luxury hotels and resorts with 75 properties located in major cities and resorts in 24 countries worldwide...
Hotel, taking over for Chef Sylvain Portray in 2004. Siegel is perhaps best known for his 1998 appearance on Iron Chef
Iron Chef
is a Japanese television cooking show produced by Fuji Television. The series, which premiered on October 10, 1992, is a stylized cook-off featuring guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle built around a specific theme ingredient. The series ended...
, becoming the first ever U.S. citizen to win in Kitchen Stadium. His cooking style is known for blending haute French cuisine with subtle Japanese touches.
History
Moving to San Francisco from New York at the age of seven, Siegel broke into the culinary world as a butcher in Palo Alto, CaliforniaPalo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
. Siegel enrolled at the California Culinary Academy
California Culinary Academy
The California Culinary Academy is an affiliate of Le Cordon Bleu, and is located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1977, the academy has trained more than 15,000 people for restaurant careers through its 30-week baking and pastry chef program and 16-month culinary arts degree program...
in San Francisco and in 1991 went to work as a line cook at Aqua Restaurant, a seafood restaurant in the Bay Area.
In 1993, Siegel moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to work at Daniel, and returned a year later to work at The French Laundry in Yountville, California
Yountville, California
Yountville is an incorporated town in Napa County, California, United States. It is in the North Bay portion of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 2,933 at the 2010 census. Almost one third of the town's population lives on the grounds of the Veterans Home of California.The town's name...
as a sous-chef to Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller
Thomas Keller is an American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer. He and his landmark Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry in Yountville, California, have won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, notably the Best California Chef in 1996, and the Best Chef in America in 1997...
.
A rising star in the making, Siegel left The French Laundry to become Chef of Charles Nob Hill in San Francisco in 1996, which specialized in a fusion of French and California cuisine.
In 2001, Siegel left Charles Nob Hill to become executive chef of Masa's of San Francisco. Siegel remained at Masa's until June 2004 when he took over the Dining Room of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Focusing on French cuisine with a Japanese influence, Siegel has maintained the Dining Room's reputation as one of the top restaurants in the country.
Iron Chef
In 1998, Siegel gained international fame by traveling to Japan to appear as a challenger on the popular TV show Iron ChefIron Chef
is a Japanese television cooking show produced by Fuji Television. The series, which premiered on October 10, 1992, is a stylized cook-off featuring guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle built around a specific theme ingredient. The series ended...
. Siegel faced Iron Chef French Hiroyuki Sakai
Hiroyuki Sakai
is a well-known Japanese chef who specializes in French cuisine. Sakai is most famous for being the second, and last, Iron Chef French on the Japanese television show Iron Chef, first appearing at the beginning of 1994 and continued his appearance in shows over nine seasons...
in a battle using the theme ingredient lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
. Siegel was at an immediate disadvantage in the competition since neither of the two sous-chefs provided for him could speak English. Siegel produced five dishes:
- Egg Royale
- Lobster Cream Soup with scallops and truffles
- California Salad with lobster, basil oil, tomato concasséed and avocado
- Lobster ravioli with sweet corn sauce
- Lobster and foie gras in fig sauce
In the end, Siegel swept Sakai 4-0. In a post-battle interview, and completely in keeping with the competitive tone of the show, Siegel indicated his willingness to return and defeat another Iron Chef.
Awards & Accolades
The Dining Room has made Gayot's list of the Top 40 Restaurants in the US every year since Siegel took over the kitchen.In 1999 Food & Wine magazine
Food & Wine Magazine
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...
declared Siegel one of the best new chefs of the year.
External links
- http://www.ritzcarltondiningroom.com/ - The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco