Cat Cora

Cat Cora

Cora in April 2010
Born Catherine Ann Cora[1]
(1967-04-03) April 3, 1967[2]
Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Education University of Southern Mississippi
Culinary Institute of America
Spouse(s) Jennifer Cora (m. 2013; separated 2015)
Children 4

Culinary career

Cooking style Mediterranean (Greek), Fusion ("Hellasian"), Southern

Catherine Ann Cora (born April 3, 1967), known as Cat Cora, is an American professional chef best known for her featured role as an "Iron Chef" on the Food Network television show Iron Chef America[3] and as co-host of Around the World in 80 Plates on Bravo.

Early life

Cora was born in Jackson, Mississippi, the daughter of Virginia Lee (née Brothers) and Spiro Pete Cora.[1][4] Her father was of Greek descent (her paternal grandparents were from Skopelos, Greece).[1][5] Her grandfather and father were both restaurateurs. When she was 15 years old, she brought a business plan to her father and grandfather, knowing they could help her.[3]

Career

After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology and Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi, she enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.[6] She has also appeared on Simplify Your Life. She was also a co-host of the Food Network show Kitchen Accomplished.

In January 2005 Cora co-founded Chefs For Humanity,[7] which describes itself as "a grassroots coalition of chefs and culinary professionals guided by a mission to quickly be able to raise funds and provide resources for important emergency and humanitarian aid, nutritional education, and hunger-related initiatives throughout the world."[8] She has participated in charity wine auctions held by Auction Napa Valley.[9]

In 2006 she was hired as a paid spokesperson for InSinkErator Evolution series garbage disposals.[10] She is Executive Chef for Bon Appétit magazine[11] and a UNICEF spokesperson.[12]

In March 2006, Cora was the Grand Marshal for Hal and Mal's St. Paddy's Parade in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi.[13] In the September 2006 issue of FHM, Cora was featured in the cooking section, where she demonstrated various recipes using items purchased from a convenience store. Cat Cora also belongs to Macy's Culinary Councils, along with Tyler Florence, Rick Bayless, and others. She has worked as an entertainer for The Olivia Companies, a travel company catering to the lesbian market.[14]

In 2008, she had a voice role for the video game Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine.[2]

The eponymous Cat Cora,[15] a new bar and lounge style restaurant, opened at Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in April 2011. Later in 2011, a Cat Cora's Kitchen was opened in Terminal E of the Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Cora also operated Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney's Boardwalk Resort at The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Kouzzina closed on September 30, 2014.[16]

Cora opened The Ocean Restaurant at the S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa off Singapore in February 2013. The 63 seat restaurant is inside the world's largest oceanarium and has stunning views of deep-sea wildlife from every table. Cora is currently the co-host of Around the World in 80 Plates, an American reality competition show that premiered on May 9, 2012 on the Bravo cable TV network.[17]

Personal life

Cora married her longtime partner Jennifer in June 2013,[18] and the couple have four sons together via in vitro fertilization.[19][20] In November 2015, it was announced they were divorcing after 17 years together and 2 years of marriage.[18][21]

Awards

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role
2004 Kitchen Accomplished Host
2005-2012 Iron Chef America Iron Chef
2006 Celebrity Cooking Showdown Herself
2007 Chef's Story Herself
2007 The Next Food Network Star Guest Judge
2008 The Next Iron Chef Guest Judge
2009–present The Best Thing I Ever Ate Herself
2010 MasterChef (U.S. TV series) Guest Judge
2011 Top Chef: Just Desserts Guest Judge
2012 Top Chef Guest Judge
2012 Around the World in 80 Plates Co-host
2012 Chopped All-Stars Contestant
2012 Miss USA 2012 Judge
2013 Eastbound & Down Guest Chef
2013-present Guy's Grocery Games Herself
2014 America's Best Cook Mentor
2014 Food Fighters Herself
2015 Cutthroat Kitchen Guest Judge

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Spiro Pete Cora (1935-2011)". Findagrave.com. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Cat Cora". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Yancey, Kitty Bean. "'Iron Chef' Cat Cora is out of the bag", USA Today, March 31, 2006.
  4. ↑ Yancey, Kitty Bean. "What's cookin' with 'Iron Chef' Cat Cora", USA Today, April 5, 2006.
  5. ↑ "Iron Chef Cat Cora Aligns with Greek Food Line in News & Opinion on The Food Channel®". Foodchannel.com. January 19, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Profile at". Foodnetwork.com. August 13, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  7. ↑ Chefs For Humanity: About Us Archived March 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Chefs For Humanity: Home page Archived August 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "Auction Napa Valley". Napavintners.com. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  10. ↑ Rovito, Rich. "Elevating the garbage disposal", The Business Journal of Milwaukee, July 28, 2006.
  11. ↑ Cat Cora Named Executive Chef of Bon Appétit Magazine, PR Newswire, August 9, 2006.
  12. ↑ "Chefs for Humanity president Cat Cora joins UNICEF as spokesperson", UNICEF, January 20, 2006.
  13. ↑ Lucas, Sherry. "Iron Chef to lead Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade", The Clarion-Ledger, January 1, 2006
  14. ↑ "The Olivia Companies". Olivia.com. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  15. ↑ "T2 Concessions". Fysfo.com. May 1, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  16. ↑ Kouzzina by Cat Cora to close on September 30, 2014, disneyfoodblog.com, March 24, 2014.
  17. ↑ Brown, Rob (March 17, 2012). "season1". Bravotv. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  18. 1 2 Machado, Baker. "Iron Chef's Cat Cora Files for Divorce From Wife After 17 Years Together". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  19. ↑ Belge, Kathy. "Cat and Jennifer Cora". About.com. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  20. ↑ "YouTube Interview with Cat Cora". YouTube. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  21. ↑ Calderone, Ana. "Cat Cora and Wife Jennifer Are Divorcing After 17 Years Together". People. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  22. ↑ Culinary Hall of Fame Induction, culinaryhalloffame.com; accessed February 13, 2016.

External links

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