Najat Kaanache

Wall Street Journal photo of Najat Kaanache plating her "Genius Apple" dish at the 2013 World Science Festival in NYC

Chef Najat Kaanache with White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses lecturing at Harvard University

Najat Kaanache was born and raised in San Sebastián of Spain's Basque Country. She gained fame as a lead actress on Spanish daytime television series "Goenkale" and then traveled throughout the Middle East and South America working in philanthropy to empower women and street kids. She later attended culinary school and gained fame as "The Pilgrim Chef" by blogging throughout her four years training with the world's top chefs: Ferran Adria, Rene Redzepi, Thomas Keller, Grant Achatz, Heston Blumenthal and Martín Berasategui.

After spending two years working her way through the kitchens at Chicago's Alinea, Napa's The French Laundry, New York's Per Se (restaurant), and Copenhagen's Noma (restaurant) Kaanache went on to train intensively during the final two historic years at Spain's elBulli. Ferran Adria stated that "Najat Kaanache represents the soul of Morocco through the language of the kitchen. Her passion for creativity and innovation are an exemplary reference for the whole country."^[1] At a Basque Culinary Center International Advisory Council summit on September 23, 2013 held in Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture at Blue Hill, Adria said "Chef Najat Kaanache is four times better than I was when I became the chef at El Bulli."^[2]

After El Bulli's historic closure, Kaanache traveled extensively to instruct chefs across the globe in the latest gastronomic techniques and taught and lectured alongside White House Executive Pastry Chef, Bill Yosses on the science of cooking at Harvard University (pictured), New York University and at the 2013 World Science Festival in NYC (pictured) and 2013 Beijing Science Festival in China.

She partnered with the owner of Souk Restaurant in Dallas, TX, where she was the opening chef.^[3] She is a partner of Piripi Restaurant in the Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables, FL, where she was the opening chef;^[4]

References

1. Enriqueta E. Lemoine. "Savoir Faire". thepleasuresofthepalate.blogspot.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
2. http://thepleasuresofthepalate.blogspot.com/2015/03/najat-kaanache-girl-who-dreamed-of.htmll
3. "Najat Kaanache". SideDish. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
4. "Najat Kaanache". Miami New Times. Retrieved 9 October 2015.

External links

• "Six Ingredients". Milenio. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
• "Najat Kaanache". SideDish. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
• "Najat Kaanache". Miami New Times. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
• "Najat Kaanache". World Science Festival. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
• "Chef Najat Kaanache Participates in Taste of Science Presented by World Science Festival – SideDish". SideDish. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
• "A Meeting of Food and Science Minds". WSJ. 2 June 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
• "نجاة كعناش .. علامَة دولية في فنّ الطّبخ". hespress.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
• http://www.wacs2000.org/wacs2010/en/communication_programs/women_profile.php?cat=women&id=35
• "Breaking News Videos, Story Video and Show Clips - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
• paulaforbes. "Watch Bill Yosses Explain Molecular Pastry at Harvard". Eater. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
• http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/chef-interview/najat-kaanache-apprentice/|title=Chef Najat Kaanache
• "Chef Najat Kaanache". 100miles.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.