May 29 2008
Cooking Star - Cat Cora
Cooking Star – Cat Cora
“Hellasian” is a term Cat Cora has coined referring to a fusion of Greek and Asian cooking. Again we see another cooking star using a unique term as a source of identification or branding as Paula Deen with her “Hey y’all” and Emeril Hagasse with his “Bam” and “Kick.” Cat doesn’t stop at Hellasian foods, she is also an expert chef with Mediterranean, French, Italian, Creole, Southern and gourmet baby food.
Cat Cora is probably best known as the first and only woman to become a part of the elite chef club and series show, “Iron Chef.”
The Early Years
Cat grew up in Jackson, Mississippi within a Greek community. She comes by her skills and talents in the kitchen as both her father and grandfather were restaurateurs. Her first restaurant business plan was conceived at age fifteen. She earned a B.S. degree in exercise psychology and a minor in nutrition/biology before attending the Culinary Institute of American, in New York, where she graduated with honors.
She trained with two renowned chefs in New York, Ann Rosenzweig of Arcadia and Larry Forgione of An American Place. She went on to train in France with Georges Blanc of Vonnas and Roger Verge.
When Cat returned to New York, she took a position as sous chef at The Old Chatham Sheepherding Company. Then she moved west and worked at the Napa Valley Bistro Don Giovanni as Chef de Cuisine. She worked with Chef Michael Chiarello of Tra Vigne in Napa Valley. Teaching cooking at cooking schools around San Francisco has been one of her greatest joys. She was featured as one of the 13 best chefs in the East Bay by Diablo Magazine. Cat is now a food columnist, “Cooking From The Hip, with Contra Costa Times and she is working on a new cookbook.
Recent History
Cat Cora co-founded Chefs for Humanity in 2005. It’s a group of chefs, working together to raise funds for emergency and humanitarian aid. She is currently working on the development of “The Cat Cora Show,” a talk show about food and wine. She is currently Executive Chef for Bona Petite Magazine.
Cat Cora Statistics
Born: Catherine Cora
Date of Birth: January 1, 1968
Place of Birth: Jackson, Mississippi
Currently Living: California
Children: 2 sons, Zoran and Caje
Awards: Bon Appetit American Food and Entertaining Award
Hero Visibility Award
Teacher of the Year Award
Cooking Shows: Iron Chef America
Celebrity Cooking Showdown
Cook Books: Cooking From The Hip
Cat Cora’s Kitchen
Quick Fix Meals
Recipe
Our version of Cat Cora’s Chicken Soup with Trahana
Quick Chicken Soup
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups baby carrots
1 small onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth
½ teaspoon basil
salt and pepper
dash of poultry seasoning
1 (8 oz) package pasta, your choice
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and chopped
Directions
In a large pot, cook celery, and onion in butter until tender. Add chicken broth and carrots, bring to a boil. Add seasoning, pasta and chicken. Reduce heat and simmer until pasta is tender. 2 to 4 servings.
