Suzanne Tracht

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Suzanne Tracht
Born1963 (age 60–61)
Culinary career
Current restaurant(s)
    • Jar
Previous restaurant(s)
    • Tracht's
Television show(s)
Award(s) won
    • Best New Chef 2002

Suzanne Tracht (born 1963) is an American chef. In 2002 Food & Wine named her to their Best New Chefs.

Early life[edit]

Tracht was born in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1963 and was raised there.[1][2] At 19 she began a three-year apprenticeship at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel with Siegbert Wendler.[3][4][5]

Career[edit]

After her apprenticeship Tracht worked at the Westin Century Plaza and then the Hotel Bel-Air, where she worked with George Morrone. She moved to Noa Noa to become sous chef in 1991.[2]

In 1992 Tracht moved to Campanile, where she became chef de cuisine, working with Nancy Silverton and Mark Peel[3][6] and then opened Jozu as executive chef.[1][2] During her time at Jozu she worked with Preech Narkthong, who would become her chef de cuisine when she opened her first restaurant.[7]

Tracht opened Jar, an acronym for "just another restaurant", in 2001 in Los Angeles's Beverly Grove neighborhood with Peel.[6][3][8] The Wall Street Journal described it as "a modern take on a classic, 1940s-style chop house".[6] It is known for its pot roast and char siu pork.[7]

In 2007 Tracht opened Tracht's in Long Beach.[6] She closed it after a few years.[3]

Reception and awards[edit]

According to the Wall Street Journal, Tracht "has become nationally known for her pot roast", which has been on the menu continuously since Jar and Tracht's opened.[6] In 2014, Jonathan Gold said, "She should be winning national awards, but she is content with making a great wedge salad and the best pot roast in town."[7] In 2022 Time Out called Jar "a dining institution" in Los Angeles.[7]

In 2002, after she opened Jar, Food & Wine named her one of their Best New Chefs.[1] In 2007 she was inducted into Nation's Restaurant News's Fine Dining Hall of Fame.[2]

Philanthropy[edit]

Tracht has supported local food resource center SOVA and Project Angel Food, which delivers meals to people with serious illness.[9][4]

Personal life[edit]

Tracht has two children.[3][7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Abdelnour, Salma (31 March 2015). "America's Best New Chefs 2002". Food & Wine. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Willan, Ann (10 November 2012). "LaVarenne » 2012 Celebrity Chef Series–Suzanne Tracht". École de Cuisine La Varenne. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e Kuh, Patrick (26 October 2017). "Let's Take a Moment to Appreciate The Enduring Brilliance of Chef Suzanne Tracht". Los Angeles Magazine.
  4. ^ a b McCave, Lesley (5 January 2010). "Q & A With Suzanne Tracht, Part 2: The Jar Chef on the Importance of Keeping Things Simple, Heading to Abu Dhabi, and NOT Eating Dog - LA Weekly". LA Weekly. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Suzanne Tracht: from dishwashing station to owner & chef". Start TV. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e McLaughlin, Katy (29 March 2009). "L.A.'s Easygoing Star". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e Yeo, Patricia Kelly (20 October 2022). "This Beverly Grove steakhouse has kept Angelenos satisfied for 21 years—and counting". Time Out Los Angeles. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  8. ^ McCave, Lesley (4 January 2010). "Q & A With Suzanne Tracht: The Jar Chef on Plans for Suzpree and LAX - LA Weekly". LA Weekly. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  9. ^ Schreffler, Laura (9 November 2016). "The 10 Most Philanthropic Celebrity Chefs in the City of Angels". Haute Living. Retrieved 31 July 2023.

Further reading[edit]