About Emeril Lagasse
Chef Emeril Lagasse’s passion for food was ignited as a young boy growing up in the small town of Fall River, Massachusetts, where he spent time in the kitchen with his mother, Hilda.
As a teenager, he worked at a Portuguese bakery where he mastered the art of bread and pastry baking. Upon high school graduation, Lagasse turned down a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music to pursue his dream of becoming a chef. He earned a degree from the respected culinary fortress, Johnson and Wales University, and later received an honorary doctorate degree from the university. Wanting to broaden his culinary horizons, Lagasse then traveled to Paris and Lyon, France, where he honed his skills and learned the art of classic French cuisine.
Lagasse helmed the kitchen for nearly eight years at the legendary New Orleans restaurant, Commander’s Palace.
Returning to the United States, Lagasse practiced his art in fine dining restaurants in New York, Boston and Philadelphia until a job offer from Dick and Ella Brennan lured the young chef to New Orleans.
In 1990, Lagasse set out on his own, opening his flagship, Emeril’s Restaurant, in New Orleans’ Warehouse District.
In 1990, Lagasse set out on his own, opening his flagship, Emeril’s Restaurant, in New Orleans’ Warehouse District.
Over the past 33 years, Lagasse has opened over 20 restaurants across the United States.
Emeril Lagasse is the chef/proprietor of 10 restaurants, including four in New Orleans (Emeril’s, Meril, Emeril’s Brasserie at Harrah’s casino and Emeril’s Table at the MSY Airport); two in Las Vegas (Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House and Delmonico Steakhouse); one in Miramar Beach, Florida (Emeril’s Coastal); and his three restaurants at sea, Emeril’s Bistro 1396 on Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras ship, Emeril’s Bistro 1397 on Carnival Celebration and Emeril’s Bistro 717 on Carnival Jubilee. 34 Restaurant and Bar, the Lagasse’s Love letter to Portugal, is slated to open in New Orleans in late Summer 2024. Lagasse’s restaurant company, The Emeril Group, is located in New Orleans and houses restaurant operations and a culinary test kitchen for recipe development.
Award-Winning Restaurants
1990 “Restaurant of the Year” by John Mariani in Esquire magazine
1991 Emeril’s Restaurant Wine Spectator “Grand Award”
“Best Southeast Regional Chef” by the James Beard Foundation
Emeril’s Restaurant Ivy Award
“Best Southeast Regional Chef” by the James Beard Foundation
Emeril’s Restaurant Ivy Award
1993 NOLA “Best New Restaurant” by Esquire magazine
2000 and every year after Emeril’s Restaurant Wine Spectator “Grand Award”
Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House “Best Restaurant in Las Vegas” by Zagat
Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House “Best Restaurant in Las Vegas” by Zagat
2002 Delmonico Steakhouse named “Best Steakhouse” by Las Vegas Life magazine
2004 and every year after Delmonico Steakhouse Wine Spectator “Grand Award”
2023 - 2024 Emeril's listed in La Liste Top 1000 Restaurants 2023 & 2024
Award-Winning Chef, Restaurateur, Television Personality and Author…
1998 “Chef of the Year” by GQ magazine
1999 People magazine’s “25 Most Intriguing People of the Year”
2004 “Executive of the Year” by Restaurants & Institutions Magazine
2005 Wine Spectator “Distinguished Service Award”
2006 Inducted into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame by Nation’s Restaurant News
2007 “Restaurateur of the Year” by New Orleans City Business
2009 “Lifetime Achievement Award” Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival
2012 Smithsonian exhibit “Food: Transforming the American Table 1950–2000
2013 “Humanitarian of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation
As a national TV personality, he has hosted more than 2,000 shows on the Food Network.
Most recently, The Roku Channel released two original series "Emeril Cooks” and "Emeril Tailgates". In 2016, Amazon launched an original series featuring Lagasse called Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse. The series received five daytime Emmy nominations and won Outstanding Culinary Program. The series was also a James Beard semifinalist in the category Outstanding Personality of Host. Lagasse has appeared as a guest judge on Bravo’s hit food series, “Top Chef,” served as co-host for TNT’s first cooking series, “On the Menu,” and the tenth season of the “Rachael Ray Show” and served as the food correspondent for ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Lagasse is the best-selling author of 19 cookbooks.
Including his first, Emeril’s New New Orleans Cooking, which introduced his creative take on Creole cuisine. His most recent cookbook is titled Essential Emeril: Favorite Recipes and Hard-Won Wisdom from My Life in the Kitchen.
In 2002, Lagasse established the Emeril Lagasse Foundation
The Foundation supports children’s educational programs that inspire and mentor young people through the culinary arts, nutrition, healthy eating, and important life skills. To date, the Foundation has distributed $19.3 million in grants to support children’s charities across the nation. . In 2013, Lagasse was named the Humanitarian of the Year by the James Beard Foundation for his dedicated efforts to further the culinary arts in America, as well as his philanthropic work supporting children’s educational programs through his Foundation.