Revealed: Five Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Food Network Star, Anne Burrell
Anne Burrell is known to the television world for her work on Food Network. The celebrity chef’s beginnings are just as impressive as her present-day status. She had an impressive rise through the restaurant ranks, working in some of the most well-known eateries in New York. An impressive background, a no-nonsense attitude, and her striking hairstyle have made her a Food Network favorite, but little else is known about the star.
Anne Burrell was sort of outed by Ted Allen
In 2012, Ted Allen talked publicly about Anne Burrell and her partner. Allen’s public statement led many to believe that the Food Network star outed his co-worker, but Burrell assured everyone that just was not the case. Burrell went on to make a public statement absolving Allen of any wrongdoing
Burrell has been with her partner, Koren Grieveson since 2012. The pair announced their engagement in 2013, according to The Daily Meal. Allen and Burrell are still great friends after the outing.
Burrell studied in Italy
After attending college in Buffalo, New York, Burrell set her sights on the culinary world. She first attended the Culinary Institute of America, before heading to Italy to further her education. She graduated with an associate degree from the CIA, before heading to the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners.
The superstar chef spent several months after graduating from the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners working in restaurants around Italy, including several eateries in Tuscany. Because of her education, Burrell pulls Italian influences into many of the dishes she prepares. Even at home, Burrell appears to have a preference for Italian cuisine.
Happenstance propelled Burrell’s television career
Once back in the states, Anne Burrell went to work in restaurants around New York, eventually landing at Felidia, a Manhattan eatery owned by Lidia Bastianich. Bastianich is best known for her television work for PBS. While Burrell moved on from Felidia, the connection proved decisive. She was introduced to Lidia’s son, Joe Bastianich, who later went on to connect the star with the now disgraced celebrity chef, Mario Batali.
Burrell worked closely with Batali and Bastianich for several years after she was named chef for Italian Wine Merchants, a joint endeavor by the pair. Burrell has often cited Batali as her most influential food mentor, and for a good reason, he is the man who initially put her on TV.
Burrell as a sous chef
Burrell was asked to join Batali as his sous chef on Iron Chef America, and the rest is history. Her first television appearance occurred on the show in 2005. She continued to serve as Batali’s sous chef for the duration of his tenure.
After working on Iron Chef America, she was featured on several more Food Network shows before landing Worst Cooks in America, a reality competition show that pits two chefs against each other as they assemble teams of terrible cooks and teach them how to own the kitchen.
Burrell had a restaurant disaster of her own
Burrell opened Phil and Anne’s Goof Time Lounge in 2017. The eatery, located in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn, was a joint venture with Phil Casaceli. Casaceli is a bar legend in New York. The eatery, which aimed to pair Casaceli’s bar knowledge with Burrell’s celebrity chef status, was a hit initially, but in-fighting shut the place down.
Casaceli opened up to The Daily News, telling the paper he had no idea she was shutting down the operation. He alleges that one day she locked the doors, turned the staff loose and took off. Casaceli and Burrell had been friends since 2005 when she started frequenting his bar, Daddy-Os. The pair are no longer on speaking terms.
According to Eater, however, there were other problems with the restaurant. Celebrity status didn’t offer the draw that Burrell assumed it would. The restaurant, which was located on bustling Smith Street was rarely packed, according to residents.
