o Suzanne Goin -- Owner and Chef, Lucques and A.O.C.

By: Anna Cronk, 1L

Posted: 1/1/01

March 2008

Suzanne Goin, a Los Angeles native, graduated with honors in history from Brown University, but decided to take the road less traveled in becoming one of the best female chefs in the nation.

She has worked at award-winning restaurants such as Al Forno, L'Orangerie, Olives (in Boston), and many more. She was the executive chef at Campanile and even trained with Alain Passard in Paris.

In 1998, she opened Lucques, on Melrose Avenue, which quickly became a worldwide hit with its fresh Mediterranean cuisine. Her second restaurant, which opened in 2002, was just as, if not more, successful.

A.O.C., a restaurant and wine bar, features a variety of fine cheeses, house-made charcuterie, "tapas" style dishes, and 50 wines by the glass. Both restaurants received an impressive 3 stars from Los Angeles Times reviewer, S. Irene Virbila.

Goin has received numerous awards for best chef and restaurant from Food and Wine, The Wine Spectator, Conde Nast Traveler, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Saveur, and more. Goin was also nominated for the James Beard award and published a cookbook, Sunday Suppers.