Chef Alex Guarnaschelli - Food Network

Alex Guarnaschelli: The Cooking Loft

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli is chef at popular NYC restaurant, "Butter," where her extensive background in French cooking made her a natural choice. Alex, the daughter of a successful cookbook editor, was constantly "coaxed away from Barbieland under the dining room table to peel potatoes, knead bread, or assemble a trifle."

A Barnard College graduate, Alex started her career working in Larry Forgione's "An American Place," but elected to enrich her culinary education and skills by studying abroad in France. She received her Grand Diplome from Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Burgundy. Her next assignment was working for acclaimed 3-star Michelin chef, Guy Savoy, in Paris. There she learned how to "cook and treat ingredients with the respect they deserve." Chef Savoy quickly promoted Alex to sous chef in his "La Butte Chaillot."

Alex returned to New York to work with Daniel Bouloud to work at his acclaimed "eponymous" restaurant, where she worked for two years, before going to Los Angeles to work Joachim Splichal at "Patina" restaurant, rated "Top Restaurant" for 10 years running by Zagat's.

Since last summer, Chef Guarnaschelli has been seen on Food Network's "The Cooking Loft," and as a judge in "Chopped," as well as appearances on "Iron Chef."