Image Credit: Martha Stewart by Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA).<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
7 mega-celebrity chefs who never went to culinary school<\/h2>\n
It turns out that just because you\u2019ve seen their faces cooking for you on TV, it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they\u2019re a \u201cchef\u201d in the most traditional senses. In fact, some of the most famous TV chefs alive never even went to culinary school.<\/p>\n
From Gordon Ramsay to Nigella Lawson, take a look at these seven celebrity chefs who never went to culinary school.<\/p>\n Jean_Nelson \/ Deposit Photos<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Rachel Ray was born into a restaurant-managing family, and found her way to cooking through that. After working in various restaurant capacities, Ray gained experience through hands-on work rather than formal education.<\/p>\n Image Credit: gordonramsayofficial \/ TikTik.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n 17-time Michelin star recipient Gordan Ramsay couldn\u2019t afford culinary school, and has been outspoken about the fact that expensive education isn\u2019t what makes you a great chef. Instead, he began working in kitchens at a young age, learning the ropes through practical experience and mentorship from seasoned chefs.<\/p>\n Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons\/<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Martha Stewart<\/p>\n Martha Stewart originally intended to be a model, and then shifted to stockbroking (shocker). Over time she developed a passion for cooking as part of her homemaker persona, and honed her skills through self-study and experimentation.<\/p>\n Image Credit: IMDb.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The Mayor of Flavortown never actually went to culinary school, instead opting for a career in hospitality management. He\u2019s owned a slew of restaurants, including the ever-expanding Chicken Guy. But look, you don\u2019t invent things called Donkey Sauce or Trash Can Nachos unless you\u2019re free of the strictures of a formal education, am I right?<\/p>\n Image Credit: BarefootContessa.com.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Ina once worked as a budget analyst for the White House\u2019s Nuclear Regulatory Commission, but culinary school never actually happened for her. She apparently learned everything she needed to know while running Barefoot Contessa, her specialty food store.<\/p>\n Jean_Nelson \/ Deposit Photos<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n \u201cTop Chef\u201d head judge Tom Colicchio grew up in kitchens and used his real-world experience to open Gramercy Tavern, and Craft, two of the most lauded New York City restaurants of their time. Colicchio told Bloomberg<\/a> \u201cI was still planning on culinary school, but once I was promoted from line cook to sous chef, that was it.\u201d<\/p>\n Jean_Nelson \/Deposit Photos<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Nigella Lawson initially began her career pursuing journalism, and worked as a freelance food writer before eventually falling into the role she\u2019s best known for, as a TV chef. You can still catch her hosting her own shows and appearing on just about every other cooking show.<\/p>\n Ask us! What questions do you have about content, strategy, pop culture, lifestyle, wellness, history or more? We may use your question in an upcoming article!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Ask us a question<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Like MediaFeed\u2019s content?\u00a0<\/strong>Be sure to follow us<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>
Rachel Ray<\/h2>\n
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Gordan Ramsay<\/h2>\n
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Guy Fieri<\/h2>\n
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Ina Garten<\/h2>\n
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Tom Colicchio<\/h2>\n
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Nigella Lawson<\/h2>\n