Suzette Gresham
California
United States
Overview
Suzette Gresham, also known as Suzette Gresham-Tognetti, is an American chef who has made a significant impact on the culinary world.
In 1988, Suzette Gresham was hired as the head chef at The Donatello, a hotel in San Francisco, California. Interestingly, her appointment surprised the kitchen staff on her first day, as they initially assumed she was the pastry chef due to her gender. However, once they witnessed her skills, their respect grew.
In 1989, Gresham and Giancarlo Paterlini (the front-of-house manager) left The Donatello to open Acquerello in the Nob Hill area of San Francisco. She continued as the head chef, and her commitment to training extended to assigning extra homework to her staff during externships. Gresham even left cookbooks for her team to read and offered to reimburse them for any books they purchasedAcquerello received its first Michelin star in 2007 and a second in 2014, making Gresham one of only three female chefs in the United States to hold two Michelin stars.
After 24 years at Acquerello, Gresham and Paterlini opened a second restaurant in 2013 called 1760. Although Gresham oversaw the food as chef patron, the head chef was Adam Tortosa. Unfortunately, 1760 closed in 2020. However, in 2021, the same location became home to a cocktail bar with small bites called Sorella, where Gresham continues to contribute her culinary expertise .
Suzette Gresham’s dedication and influence have left an indelible mark on the Bay Area dining scene.
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In 1988, Suzette Gresham was hired as the head chef at The Donatello, a hotel in San Francisco, California. Interestingly, her appointment surprised the kitchen staff on her first day, as they initially assumed she was the pastry chef due to her gender. However, once they witnessed her skills, their respect grew.
In 1989, Gresham and Giancarlo Paterlini (the front-of-house manager) left The Donatello to open Acquerello in the Nob Hill area of San Francisco. She continued as the head chef, and her commitment to training extended to assigning extra homework to her staff during externships. Gresham even left cookbooks for her team to read and offered to reimburse them for any books they purchasedAcquerello received its first Michelin star in 2007 and a second in 2014, making Gresham one of only three female chefs in the United States to hold two Michelin stars.
After 24 years at Acquerello, Gresham and Paterlini opened a second restaurant in 2013 called 1760. Although Gresham oversaw the food as chef patron, the head chef was Adam Tortosa. Unfortunately, 1760 closed in 2020. However, in 2021, the same location became home to a cocktail bar with small bites called Sorella, where Gresham continues to contribute her culinary expertise .
Suzette Gresham’s dedication and influence have left an indelible mark on the Bay Area dining scene.
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