Cora in April 2010 |
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Born | Catherine Cora January 1, 1968 [1] Jackson, Mississippi, United States |
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Cooking style | Mediterranean (Greek), Fusion ("Hellasian"), Southern |
Education | Culinary Institute of America |
Television show(s)
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Catherine "Cat" Cora (born January 1, 1968)[1] is a Greek-American professional chef best known for her featured role as an "Iron Chef" on the Food Network television show Iron Chef America.[2]
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Cora, a Greek American, was born in Jackson, Mississippi,[3] where she was raised in a Greek community. Her grandfather and father were both restaurateurs. When she was 15 years old, she brought a business plan to her father and grandfather, knowing they could help her.[2] Cora's style of cooking was influenced by Julia Child, Barbara Tropp, M.F.K. Fisher and her grandmother, Alma.
After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology and Biology at the University of Southern Mississippi, she enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.[4] Cora has appeared on Simplify Your Life. She was also a co-host of the Food Network show Kitchen Accomplished.
In January 2005 Cora co-founded Chefs For Humanity,[5] which describes itself as "a grassroots coalition of chefs and culinary professionals guided by a mission to quickly be able to raise funds and provide resources for important emergency and humanitarian aid, nutritional education, and hunger-related initiatives throughout the world."[6] She has also participated in charity wine auctions held by Auction Napa Valley.[7]
In 2006 she was hired as a paid spokesperson for InSinkErator Evolution series garbage disposals.[8] In partnership with 3 Street Media, she is developing The Cat Cora Show, a talk show devoted to food and wine which she will produce and host.[4] Cora is also Executive Chef for Bon Appétit magazine[9] and a UNICEF spokesperson.[10] In March 2006, Cora was the Grand Marshal for Hal and Mal's St. Paddy's Parade in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi.[11] In the September 2006 issue of FHM, Cora was featured in the cooking section, where she demonstrated various recipes using items purchased from a convenience store. Cat Cora also belongs to Macy's Culinary Councils, amongst Tyler Florence, Rick Bayless, and others. She has worked as an entertainer for The Olivia Companies, a travel company catering to the lesbian market.[12]
In 2008, Cora had a voice role for the video game Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine.[1]
The eponymous Cat Cora,[13] a new bar and lounge style restaurant, opened at Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The restaurant opened in April 2011.
Openly gay,[14] Cora has four sons – Zoran, Caje, Thatcher, and Nash – with her partner, Jennifer Cora. (Jennifer bore the first three; Cat gave birth to Nash three months after Thatcher was born.)[15][16] She currently resides in the Santa Barbara, California area with her family.
Television | |||
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Year | Film | Role | Notes |
2004 | Kitchen Accomplished | Herself | A kitchen makeover show |
2005-Present | Iron Chef America | Herself |