Barbara Figueroa is an American chef who was best known for her work at the Hunt Club, and her restaurant B. Figueroa. She won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Northwest Chef in 1992.

Barbara Figueroa
Born
EducationNew York City Community College
Culinary career
Cooking styleAmerican/Mediterranean cuisine
Previous restaurant(s)
    • Hunt Club
    • B. Figueroa
Award(s) won

Career

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Barbara Figueroa grew up in New York City, and decided to become a chef once she was in her 20s following the influence of her grandmother. As a child, Figueroa spent summers with her grandmother in Maine, and has memories of family cooking. Figueroa trained as a chef at the New York City Community College, and then moved to Los Angeles where she worked for Wolfgang Puck at his restaurant Spago.[1]

Figueroa made her name as a chef while working as head chef at the Hunt Club within the Sorrento Hotel in Seattle,[2] taking over from David Pisegna.[3] She worked there between 1987 and 1992, when she won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Northwest Chef.[4][5] After leaving there, she opened the restaurant B. Figueroa and then became director of food and beverage at the Warwick Hotel. When she left the Warwick in 2002,[2] following a change of direction for the restaurant,[4] she made a career change. Figueroa returned to college and went on to study for a Doctor of Psychology at the University of Kansas. She graduated in 2012, and undertook her postdoctoral residency in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Center for Behavioral Medicine.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Barbara Figueroa's Food Interest Was Influenced By Grandmother". Seattle Times. June 26, 1996. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Denn, Rebekah (April 10, 2013). "Where are they now: Chef Barbara Figueroa". Seattle Times. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  3. ^ "A grand old hotel restaurant has a fresh face". Seattle Times. August 10, 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b Goldsmith, James (June 11, 2002). "On Dining: A star has faded from the Seattle restaurant scene". Seattle PI. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  5. ^ Anderson, Lisa (May 7, 1992). "Beard Awards Tips Toque To Women Chefs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 26, 2017.