Giovanna Huyke-Souffront (born 21 December 1956), known as Giovanna Huyke and "Chef Giovanna", is a Puerto Rican celebrity chef[1][2][3] and an international culinary leader often referred to as the “Julia Child of Puerto Rico".[4][1]

Giovanna Huyke
Born
Giovanna Maria Huyke-Souffront

21 Dec 1956
OccupationChef
Years active43
Websitehttp://giovannahuyke.com/

Biography edit

Huyke was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 21 December 1956. Her mother is Alice Huyke, a celebrated cooking teacher in Puerto Rico for over 30 years,[5][4] and Hector Huyke-Colon, a civil engineer and architect in Puerto Rico. Huyke began her career in theater, obtaining a bachelor's degree in Dramatic Arts at Tulane University. While in New Orleans, she worked in Paul Prudehomme’s Louisiana Kitchen and as an assistant to Lee Barnes, and then moved on to New York City to work with renowned chef Felipe Rojas Lombardi. Huyke then returned to Puerto Rico and worked at the Caribe Hilton for one year, after which she founded Amadeus in San Juan, where she pioneered “nouvelle criollo”, which consists of native ingredients and recipes with classic techniques.[4] She was also the chef at Ali-Oli, founded by one of her mentors, Alfredo Ayala. Huyke founded the restaurants Don Juan in the El San Juan Hotel and Giovanna's Café.

Career edit

Over the later part of her 40+ year cooking history, Giovanna Huyke has been credited with leading a transformation of Puerto Rican cuisine in two main areas: i) by emphasizing local ingredients along with traditional cooking methods[6] and ii) by constructing lighter and healthier Puerto Rican dishes, without sacrificing traditional Puerto Rican flavor.[7][8]

Huyke recently competed in Food Network's TV show "Beat Bobby Flay.[9] She has also been featured on Good Morning America, Pierre Franney’s Cooking in America, AARP VIVA,[10] Burt Wolf's Travels and Traditions, and Univision’s Despierta. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, Shape en Español, Vanidades and Cristina. She has additionally published six cookbooks and 20 recipe booklets showcasing her culinary creations.

Huyke is currently serving as a global culinary ambassador for Puerto Rican cooking by consulting for various restaurant projects, serving as menu-designer and composer, speaking at various cooking events, and serving as judge at various Puerto Rican culinary events, including Saborea 2016.[11][12] She was most recently the Executive Chef at Mio Restaurant in Washington, DC, which has been called the “Embassy of Latin America in DC”[13] by Washingtonian Magazine. Huyke was critiqued by Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, calling one of her specialties a “last meal request”[14] and leading Mio to be listed in the Washington Post “Top Forty Fall Dining Guide”[15] restaurant list and the Washingtonian Magazine's “Top 100 Restaurants”.[16]

Awards / Accomplishments edit

  • Host of a daily cooking show called Giovanna's Kitchen (“La Cocina de Giovanna”), which was broadcast uninterrupted for over 23 years in Puerto Rico
  • Host of a weekly cooking show called En Casa con Giovanna, which is referenced in the 2013 book Eating Puerto Rico: A History of Food, Culture and Identity[17]
  • Host of a dinner party cooking show called Giovanna Primetime[18][19][20]
  • Walmart/Amigo spokesperson,[21] writing recipes and cooking techniques and tips for the in-store cooking magazine
  • Procter & Gamble spokesperson in Puerto Rico for “Brand Saver” coupon, cooking and healthy living magazine[22] and P&G's Brand Saver web portal called P&G Every Day[23]
  • Served as culinary ambassador from Puerto Rico to Japan, sponsored by the Puerto Rican tourism bureau
  • Weekly writer for Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald[24] and El Nuevo Dia[25]

TV shows edit

Giovanna Huyke's TV shows have included:

  • La Cocina de Giovanna, which was broadcast uninterrupted for over 23 years in Puerto Rico
  • At home with Giovanna, showcasing recipes, arts, crafts and home decorating ideas
  • Giovanna Primetime, a dinner party cooking show

Restaurants edit

  • La Fábrica Central Restaurant (Central Square Cambridge, Ma) 2018-Current
  • K Paul's Louisiana Kitchen[26] (New Orleans, LA) - Chef Paul Prudehomme's landmark restaurant
  • [27] (New Orleans, LA) - Chef Giovanna served as an assistant to one of the best-known culinarians in New Orleans
  • Dean and Deluca Gourmet Food Store (New York City) - Chef Giovanna worked with Renowned Peruvian Chef Felipe Rojas[28] as he was the founding chef of Dean and Deluca, and whose other experience included serving as James Beard's assistant at the James Beard Cooking School, serving as the Chef/Owner of The Ballroom restaurant in Chelsea and being named America's Bicentennial chef in 1976.
  • [29]' (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - Chef Giovanna began to pioneer a new method of cooking consisting of native ingredients and recipes with classic techniques.
  • Ali-Oli (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - founded by one of Chef Giovanna's mentors, Alfredo Ayala
  • Don Juan Restaurant at the El San Juan Hotel and Casino[30] (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - The first restaurant Chef Giovanna founded
  • Giovanna's Cafe (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - Chef Giovanna's second restaurant

Books edit

  • A tu Salud[31]
  • Cocina con Giovanna Celebraciones[32]
  • Entremeses-Alice and Giovanna Huyke[33]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #1[34]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #2[35]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #3[36]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #4[37]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #5[38]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #6[39]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #7[40]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #8[41]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #9[42]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #10[43]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #11[44]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #12[45]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #13[46]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #14[47]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #15[48]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna #16[49]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna Huyke[50]
  • La Cocina De Giovanna-Primera Temporada[51]
  • La Cocina Puertorriquena De Hoy Por Giovanna Huyke[52]
  • Postres Variados-Alice and Giovanna Huyke[53]
  • Puerto Rico Does it Better-The Recipe Book[54]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Chef Spotlight: Giovanna Huyke explains why cooking from the heart requires courage". NBCLatino.com. NBC Latino. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  2. ^ "Stephanie Izard: Girl and The Goat, Chicago, IL". Made in America-Our Best Chefs Reinvent Comfort Food. Welcome Books. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  3. ^ "Chef Hector Santiago". For Food's Sake. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Gail Forman (December 12, 1993). "Chef's Secret? In The Sauce". The Baltimore Sun.
  5. ^ Jose Luis Diaz de Villegas (2004). Puerto Rico: Grand Cuisine of the Caribbean. La Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico; First edition. p. 13. ISBN 0847704157.
  6. ^ AARP (Spring 2011). "Shrimp With Plantain and Island Coconut Mojito". AARP.org.
  7. ^ Stacey Hocheiser-Fox (July 6, 2013). "Puerto Rico's new cuisine is going green (Miami Herald)". Miami Herald.
  8. ^ Miguel Ortíz Cuadra, Cruz (2006). Eating Puerto Rico A History of Food, Culture, and Identity. The University of North Carolina Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-4696-0882-2.
  9. ^ "Beat Bobby Flay: She's a Lady". Food Network.
  10. ^ Bencomo Lobaco, Julia. "A Chef Fascinated With What She Does". AARP.org.
  11. ^ "Chef Giovanna Huyke-Personality Detail".
  12. ^ "Saborea Puerto Rico – The Culinary Event of the Year". Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  13. ^ Luisita Lopez Torregrosa (Dec 12, 2013). "Our Time: Success Stories of Washingtonians of Latino and Hispanic Descent". Washingtonian.
  14. ^ Tom Sietsema (Oct 21, 2012). "Mio Restaurant Review". Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 29, 2009.
  15. ^ Tom Sietsema (17 Oct 2012). "Washington Post Magazine's 2012 Fall Dining Guide". Washington Post.
  16. ^ Cynthia Hacinli; Todd Kliman; Ann Limpert; Jessica Voelker (Feb 19, 2013). "100 Very Best Restaurants 2013". Washingtonian.
  17. ^ "Eating Puerto Rico: A History of Food, Culture, and Identity". UNC Press Books. Footnote 105. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  18. ^ "Cristina Soler and René Monclova GIOVANNA PRIMETIME today".
  19. ^ "Giovanna Huyke WIPR with new program". Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  20. ^ "Giovanna Primetime Lunes 9:30pm por PRTV". PRTV Puerto Rico.
  21. ^ Gonzalez, Emilio. "Giovanna and SAL! Walmart". SAL. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  22. ^ Kantrow, Michelle. "P&G publishing Christmas 'brandSAVER' coupon booklet". Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  23. ^ "P&G Everyday".
  24. ^ Huyke, Giovanna. "Delicious Dishes for Father's Day". Miami Herald.
  25. ^ Huyke, Giovanna. "Flanes para todos los gustos". Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  26. ^ "K Paul's Louisiana Kitchen".
  27. ^ "Lee Barnes Cooking School and Gourmet Shop".
  28. ^ Molly O'Neill (September 11, 1991). "Felipe Rojas-Lombardi, 46, Dies; Chef Known for Spanish Cuisine".
  29. ^ "Caribe Hilton Puerto Rico".
  30. ^ "El San Juan Hotel and Casino".
  31. ^ Huyke, Giovanna; Berberian M.D., Anahid (Jan 2000). A tu salad. ASIN B007SW3E4M.
  32. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (April 2004). Cocina con Giovanna-Celebraciones (in Spanish) (2nd ed.). Miami, FL: Nupress of Miami, Inc. p. 153.
  33. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (2000). Entremeses-Alice and Giovanna Huyke. ASIN B003GCMJ9E.
  34. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (1989). La Cocina De Giovanna #1.
  35. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (May 1991). La Cocina de Giovanna-Recetario Numero 2 (in Spanish) (2nd ed.). Hato Rey, Puerto Rico: HH Productions, Inc.
  36. ^ Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #3.
  37. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (December 1995). La Cocina De Giovanna #4.
  38. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (February 1996). La Cocina De Giovanna #5.
  39. ^ Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #6.
  40. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (June 1996). La Cocina De Giovanna-#7 (in Spanish). San Juan, PR: Borinquen Lithographers Corp.
  41. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (June 1996). La Cocina De Giovanna #8.
  42. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (January 1997). La Cocina De Giovanna #9.
  43. ^ Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #10.
  44. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (September 1998). La Cocina De Giovanna #11.
  45. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (September 1999). La Cocina De Giovanna #12.
  46. ^ Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #13.
  47. ^ Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #14.
  48. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (September 2002). La Cocina De Giovanna-#15 (in Spanish). San Juan, PR: Advanced Graphic Printing, Inc.
  49. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (2002). La Cocina De Giovanna-Recetario 16 (in Spanish). Guaynabo, PR: Advanced Graphic Printing, Inc.
  50. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (June 2008). La Cocina De Giovanna Huyke (in Spanish) (2nd ed.). Rio Piedras, PR: Three A Press.
  51. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (December 2006). Cocina De Giovanna Primera Temporada (in Spanish). Rio Piedras, PR: Three A Press.
  52. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (April 1992). La Cocina Puertorriquena De Hoy Por Giovanna Huyke (in Spanish). Hato Rey, Puerto Rico: H.H. Productions, Inc.
  53. ^ Huyke, Giovanna (Jan 2004). Postres Variados (in Spanish). Editorial Cultural. ASIN B008TV0GCE.
  54. ^ Huyke, Giovanna; Huyke, Alice (2008). Puerto Rico Does It Better-The Recipe Book. San Juan, Puerto Rico: The Puerto Rico Tourism Company.