CRISTINA BOWERMAN
Cristina Bowerman, one of the few Italian female chefs awarded a Michelin star and other prestigious awards, was born in Cerignola, Italy.
After graduating with a law degree in 1992, she left Puglia for San Francisco. In California, she alternated between forensic studies and graphic design, to working at Higher Grounds, a coffee house in San Francisco where she developed her passion for cooking.
In 1998, she moved to Austin, where she earned a degree in Culinary Arts. There, thanks to the experience at the Driskill Grill, she developed discipline and technique, working a lot on sharpness, definition and concentration of flavors.
In 2004, she returned to Italy, where she worked at a series of exemplary restaurants. She then further honed her original take on cuisine by traveling around the world working in various kitchens and learning new techniques she could give her own twist.
In 2008, Bowerman was awarded “two forks” in the Gambero Rosso Guide, and in 2010 she received a Michelin Star.
She went on to oversee the unique project of turning a historic Alfa Romeo factory in Prati, Rome into a restaurant and bakery in 2012 called Chef + Baker, which has since become a successful chain.
In 2013, she was awarded the prize of “woman of the year” by Identità Golose. Cristina shared the story of her life and career in a book published in 2014 called, “From Cerignola to San Francisco and back – My countercurrent life as a chef”.
In 2015, Cristina was selected as Chef Ambassador at Expo Milano, the initiative aimed at creating an international network of opinion leaders working towards feeding the planet. She is proud to take part in many philanthropic efforts including ACTION AID, Fiorano For Kids, Associazione Aila Italian Foundation, and Food Action Committee.
In 2016, she was selected as the president of the Association of Italian Ambassadors of Taste, and more recently was selected as Ambassador of the Association of Telefono Rosa and a nominated member of the Technical Committee of Coordination for Year of Italian Food 2018 by the Minister of Culture and Tourism.
In April 2018 Cristina Bowerman is involved as speaker to TEDXAUBG in Bulgaria and, within the same month, she goes to Festival Worlds of Flavor in California as a presenter. In June 2018, during a ceremony at the Townhall of Rome, Cristina Bowerman is awarded “Premio Simpatia per le storie 2018”, granted for social merits. Within the same month, during the 18th edition of the “Festival of Italian Cuisine”, in Pesaro, she is awarded “Premio Galvanina” as Best Chef for the year 2018.
