Clare Smyth is an acclaimed chef and influential figure in the international culinary scene. In 2007, she became the first woman to head a Three MICHELIN-Starred kitchen in the United Kingdom. In 2017, she opened her restaurant "Core by Clare Smyth" in London, which has attained Three MICHELIN stars. Clare combines her career, family life, and promotion of gender equality in professional kitchens.
Born in the county of Antrim, Northern Ireland, in 1978, she demonstrated an innate passion for the culinary arts from a young age, which led her to move to England in 1995 to study at Highbury College.
Her professional journey began in the early 2000s when Clare worked in the kitchens of Paul Rankin, Heston Blumenthal, and Alain Ducasse. These experiences allowed Clare to refine her culinary skills and learn the innovative techniques that characterize high-level cuisine.
The decisive turning point in Clare's career came in 2007 when she took over Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in London, becoming the first woman to head a Three MICHELIN-Starred kitchen in the United Kingdom.
In the following years, Clare Smyth continued to grow professionally and consolidate her reputation as one of the most talented and influential chefs in the industry. In 2013, she was honored with the title of MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her outstanding contributions to the restaurant industry.
Without resting on her achievements, Clare decided to embark on a new professional adventure. In 2015, she announced her decision to leave Ramsay's restaurant to pursue her own project. During this period of transition, she traveled, studied, and deepened her culinary vision through meticulous research and planning.
In the meantime, she married Gareth Ferreira, an Australian sommelier, and have two children together.
Clare appears as a culinary icon on successful television programs such as "MasterChef UK," "The Great British Menu," and "The Final Table," and in 2017, she opened her restaurant "Core by Clare Smyth" in Notting Hill, London.
2019 was a year of success for Clare. She received an honorary doctorate from Queen's University Belfast and was awarded the title of Chef of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards.
Additionally, in the same year, Clare launched the "Back to the Kitchen" initiative aimed at encouraging more women to enter the professional cooking industry.
In 2020, she announced the opening of a new restaurant, and the following year, "Core by Clare Smyth" received its Third MICHELIN Star. Clare is the first British female chef to receive three stars in the United Kingdom and became the first to simultaneously hold Three MICHELIN Stars and three hats from the Good Food Guide in 2022.
In 2023, Clare Smyth was announced as the president of Bocuse d'Or UK, having previously served as the Honorary President of Bocuse d'Or Europe 2020.
Despite her success, Clare remains a private person in her personal life and continues to find a balance between work and family.
Cover photo: @John Carey
