Dominic Crenn: Paving The Way

The French Chef Opens Up About Career, Her Popular Eateries And Making Culinary History.

- Chef Judy Joo

Since the beginning of her career, Dominique Crenn has been breaking down walls. “When I started to work in the kitchen, there [were] not a lot of women,” she says. “I had to work harder than others and I was a bit picked on sometimes. But I’m a very strong person. Nobody touched me.” That’s been the case ever since. In late 2018, Dominique became the first woman in the United States to be awarded three Michelin stars, the Michelin Guide’s highest rating. “I’m humbled,” Dominique says of the honor, which she doesn’t take lightly. “It’s a platform I now have. I hope to inspire others and make a difference.” Here, Dominique sits down with chef Judy Joo at Bar Crenn, her San Francisco wine bar, to talk about her accomplishments, her famed eateries and her plans for the future.