TH E C HEF
WOMEN IN THE CULINARY WORLD Despite there being multiple Michelin starred and top Executive female Chefs across the globe, women are often underrepresented in this space. Here, Anne Laure Morisset Dutel, Executive Chef at La Serre Bistro & Boulangerie, and Chef, Food Writer, Restaurateur and Television Personality Silvena Rowe, who helms Nassau, Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE), weigh in on the challenges and rewards of being a woman in a male-dominated field
20 The Pro Chef Middle East
/ Edition 54
“Even today, when a deal is on the table for restaurant development, a male chef will often get better financially rewarded” - Chef Silvena Rowe
have at least 30 per cent female chefs; and at one point, her whole pastry kitchen was made up entirely of women. “Professional chefs’ lives are tough, with long hours, mentally and physically exhausting, which is not the right choice for most women,” says Chef Silvena. When asked about the disparity in numbers between female and male chefs, Chef Anne Laure replies, “it is a social issue and not just consigned to kitchens. The same thing happens in boardrooms and in
Serena Botelho e Warren
“I got into this field because I was always at my happiest when I was with my family, cooking in the kitchen - there is no feeling like it in the world,” says Chef Anne Laure, whose current role includes the development of menus and kitchens across the Lincoln Hospitality group in Dubai, while also taking the lead on the international expansion of their franchises. “Pure greed for food,” says Chef Silvena, “As a little girl, I would constantly think about food, its various colours and textures. All my holiday postcards were solely about the food eaten while holidaying and it was very early on that I understood the power of food.” Chef Silvena Rowe has been in the F&B industry for over 33 years, donning multiple hats. She is known to be one of the few female global MasterChef judges, has authored eight cookbooks, conceptualised Omnia Gourmet, Al Botanica and Nassau at JGE, and has recently partnered with Spinneys Middle East to create a range of healthy savoury and sweet food products. Chef Silvena has always prioritised women in the industry, ensuring her kitchens
