Chef Leah Cohen One Sheet
- 1. 7 LEAH COHEN A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY, Top Chef Alumi Leah Cohens first position in a New York City kitchen was working for celebrated chef David Burke at Park Avenue Caf辿. Next studying the intricacies of Italys diverse culinary landscape, Leah worked in Sicily at Michelin-stared restaurant, La Madia, focusing on a cuisine that blends the bold and fresh flavors of the Mediterranean. After returning to America to work at Eleven Madison Park under the tutelage of Chef Daniel Humm, Leah soon traded in refined for rustic when she joined Anne Burrell at Centro Vinoteca in 2008. While working under Chef Burrell, Leah truly explored her love of Italian cooking, and also landed a spot on BRAVOs hit television series, Top Chef. After a successful run on the show, and with national recognition, Leah returned to Centro Vinoteca as the restaurants Executive Chef. After a few years at Centro Vinoteca, Leah decided to take a sabbatical and spent a year traveling throughout Southeast Asia learning about her Asian heritage. One year later, Leah returned home to bring the bold flavors of Asian street food to New York, combining a culinary technique honed in New Yorks top kitchens with the bold flavors found in the restaurants and food stalls of Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia. Leahs cooking is innovative and strikingly authentic, and is on display daily at Pig & Khao restaurant on the lower east side of NYC.