Cat Cora is an American chef, cookbook author, television personality, and businessperson. She is probably best known for her appearances on Iron Chef America, although she is also known for hosting multiple other cooking series. While many people know of the celebrity chef, there are many Cat Cora facts that people do not know. So, what are some fun facts about Cat Cora? Here are some interesting Cat Cora facts to help you learn more about the successful chef.
Cat Cora Facts: Her Early and Personal Life
Where Was Cat Cora Born?
Cat Cora was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, on the 3rd of April 1967. Her birth mother was an unwed teenager who named her baby Melanie but chose to have her daughter adopted. Cora was adopted by Virginia Lee and Spiro ‘Pete’ Cora, who raised her in Jackson, Mississippi. Both her adoptive father and grandfather were restaurateurs.
Is Cat Cora Married?
Cat Cora is currently single, although she has been married twice. She married her first wife, long-term partner Jennifer, in 2013. Sadly, the couple finalized their divorce just three years later. A year after the divorce, Cora began dating Nicole Ehrlich, a record producer executive. The couple married in 2018 and then divorced in 2021.
Does Cat Cora Have Children?
One of the Cat Cora facts people want to know is whether she has children. The celebrity chef has four sons with her first wife, Jennifer, all of whom were conceived using IVF. So, what are Cat Cora’s children’s names? According to People, Cat Cora’s sons are Zoran, Caje, Thatcher, and Nash.
Cat Cora’s Education
Cora studied for a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise physiology and biology at the University of Southern Mississippi. She wanted to follow in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, so she went on to study at the Culinary Institute of America, graduating in 1995.
Where Does Cat Cora Live?
Although Cat Cora is originally from Mississippi, she now lives in Santa Barbara, California.
Facts About Cat Cora: Her Culinary Career
When Did Cat Cora Begin Her Culinary Career?
Cora grew up in a family in the food industry, and she began studying at the Culinary Institute of America immediately after completing her degree. She graduated from the Institute in 1995.
When Did the Chef Open Her First Restaurant?
Cat Cora opened her first restaurant, Cat Cora’s Que, in 2008. It is in Costa Mesa, California. Since then, she has opened several other restaurants in California, plus restaurants in Salt Lake City and Sentosa, Singapore. There are also some restaurants she has now closed, including the Florida, Texas, and Georgia locations.
What Is Cat Cora’s Culinary Style?
Although she grew up in Mississippi, Cora has a Greek heritage. Therefore, both Greek and Southern cuisine influence the chef’s culinary style.
How Many Cookbooks Has the Celebrity Chef Written?
Cora has written three cookbooks. Her first was the 2004 cookbook Cat Cora’s Kitchen: Favorite Meals for Family and Friends. She then wrote the 2007 cookbook Cooking from the Hip: Fast, Easy, Phenomenal Meals. Most recently, the chef published the 2010 book Cat Cora’s Classics with a Twist.
Cat Cora Facts: Her Television Career
When Did Cat Cora First Appear on Television?
Cat Cora first appeared on television when she became the cohost of the Food Network series Melting Pot alongside Rocco DiSpirito. Two years later, she was in the documentary series My Country, My Kitchen. The following year, she was in an episode of Simplify Your Life and then became the cohost of Kitchen Accomplished in 2004.
Cat Cora Is an Iron Chef
In 2005, Cat Cora became the first female Iron Chef, appearing alongside Masaharu Morimoto, Mario Batali, and Bobby Flay in the series’ first season. She remained part of the series for ten seasons. The chef provided her voice for the 2008 video game Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine.
She Cohosts Around the World in 80 Plates
Since 2012, Cat Cora has been the host of Around the World in 80 Plates. The series is a reality cooking competition that involves the contestants travelling to different locations to cook. Her cohost is Curtis Stone.
Is Cat Cora a Judge on My Kitchen Rules?
Yes, Cora hosts the USA version of the popular international cooking competition My Kitchen Rules. She cohosts and judges the show alongside Curtis Stone, a chef, television personality, and restaurateur. The original version of the series was aired in Australia and was initially hosted by Manu Fieldel and Pete Evans. Later judges on the series included Colin Fassnidge, Matt Preston, Nigella Lawson, and Rachel Khoo.
She Competed in a Series Hosted by Guy Fieri
In 2021, Cora competed in the Food Network cooking competition Guy Fieri’s Tournament of the Champions. As the name of the series suggests, it is hosted by Guy Fieri.
She Contributes to Magazines
Cat Cora is the Executive Chef for Bon Appetit magazine. She also contributed to the cooking section of a 2006 issue of FHM, as she demonstrated recipes with common ingredients people buy from the convenience store.
Other Television Appearances
Cora has appeared on many other food-related series, including appearing as a guest judge alongside Gordon Ramsay in MasterChef USA. Some other series in which the celebrity chef has appeared include Celebrity Cooking Showdown, America’s Best Cook, Chopped All-Stars, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Cutthroat Kitchen.
Other Cat Cora Facts
What Is Cat Cora’s Net Worth?
One of the Cat Cora facts her fans want to know is what the celebrity chef is worth. There are various estimates across the web ranging from $4 million to $10 million. While Cat Cora’s net worth is uncertain, there is no doubt that the successful celebrity chef is a millionaire.
She Has a DUI
Cora was arrested for driving under the influence in 2021. She did not contest the charges, and she made a full apology for her behaviour, with a promise it would never happen again.
Cat Cora’s Awards
Cora has won several awards throughout her career. These include the 2006 Teacher of the Year Award from Bon Appetit magazine. In 2015, The American Culinary Federation inducted Cora into the American Academy of Chefs Hall of Fame. She was the first female chef to gain this recognition.
She Has Links to The Muppets
In 2010, Disney launched a series of webisodes called The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora.
Cora Is Involved with a Garbage Disposal Company
Cooking and television are not the only ways Cat Cora makes money. One other way she earns money is as a paid spokesperson for a garbage disposal series called InSinkErator Evolution.
She Has Several Product Ranges
In collaboration with Starfrit, a Canadian food preparation products company, Cora launched a range of cookware in 2011. Three years later, she launched a hummus range sold in H-E-B Texas stores.
We hope you found our Cat Cora facts interesting.
[…] American cooking competition My Kitchen Rules, which is aired on FOX. He co-hosts the series with Cat Cora, and the pair also cohost the competition 80 Plates Around the World. Stone had previously appeared […]
[…] Curtis Stone, $25 million: Australian born Curtis Stone built his career in Australia as a chef, restaurateur, and television personality. He was a regular guest on MasterChef AU, alongside Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston, and George Calombaris. After marrying an American actress he opened an LA restaurant, and became popular on series including 80 Plates Around the World and My Kitchen Rules USA, co-hosting both series with Cat Cora. […]