From teenage line cook to James Beard Award winner
In short: Before becoming a prominent food editor and media personality, Andy Baraghani was an intern at the legendary Chez Panisse. His journey from a Berkeley teenager to a celebrated cookbook author involves navigating high-pressure kitchens, industry shifts, and a highly publicized departure from Bon Appétit.
Born in 1989 to Iranian immigrants who moved to Berkeley in 1977, Baraghani’s culinary foundation was built in the San Francisco Bay Area. He began his professional training as a teenager at Chez Panisse, working under Alice Waters, whom he considers his culinary idol. It was there he learned essential kitchen discipline, including how to think methodically and remain agile under pressure. He grew up speaking Persian at home. His early culinary interest was sparked by playing with a Fisher-Price kitchen set.
After finishing her anthropology and food studies degrees at New York University, Baraghani moved from hospitality into media during 2013. He worked for Tasting Table before becoming a senior food editor at Bon Appétit in 2015. During his tenure, he became a frequent presenter on the publication's YouTube channel and served as co-editor of the clean-eating publication Healthyish. Prior to his media career, he worked in New York City restaurants such as Estela and Corton. He also held an editorial role at Saveur.
His career faced significant scrutiny in June 2020 during widespread protests regarding workplace culture at Condé Nast. While other staff members resigned, Baraghani remained at the publication for another year, eventually departing in August 2021. He cited his middle-class background and significant student debt as reasons why he felt he lacked the privilege to leave immediately. After leaving, he released his cookbook, The Cook You Want to Be, in 2022, earning a James Beard Award for general cookbooks in 2023. His award-winning book features diverse dishes like aush reshteh and tahdig. He is currently planning to develop global city guides.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Andy Baraghani
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