Emeril Lagasse Emeril Lagassé is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, and cookbook author. He has an eponymous restaurant, a test kitchen for cookbook and recipe development, and a boutique shop for his signature products in New Orleans.Emeril John Lagassé III is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, and cookbook author. Also,Lagasse's restaurant company, is located in New Orleans and consists of a restaurant, a test kitchen for cookbook and recipe development, and a boutique shop for his signature products. Experience Lagassé honed his skills and learned the art of classical French cuisine in Paris and Lyon, France. In the U.S., he worked at restaurants in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia before opening his flagship Emeril's Restaurant in 1990. The chef has since opened 20 restaurants and starred on the Cooking Channel's Emeril Live for 10 seasons.GQ magazine named him Chef of the Year in 1998; People magazine named him one of the 25 Most Intriguing People of the Year" in 1999, and Restaurants & Institutions magazine named him Executive of the Year in 2004. Lagassé received Wine Spectator's Distinguished Service Award in 2005, and Nation's Restaurant News inducted him into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame in 2006. New Orleans City Business named Lagassé Restaurateur of the Year in 2007, Food Network's South Beach Wine & Food Festival gave him a lifetime achievement award in 2009, and the chef was featured at The Smithsonian's 2012 exhibit "Food: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000."Today his restaurant group, Emeril's Homebase, is in New Orleans. Education Johnson & Wales University awarded him an honorary doctorate after he graduated from the institution. About Food & Wine Food & Wine, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for anyone passionate about the culinary world. With rigorously tested recipes and the most trusted restaurant, drinks, culinary travel and home coverage, we inspire and empower people everywhere to discover, create, and devour the best in food and wine. Learn more about us and our editorial process.