Sadly, science has mostly debunked the myth of foods as powerful aphrodisiacs. That's right — oysters won't rouse your nether regions, cherries won't get your date hot and bothered, and chocolate will only get your pants off quicker if you eat enough of it to pop a button. But that's not to say that the right food can't set the mood — or the right chef.
And while many kitchen-types stay firmly out of the public eye, we can't deny that a few have caught our attention — grand chefs are more in the spotlight than ever, especially this week with the release of Julie and Julia and next week's finale of Top Chef Masters. You may have one impressive dish you whip up on a date when you really want to seal the deal, but the culinary titans listed below would eat you for breakfast, with a side of apricot pancakes covered in a nice gooseberry marmalade. You can shuck all the shellfish you want, but the sad truth is that any of these chefs could serve you rocks and still make you swoon. — James Brady Ryan
10) Eric Ripert
If we said to you, "Eric Ripert is so sexy," you might not know who we were talking about. But what if we said, "The Top Chef guest host who looks like a stock European super-villain is so sexy?" Now you know who we mean — that white-blond hair, that smooth accent. We wouldn't blame you if you thought he was a bad guy from Die Hard, but no — you've seen him on Top Chef, not reruns on USA. And while we may have first heard about him on TV, you have to be impressed by his restaurant's three-star Michelin rating — the highest possible.
9) Alice Waters
You have to love a woman who stands firmly behind her beliefs, and there is perhaps no better example on this list than Alice Waters. Charmed by a meal in France in which the raspberries had come right from the garden and into a tart, Waters embraced the superiority of local and sustainable food wholeheartedly, and her Bay-Area restaurant, Chez Pannise, still operates on those principles. Having been lucky enough to have eaten ourselves into a coma at the renowned Panisse, let us assure you — Waters did well to stick to her guns.
8 ) Cat Cora
The only woman on Iron Chef America, Cat Cora stands tall as the most hard-core female chef to appear on TV. The first person to coin the term "Hellasian," to refer to her Greek and Asian fusion creations, Cora runs her team on Iron Chef with an iron will: she may make you wet yourself out of fear, but in the end she'll get you to braise that lamb shank perfectly. And then she'll get everyone a round of shots (ouzo is her preferred liquor). Sadly for us, she's already settled down; her lucky wife Jennifer gets to enjoy her cooking for life.
7) Tom Colicchio
We imagine that Tom Colicchio expected Top Chef to make him into many things: household name, Bravo semi-celebrity, much richer man. He probably did not expect to find himself that which so many toil for hours at the gym to become: a gay sex symbol. The bald head, the gruff manner, the broad frame — Colicchio turned out to be the perfect bait for certain portions of the gay community, and has a good share of female devotees as well. He set himself up as the anti-Tim Gunn — no hand-holding here — but we love him all the same.
6) Anne-Sophie Pic
You may not know who Anne-Sophie Pic is, but you should. Owner of La Maison Pic in Valence, France, she is one of only four French women — ever — to be awarded three Michelin stars. At the time of the rating, the news sent some serious waves through France's culinary world. And if breaking down some gender barriers wasn't enough, she's gorgeous to boot, in that serious, Gallic fashion you'd expect to find in old art cinema. Since she's never been on a cooking show in the U.S. (give it time), she's probably the least recognizable name on this list, but Ms. Pic, don't worry — we think you're fantastic.
Commentarium (46 Comments)
Much kudos for including the stunning Cat Cora, and yes no other chef is sexier than Anthony Bourdain
thanks for NOT including bobby flay. he's so overrated.
what about paula deen, y'all?!
As a straight man coming into this list, I would've bet good money on Giada (rawr!) landing the top spot; as a straight man leaving this list, I couldn't imagine anyone other than Bourdain taking the title after seeing that picture!
paula deen is no more a real chef than i am a world famous circus-performing earthworm.
She may not be a good chef, but what about Rachel Ray? Yes she is over rated, but its kind of elitist to leave her out just because she popular...
She is not actually a chef. She never had the training. She is a cook.
I kept getting more nervous and more excited as the list went on, afraid that I hadn't seen Bourdain yet and hoping that I wouldn't until the last spot... he deserves it.
"What about Rachel Ray?" Are you serious?
Gordon Ramsey is only sexy if you don't have to listen to his awful braying voice. Rachel Ray's not a chef any more than Paula Deen, or the circus-performing earthworm (the earthworm's culinary skills are beyond debate though). I've always thought Iron Chef Michiba might be into rough sex, so he's number one for me. Then the immortal Julia (rest in peace).
I want to punch Gordon Ramsey in the face. He would be hot if someone did the world a favor and cut out his tounge. I agree with lulu, Rachel Ray might be able to fill out a bathing suit, but making 600 different variations of hamburger hardly makes you a chef.
Where the hell is Nigella Lawson? She's on my top ten list of sexiest people of any avocation.
jonny iuzzini should be on this list
What about Laura Calder from Food Network's French Food at Home. She has a tres elegant sex appeal and can make my souffle rise anytime!
I was not looking for Anthony Bourdain to be on this list, but I'm glad he is. Where did that picture come from? Can I get a copy?
Extemely remiss to leave out Marcus Samuelsson. Come on! I'd like to get a taste of his meatballs. My God!
What's this? No Nigella Lawson!? She's so hot, and very open about her sex life and what makes her feel sexy. Someone dropped the ball on this one.
Giada is #2? No way...Cora is by far hotter. Giada
Giada is #2? No way…Cora is by far hotter and Nigella is hotter than Giada and is not even on this list! Ever see those puppies or hers!
oh ya, Nigella Lawson. those humongous boobs were hypnotic. bad miss guys.
Marco Pierre White surely. He has done so much to make food sexy as well.
Nigella Lawson!!!!
Jamie Oliver!!!!!! Less known and younger, you have also Nicolas Flandrin-Jones. A french simple cuisine made with seasonal products and nature inspiration. I met him when I was in Yorkshire UK :)
https://thewellyprints.over-blog.com/photo-1462788-Snapshot_20090916_19_j...
I think Bobby Flay is hot!
What about Mario Bartalli?
JK
no one's thinking about that ghey ckcsking faygola either. he proves he's a fagola with those ghey and fagola orange fayg crocs. i can't stand that fheygit
Nigella Lawson should be on the list. As far as I'm concerned, she can replace Jaime oliver.
Orphée, thanks for the link!!!! ;)
Johnny Iuzzini should be on the list. He's beautiful.
giorgio locatelli, nigella, marco pierre white are missing.
batalli sure can cook, but sexy?! you have a weird taste :D
Hey what about M.F.K. Fisher?!?
Uh, theres a reason they never show Nigella out from behind that counter. Saddlebag city. But I agree about Michiba. And everyone on this list ('cept Ramsay)
Anthony Bourdain manages to get me in trouble at work ..it is too hard to pull my eyes away from his sexy self and even harder to get back to my mundane chores at work...he is very hot
he's worse than the piece of sh*t you unloaded in the toilet this morning. i think anthony's a real SIZE queen and has swallowed loads of manjuice from ckocs all over the world. faygola
What about my man Rocco DiSpirito? Now that's a sweet & spicy meatball
The best dirty dream I ever had was about Anthony Bourdain. He deserves number 1!
I agree with many previous, Nigella should be on the list.
How about a hot Korean chef? Check out Cathlyn Choi on www.cathlynskoreankitchen.tv
Giada the giant head? Give me a break. Her freakishly oversized cranium gives me the creeps.
Bourdain? Seriously? Did you ever eat at Les Halles when he was there?
This list would be better if it were backward - Ripert at #1 etc.
I agree with Ripert at #1.
this list NEED NOT include that ckcsking faygola Bourdain. The only list (s)he should be ranked at #1 is the list of Most Gheyest C*cksking Queen of the World
When i watch Laura Calder on tv i think do i want to eat good first then make love to her or make love to her first then eat good mmmmm my god she is a beautiful woman
No way New York's David Chang isn't on here...
FUCK THIS LIST WHERE IS NIGELLA LAWSON
The hell you put that ccksking fheygola at #1. That flame sissy bish is a ucnt. f that ghey & fagola bish boy. he's not even a man. and to think he tried to get with hottie chef eric ripert. hey nicotine beath sissy anthony, eric wants nothing from your feygit ass
Where is Nigella Lawson and Vikas Khanna. No one beaths them too. They are like food porn stars.