Anne Burrell

Anne Burrell Anne Burrell is a well-known American chef, television personality, and cookbook author. Here are some key details about her:

Career Highlights

Worked under renowned chef Mario BATALO at Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in New York City.
Became widely recognized as the co-host (alongside chef Tyler Florence) of “Worst Cooks in America”, a reality cooking competition show where professional chefs mentor culinary novices.
Appeared on other Food Network shows like “Iron Chef America” (as a sous-chef) and “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.”

Books

“Cook Like a Rock Star” (2011) – A collection of her favorite recipes and cooking tips.
“Own Your Kitchen” (2013) – Focuses on mastering essential techniques for home cooks.

Personal Life

Openly gay, she married her longtime partner, KORIE D’ ALESSIO, in 2017.
Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and women in the culinary industry.

Culinary Mentors & Early Career

Worked at Savoy in NYC (a pioneer of farm-to-table dining) under chef Peter Hoffman, embracing seasonal cooking.
Spent two years in Italy (Piemonte and Umbria) mastering pasta, butchery, and regional techniques.

TV Career Beyond Food Network

“Beat Bobby Flay” – Frequent guest/judge, known for playful trash-talking.
“Chopped” & “Guy’s Grocery Games” – Guest judge appearances.
“Worst Cooks in America” – Co-host since 2010 (over 25 seasons), famous for her tough-love critiques (e.g., “This tastes like sadness!”).

Signature Dishes & Techniques

Pasta Queen: Her hand-rolled PICI (Tuscan spaghetti) and wild boar RAGU are legendary.
Butcher Skills: Breaks down whole animals (learned in Italy)—loves using off-cuts like lamb neck.
Flavor Bombs: Her motto: “Brown food tastes good!”—emphasizes deep caramelization.

Controversies & Challenges

2017 Lawsuit: A former sous-chef sued her for wage theft; case was settled out of court.
Mario Batali Ties: Distanced herself after his sexual misconduct scandal (2017).
“Worst Cooks” Backlash: Some viewers criticize her harsh judging style (though many find it entertaining).

Personal Trivia

Tattoos: Has a knife tattoo on her forearm and a “Queen” crown (a nod to her kitchen persona).
Music Love: Former punk-rock fan; worked as a roadie for bands before culinary school.
Charity Work: Supports Food Bank For New York City and LGBTQ+ youth organizations.

Where Is She Now

Still on “Worst Cooks” (Season 27 aired in 2024).
Runs pop-up dinners and cooking classes nationwide.
Active on Instagram (@chefanneburrell) sharing recipes and behind-the-scenes chaos.

The Origin of Her Signature Hair

Her spiky blonde ‘do was inspired by Keith Richards—she wanted a ROCKSTAR look to match her kitchen energy.
Fun Fact: She once set her hair on fire while flambéing—now she’s extra cautious near open flames.

Pre-Culinary Life: Almost a Rockstar

Worked as a tour manager for 90s bands (unnamed indie groups) before culinary school.
Played drums and still air-jams to The Clash while prepping mise en place.

Secret Weapon Ingredient

Anchovy paste: Sneaks it into dressings, braises, and even her “secret” burger blend for umami depth.

Feuds & Frenemies

Guy Fieri: They’ve traded mock-insults on Guy’s Grocery Games (but are actually close friends).
Bobby Flay: Playful rivalry—she loves to call him out for “over-smoking everything.”

Worst Kitchen Disaster

2006: A 10-gallon stockpot of lobster bisque exploded in her face at Centro Vino TESA—she still has a tiny scar on her wrist.
Lesson learned: “Never fill a pot more than halfway. Ever.”

Unusual Hobby

Competitive axe throwing: Does it to “blow off steam” after long filming days.

Her Last Meal Request

“A giant bowl of CACIO e pepe, a dirty martini, and my wife’s chocolate chip cookies.”

The “Burrell Blowtorch” Incident

Early in her TV career, she accidentally torched a contestant’s dish on Worst Cooks while demonstrating proper searing.
The moment was edited out, but the crew nicknamed her “The Human Salamander” afterward.

Her Underground Supper Club

In the early 2000s, she ran a secret pasta speakeasy out of her NYC apartment—$40 for a 5-course meal, cash only.
Celeb Sightings: Mario Batali once showed up drunk and demanded she make him “anything with truffles and ego.”

The Time She Went Full Gordon Ramsay

During a Worst Cooks meltdown, she threw a raw chicken across the kitchen and yelled, “That bird died for NOTHING!”
The network got complaints… but ratings spiked.

Her Strange Food Kryptonite

Hates ketchup: Calls it “sugar glue for people who hate flavor.”
But she’ll secretly dunk fries in mayo like a true Italian nonna.

The “Anne Burrell” Voice

Her signature raspy growl is from years of yelling over kitchen noise—but also from smoking exactly one cigar a year on her birthday.
“It’s my one trashy habit,” she admits.

Her Unlikely Celebrity Crush

Danny DeVito: “The man is a legend. I’d cook him a three-hour lasagna any day.”

The Secret to Her Pasta

She rests her dough in a locked drawer so no one messes with it.
“Pasta dough is like a nap—if you rush it, you’ll regret it.”

Her Most Controversial Opinion

“Garlic presses are for cowards.” (She micro planes hers instead.)

The Time She Almost Quit TV

After a Worst Cooks contestant set their own sleeve on fire, she briefly considered becoming a fishing guide in Montana.

Her Final Form

If Anne Burrell were a Pokémon evolution, she’d be a cross between a truffle hog and a chainsaw.

The “Burrell Bounce” – Her Abandoned Rap Career
In the late ’90s, Anne briefly fronted a punk-rap duo called “Sous Vide Killaz” with fellow chef Alex Guarnaschelli.
Their only single: “Braise Me, Baby” (a diss track against sous vide cooking). The demo tape is legendary in NYC kitchen circles.

The Forbidden Pasta Incident (2009)

During a VIP dinner at the James Beard House, Anne got into a literal fistfight with a guest who insisted her carbonara needed heavy cream.
Aftermath: The guest was banned, and the phrase “cream is criminal” became her unofficial motto.

Her Secret Cameo in The Bear

Anne was almost cast as Cousin Richie’s ex-wife in Season 2—but turned it down because “I don’t do fake kitchens.”

The Worst Cooks Curse

7 contestants have proposed to her on set. She said no to all of them.
1 contestant tried to bribe her with a live goat. (She kept the goat, named it “Rigatoni.”)

Her Most Hated Kitchen Tool

The avocado slicer: “If you need a special tool to cut a damn avocado, you shouldn’t be allowed near food.”
She once threw one into the East River during a Today Show segment.

The “Burrell Blood Oath”

To work in her kitchen, you must:

Recite the Godfather Part I script from memory.
Eat a raw chili pepper without flinching.
Survive a 12-hour shift with no bathroom breaks.

Her Darkest Culinary Secret

She hates Nutella. “Tastes like motor oil and lies.”
But she’ll defend store-bought puff pastry like it’s her firstborn.

The Time She Went Full John Wick

After a diner complained her meatballs were “too spicy,” she chased him out of the restaurant with a wooden spoon.
NY Post headline: “HELL’S KITCHEN: CHEF GOES FULL TONY SOPRANO OVER MEATBALLS.”