Traci Des Jardins

Traci Des Jardins is an American chef and restaurateur who co-owns three restaurants in San Francisco, California: Jardinière, a French fine-dining restaurant in the Hayes Valley neighborhood, Acme Chophouse, a steakhouse serving grass-fed beef near SBC Park, and Mijita, an organic taquería located in the Ferry Building.cite news |first=Kim |last=Severson | title= THE CHEF: TRACI DES JARDINS; A Comforting Breakfast Starts With Salsa|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E1D8133BF931A15755C0A9639C8B63|work=New York Times |publisher= |date=2005-06-22 |accessdate=2007-09-18 ]

Biography

Des Jardins was raised on a farm in Firebaugh, California near Fresno. Her father is of Cajun descent, and her mother's family from the Mexican state of Sonora. Her maternal grandparents, Angela and Miguel Salazar, lived in a small house nearby, and Des Jardins has many strong childhood memories of her grandmother preparing flour tortillas.cite news |first=Kim |last=Severson | title= THE CHEF: TRACI DES JARDINS; Tortillas Let a Cook Come Home Again|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05E2D61239F936A15756C0A9639C8B63 |work=New York Times |publisher= |date=2005-05-25 |accessdate=2007-09-18 ]

Des Jardins apprenticed at several three-star French restaurants, including La Maison Troisgros, and was executive chef at Joachim Splichal's Patina in Los Angeles. Later, she worked at notable San Francisco restaurants Aqua, Elka, and Rubicon before opening Jardinière in 1997.cite news |first=Kim |last=Severson | title=THE CHEF: Traci Des Jardins; Listening for the Wisdom of the Carrot|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E4DD1338F93BA35755C0A9639C8B63 |work=New York Times |publisher= |date=2005-06-08 |accessdate=2007-09-18 ]

Philosophy

Des Jardins uses locally sourced, organic, seasonal ingredients whenever possible, and prefers sourcing from smaller, sustainable farming and ranching operations.cite news |first=Kim |last=Severson | title= THE CHEF: TRACI DES JARDINS; A Steak Brought Up Well, Please|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E0DD1131F935A35754C0A9639C8B63 |work=New York Times |publisher= |date=2005-07-06 |accessdate=2007-09-18 ]

Awards

In 2007, Des Jardins won the James Beard Foundation Award for best chef in the Pacific region.

Television Appearances

Des Jardins appeared on an episode of Iron Chef America in 2005, in which she defeated Mario Batali. [cite news |first=Jane |last=Ganahl | title=S.F. crowd cheers on chef Traci Des Jardins as 'Iron Chef' airs on big screen at Jardiniere |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/12/DDGQBE5OS610.DTL |work=San Francisco Chronicle |publisher= |date= August 12, 2005 |accessdate=2007-08-18 ] Later, she competed in "The Next Iron Chef". [cite news |first=Carolyn |last=Jung |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=More Morsels: Will S.F. produce the `Next Iron Chef'? |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/restaurants/ci_6457856 |work=San Jose Mercury News |publisher= |date=2007-07-25 |accessdate=2007-08-18 ] , but was eliminated in the first episode.

2008 Farm to Feast Event

Des Jardins will be the featured chef at the May 10, 2008 Summerfield Waldorf Farm to Feast event. Jardin's participation is the central draw in the planned "true toast to sustainability, using only the finest, freshest local (Sonoma County) ingredients." Limited to 150 guests, the event takes place at Medlock Ames winery in Sonoma County, California.

References

External links

* [http://www.tracidesjardins.com Official site]