Dominique Crenn will be inducted into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame this May, joining the ranks of other culinary legends.
The award honors chefs who have spent years promoting excellence in American foodservice. Past inductees include Thomas Keller, Nancy Silverton, Daniel Boulud, Lidia Bastianich and Wolfgang Puck. As with all MenuMasters Awards it is presented by Nation’s Restaurant News and sponsored by Ventura Foods. All 2025 winners will be celebrated on May 17 at Morgan MFG in Chicago.
Crenn is the chef and co-owner of Atelier Crenn, which she opened in San Francisco in 2011. The restaurant received its third Michelin star in 2018, making Crenn the first female chef in the United States to receive that recognition. But she has long strived for culinary excellence as well as improving restaurant culture and our food system.
She was born and raised in France, spending many summers in the seaside region of Brittany, where she developed what she calls “a deep love and respect for the sea,” which she continues to showcase at her restaurant along with the best the farms, dairies, and other suppliers in the Bay Area have to offer. Atelier Crenn is also certified plastic free.
She also owns Bar Crenn, a cocktail lounge that also has a Michelin Star.
Beyond her restaurants, Crenn also has a strong international presence, advocating for innovation, sustainability, and equality. In 2024 she was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.”
Her ethos has long been reflected in her actions: In the late 1990s she led an all-female kitchen at the Intercontinental hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. More than two decades later, in 2023, Atelier Crenn became the first restaurant in the United States to serve cultivated chicken, albeit at just one meal. The lab-grown alternative to conventional meat is touted as a more sustainable and humane option.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Chef Dominique Crenn as the 2025 Nation’s Restaurant News MenuMasters Hall of Fame Inductee,” said Ahmad Popal, senior vice president for food innovation & customer experience for Ventura Foods. “The first female chef in the United States to receive three Michelin Stars, chef Crenn’s innovative approach to making every dish a reflection of both her French heritage and personal story has inspired chefs and diners around the globe. Dominique’s artistry and passion for excellence make her truly deserving of this honor.”
Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor of Nation’s Restaurant News, praised Crenn for her dedication and compassion.
“Dominique Crenn has long been a vibrant force in the restaurant world, holding herself and her community to the highest standards, understanding that individual actions truly can help make the world a better place,” he said. “I can’t wait to spend time with her at the celebration in Chicago.”
For more information on the MenuMasters Awards and Celebration visit www.menumasters.com.
