Cat Cora
Iron Chef, author, host, and restaurateur
Cat Cora is a Jackson, Mississippi native, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America, went on to cook at two 3-star Michelin restaurants in France, and has been captivating audiences since she made her TV debut in 1999, as co-host of Food Network’s Melting Pot with Rocco Di Spirito. She was recently crowned the winner on FOX's The Real Dirty Dancing and will be seen later this year on an NBC primetime show. Cat Cora holds a series of ‘firsts’ for women in the culinary industry including becoming the first-ever female Iron Chef on Food Network’s hit show: Iron Chef America. Since then, she shattered the glass ceiling as one of the first females to dominate the historically male culinary industry. Cat has opened more than 18 restaurants across the globe and has recently launched her non-alcoholic wine brand Hand on Heart, highlighting her commitment to health, wellness and sustainability. A recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement and Volunteer Service Award from Obama, Cat continues to be a leader in her industry. Cora currently resides in California with her family.