In Memoriam
Anne Burrell ’96 was a dynamic and beloved member of the CIA community—an alumna whose passion, generosity, and infectious spirit left a lasting impact on her alma mater and everyone she met. She passed away on June 17, 2025, leaving a void in these halls and our hearts.
Food was her life.
As these videos and anyone who knew her can attest, Anne Burrell made a life out of food. “When I hear the statement food is your life, I’m like ‘oh yeah, right on’,” she said.
With her trademark spiky blond hair and pumped-up personality, Burrell was the beloved host of Worst Cooks in America and Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition. Before that, she eliminated the intimidation of restaurant dishes and revealed concise, easy-to-master techniques for the at-home cook on her Food Network series, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which ran for nine seasons.
CIA As Springboard
Growing up in upstate New York, Burrell developed a passion for food and cooking at an early age. After obtaining an English and Communications degree from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, she pursued her interest in the restaurant business by enrolling at CIA. “I loved every minute of being a student at CIA,” she said. “I couldn’t learn fast enough, couldn’t do enough, couldn’t work hard enough. I loved so much having CIA be my springboard.”
Following graduation, she spent a year in Italy attending the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners while working at La Taverna del Lupo in Umbria and La Bottega del’ 30, a one-Michelin star restaurant in Tuscany. During her time in Italy, she grew to truly appreciate and understand the philosophy of Italian cuisine and culture, which left a lasting impact on her culinary point of view.
Upon her arrival in New York City, Burrell was hired as a sous chef at Felidia, working with Lidia Bastianich. She then served as a chef at Savoy, where she cooked over an open wood fire and created flavorful menus inspired by countries around the Mediterranean. Here, she developed her personal culinary style—a real love of rustic food made with pure and simple ingredients that have intense flavors.
Burrell went on to become the executive chef at Lumi and, shortly thereafter, became the special events chef at the Italian Wine Merchants. In 2007, she became the executive chef at Centro Vinoteca in New York City. She authored two cookbooks: Cook Like a Rock Star and Own Your Kitchen: Recipes to Inspire & Empower.
Giving Back
A much-loved staple on Food Network, Burrell appeared regularly on shows such as Chef Wanted, Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, Food Network Star, and others. In 2015, she won the fourth installment of the Chopped All-Stars Tournament, donating her $75,000 winnings to Breakthrough T1D (formerly the JDRF-Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), for which she was a celebrity ambassador, committed to raising awareness in recognition of her nephew Luke, who lives with type 1 diabetes (T1D). She also was on the advisory board of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to bringing life-changing opportunities to young people in need. She also made a point to give back to her alma mater and thrilled many a student with her presence on Accepted Student Days or as a guest lecturer before a packed auditorium.
She always carried the heart of a teacher and the energy of a true culinary force. In recognition of all her achievements, CIA honored Chef Anne in 2018 with an Augie™ Award. We remain forever grateful for her countless contributions to the culinary arts. Aspiring chefs and food and hospitality industry leaders will continue to be inspired by her legacy.
Chef Anne Burrell majored in Culinary Arts at CIA in Hyde Park, NY.
