Great Women Chefs of Europe »

Gilles Pudlowski, French food writer and critic, is author of the Le Pudlo restaurant guides. Maurice Rougemont, photographer, has co-authored several lifestyle books.

The greatest female chefs in Europe-from the critically acclaimed to the fresh young talents-invite us to discover their universe: from behind-the-scenes in their restaurants to market expeditions and visits to local producers. These thirty chefs include renowned heiresses of European cuisine and others on the cusp of culinary stardom. After showing us around their kitchens, they share the secrets of their incomparable dishes.An impressive quartet of Michelin three-star chefs tops the list: Nadia Santini of the famous Dal Pescatore in Lombardy proposes a tortelli of melted goat cheese and white truffles; Annie Feolde from the Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence dishes out "guitar-string" spaghetti with sun dried tomatoes in a sweet-pea sauce; Elena Arzak in San Sebastian serves up recipes with playful names like "customs officers with greens," and Luisa Valazza at the Al Sorriso in Piedmont sweetens the finish with a fig fritter and gelato glazed in a blueberry sauce. A duo of two-star French chefs offer sweet and savory: Pastry queen Héléne Darroze dazzles with her dark chocolate biscuit with vanilla-rum ice cream and Anne-Sophie Pic roasts venison medallions with chestnut polenta, saffron-quince jam, and grapes marinated in Marc de l'Hermitage.Chefs to watch-England's Ruth Rogers, Paris' Olympe, and Austria's Johanna Maier-celebrate the freshest products of their native countries. From Italy, France, Spain, and England to Switzerland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, and Austria, these women have reclaimed the world's most prestigious kitchens with a refreshing creativity and dedication to the craft that is leading the hottest trends in international cuisine.