Cat Cora Biography

Catherine Ann "Cat" Cora (born April 3, 1967) is an American professional chef best known for her featured role as an "Iron Chef" on the Food Network television show Iron Chef America and as co-host of Around the World in 80 Plates on Bravo.

Early life

Cora was born in Jackson, Mississippi, the daughter of Virginia Lee (ne Brothers) and Spiro Pete Cora. Her father was of Greek descent (her paternal grandparents were from Skopelos, Greece). Her grandfather and father were both restaurateurs. When she was 15 years old, she brought a business plan to her father and grandfather, knowing they could help her.

Career

After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology and Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi, she enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. She has also appeared on Simplify Your Life. She was a co-host of the Food Network show Kitchen Accomplished.

In January 2005 Cora co-founded Chefs For Humanity, which describes itself as "a grassroots coalition of chefs and culinary professionals guided by a mission to quickly be able to raise funds and provide resources for important emergency and humanitarian aid, nutritional education, and hunger-related initiatives throughout the world." She has participated in charity wine auctions held by Auction Napa Valley.

In 2006 she was hired as a paid spokesperson for InSinkErator Evolution series garbage disposals. She is Executive Chef for Bon Apptit magazine and a UNICEF spokesperson.

In March 2006, Cora was the Grand Marshal for Hal and Mal's St. Paddy's Parade in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi.

In the September 2006 issue of FHM, Cora was featured in the cooking section, where she demonstrated various recipes using items purchased from a convenience store. Cat Cora also belongs to Macy's Culinary Councils, along with Tyler Florence, Rick Bayless, and others. She has worked as an entertainer for The Olivia Companies, a travel company catering to the lesbian market. In 2008, she had a voice role for the video game Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine.

The eponymous Cat Cora, a new bar and lounge style restaurant, opened at Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in April 2011. Later in 2011, a Cat Cora's Kitchen was opened in Terminal E of the Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). Cora also operated Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney's Boardwalk Resort at The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Kouzzina closed on September 30, 2014.

Cora opened The Ocean Restaurant at the S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa off Singapore in February 2013. The 63 seat restaurant is inside the world's largest oceanarium and has stunning views of deep-sea wildlife from every table. Cora is currently the co-host of Around the World in 80 Plates, an American reality competition show that premiered on May 9, 2012 on the Bravo cable TV network.

Cora will co-host upcoming FOX reality cooking series My Kitchen Rules.

Personal life

Cora married her longtime partner Jennifer in June 2013, and the couple have four sons together via in vitro fertilization. All four embryos were fertilized by the same sperm donor, and each woman was impregnated with two of the other's fertilized ova. In November 2015, it was announced they were divorcing after 17 years together and 2 years of marriage.

In 2017, Cora began dating producer Nicole Ehrlich.

Awards

• Culinary Hall of Fame induction

Filmography

Television
Year	Title	Role
2004	Kitchen Accomplished	Host
2005-2012	Iron Chef America	Iron Chef
2006	Celebrity Cooking Showdown	Herself
2007	Chef's Story	Herself
2007	The Next Food Network Star	Guest Judge
2008	The Next Iron Chef	Guest Judge
2009-present	The Best Thing I Ever Ate	Herself
2010	MasterChef (U.S. TV series)	Guest Judge
2011	Top Chef: Just Desserts	Guest Judge
2012	Top Chef	Guest Judge
2012	Around the World in 80 Plates	Co-host
2012	Chopped All-Stars	Contestant
2012	Miss USA 2012	Judge
2013	Eastbound & Down	Guest Chef
2013-present	Guy's Grocery Games	Herself
2014	America's Best Cook	Mentor
2014	Food Fighters	Herself
2015	Cutthroat Kitchen	Guest Judge
2017	My Kitchen Rules (U.S.)	Co-host
2017	"Bong Appetit" (U.S.)	Guest Chef