62 Part Two Th e Foodservice Industry
Photo courtesy of
Chef Richard Chamberlain
Richard
Chamberlain—
Pioneer of
American Alpine
Cooking
After initially enrolling in a cooking
course to meet girls, Richard Chamberlain
found himself embarking on a long
and prosperous career in the restaurant
business. He studied culinary arts at El
Centro College in Dallas and interned
at the luxury hotel restaurant Rose-
wood Mansion on Turtle Creek. He
fi rst gained recognition by working as
executive chef of San Simion Restaurant
in Dallas, Texas. He was honored for
his work by being named one of Food &
Wine Magazine’s “Rising Stars to Watch.”
Chamberlain gained further atten-
tion while working as executive chef for
Little Nell hotel in Aspen, where he de-
veloped the concept of American Alpine
cooking. This earned him a nomination
for “The Best Chef in the Northwest”
award by the James Beard Foundation.
Chamberlain has also worked as execu-
tive chef at Rattcliff’s in Dallas and as
executive sous chef at Hotel Bel-Air in
Los Angeles.
In 1993, he opened his fi rst restau-
rant, Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop
House, in Dallas. The establishment was
named one of the top new restaurants
by Bon Appetite magazine. Other honors
awarded over the years include Gour-
met’s “One of America’s Top Tables”
and Zagat Guide’s “One of America’s
Top Restaurants.”
Chamberlain has opened several
more restaurants throughout his career:
Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill in Dal-
las; Tarragon at Elk Mountain in Mon-
trose, Colorado; and Envy Steakhouse
in Las Vegas. He also has appeared
several times on NBC’s Today Show
and on Discovery Channel’s Great Chefs
program. He is now a board member of
the American Heart Association’s Dallas
chapter.
Richard Chamberlain’s
Career Path
1960: Born in Dallas, Texas
1975: First job at Hardee’s Hamburgers
1978: Studied at El Centro College,
Dallas, Texas
1980: First real job at the Mansion on
Turtle Creek, Dallas, Texas
1986: Began serving as executive chef
at San Simeon Restaurant in
Dallas
1992: Nominated for “The Best Chef
in the Northwest” award by the
James Beard Foundation
1993: Opened Chamberlain’s Steak
and Chop House in Dallas
1999: Chamberlain’s named one of
“America’s Top Restaurants” by
Zagat
2000: Chamberlain’s received “Award
of Excellence” by Wine Spectator
2001: Opened Chamberlain’s Fish
Market Grill in Dallas
2003: Opened Envy Steakhouse in Las
Vegas (in partnership with The
Renaissance Las Vegas)
2006: Received National Restaurant
Association’s Restaurant
Neighbor Award for extensive
charity work