62 Unit 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 busi-
ness. He studied culinary arts at El Centro
College in Dallas and interned at the lux-
ury hotel restaurant Rosewood Mansion
on Turtle Creek. He fi rst gained recog-
nition by working as executive chef of
San Simeon 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 attention
while working as executive chef for Little
Nell hotel in Aspen, where he devel-
oped 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 restaurant,
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 Gourmet’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
1989–1992: Executive chef at the Little
Nell Hotel
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