Kate Austen

Former Senior Development Chef for Gordon Ramsay, First Female to Win in the Main Course Category on BBC2’s Great British Menu & Youngest Female Head Chef of a Two-Michelin-Star Restaurant

Kate Austen’s Biography:

Kate Austen is an award-winning professional chef recognised for her achievements in some of the world’s most prestigious Michelin-starred kitchens. Known for her creativity and technical skill, she became the youngest female head chef of a two-Michelin-star restaurant and later gained national recognition as the first female chef to win the main course category on BBC Two’s Great British Menu. Her career combines elite fine-dining experience with media appearances, consultancy and brand collaborations, making her a highly respected voice in modern gastronomy.

Kate began her culinary career working in some of the UK’s most respected restaurants. She trained at Morston Hall in Norfolk, the county’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, before joining Marcus Wareing’s renowned London restaurant. These early roles allowed her to refine her classical cooking techniques and develop a strong understanding of modern European cuisine. Her passion for international food culture also led her to Scandinavia, where she spent time working in leading Michelin-starred kitchens in Denmark and Sweden.

Her career progressed rapidly when she joined Restaurant AOC in Copenhagen, where she became the youngest female head chef of a two-Michelin-star restaurant. She later continued her work in world-class kitchens as Senior Sous Chef at the three-Michelin-star restaurant Frantzén. Returning to the UK, she became Senior Development Chef for Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, contributing to menu development and culinary innovation across the group’s restaurants.

Today, Kate runs her own culinary venture, Late Austen Limited, working as a private chef and consultant while also hosting events and collaborating with leading brands. She regularly appears as a guest chef on ITV’s James Martin’s Saturday Morning and has been featured on podcasts such as The Recipe with Theo Randall and The Go-To Food Pod. In 2024, she achieved national recognition when she won the main course category on BBC Two’s Great British Menu, further cementing her reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting culinary talents.

Why Hire Kate Austen?

Kate is hired as a speaker for her inspiring journey through some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens and her experience breaking barriers in the fine dining industry. As one of the youngest female head chefs to lead a two-Michelin-star restaurant, she brings valuable insight into creativity, resilience and leadership in high-performance environments.

Her talks explore themes such as innovation in food, leadership in hospitality and the realities of working in elite culinary environments. Drawing on experiences from Michelin-starred restaurants, television appearances and global culinary collaborations, Kate delivers engaging talks that inspire audiences interested in creativity, entrepreneurship and the evolving world of gastronomy.

Kate Austen’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Kate Austen’s remarkable career:

• 2025 – Featured as a guest chef and culinary expert at major UK food festivals and hospitality events including Taste of London.
• 2024 – Became the first female chef to win the main course category on BBC Two’s Great British Menu.
• 2023 – Founded Late Austen Limited, establishing her own culinary consultancy and private chef business.
• 2022 – Appointed Senior Development Chef at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants contributing to menu innovation.
• 2018 – Worked as Senior Sous Chef at Frantzén, the three-Michelin-star restaurant in Stockholm.
• 2014 – Became the youngest female head chef of the two-Michelin-star Restaurant AOC in Copenhagen.
• 2013 – Worked as a chef within Marcus Wareing’s restaurant group in London.
• 2011 – Began her professional culinary career at the Michelin-starred Morston Hall in Norfolk.