Rome’s Only Female Michelin Star Chef Comes to Beijing

The belly of many a Beijing foodie is sure to rumble at the mention of this one: not only a meal readied by an Italian Michelin star chef, but a groundbreaking, world-renowned one at that.

That’s right: Cristina Bowerman – who garnered a glossy profile in Vogue magazine last year titled “A Rome Fine Dining Guide With the Only Female Michelin Star Chef” – is set to wow Beijing restaurant aficionados with her gastronomic prowess on Nov 24 for the Notte Italiana, China-Italy Chamber of Commerce 2018 Beijing Gala Dinner at the Park Hyatt Beijing.

Early bird tickets are already on sale and will close on Oct 12, while regular tickets will only be available until Nov 9 for what promises to be an event of pomp and circumstance. The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC) is presenting the event, which they describe as a “celebration of the Italian culture and its culinary tradition” that will not only feature “a highly original menu specifically crafted by” Bowerman but also live performances and exhibitions of Italian products.

Bowerman earned a Michelin star at Glass Hostaria restaurant in Trastevere with boundary-pushing fare like the highly unique sounding grilled scallops with apples four ways and ravioli with cream of parmesan aged 60 months. She also splits her time at esteemed Rome institutions like Romeo Chef & Baker (which prides itself on being accessible but also innovative) and Giulietta Pizzeria in Testaccio (which is dedicated to traditional Italian pizzas and has garnered glowing reviews).

Before all that, Bowerman studied law before trying her hand as a graphic designer in the US where she went on to graduate from the program of the Parisian school, Cordon Bleu, at the University of Austin, Texas (she still splits her time between that Deep South locale and Rome, stopping by Whole Foods whenever she’s in the US to stock up on organic ingredients).

“Healthy dishes don’t mean you starve yourself or eat tasteless food,” the chef once said of her gastronomical philosophy, which extends to her balancing of both culinary tradition and farm-grown ingredients.

Though the upper echelon awards and international attention have certainly been gratifying, Bowerman says that this is only the beginning. She feels she has much more work to do, saying: “it’s taken me ten years to succeed, to get where I am today, but I continue to have no fear. We don’t want riches, we reinvest everything back into the business. Ultimately I want to be a role model for women in the kitchen.”

The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Gala Dinner will be held Nov 24. Individual tickets (non-member) are RMB 1,300 each. For more information click here.

Photos: Vogue, China-Italy Chamber of Commerce