We've gathered the country's best female chefs to celebrate International Women's Day and beyond

Updated on 03 March 2023 • Written By Pete Dreyer

Like a person’s race or religion, a chef’s gender shouldn’t even feature as a descriptor, but sadly there are still far more male than female chefs in kitchens across the UK today and still fewer who are at the helm. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that in 2017 only 17% of chef positions in the UK were held by women. While figures might have changed slightly since then, it’s unlikely the number has risen much due to the challenges associated with this traditionally macho career.

The most obvious reason for the discrepancy in kitchens is the same as in many other male-dominated industries: the issue of maternity and childcare commitments. Many of the female chefs we interviewed as part of our Ayala SquareMeal Best Female Chefs Series mentioned that more could be done to help women balance a career in hospitality with having children – something that the long and unsociable hours don’t tend to allow for.

That said, with more and more female chefs reaching the top of their game, things are improving slowly. Three Michelin-starred chef Hélène Darroze told us that for the past few years she has, for the first time, received more job applications from women than men, though she tries to maintain a gender balance in her brigade. Top British chef Angela Hartnett echoes that same sentiment about the balance of men and women in her kitchen, saying she cares more about nurturing talent than exercising some sort of female prerogative.

But having an article focused on female chefs or awards specifically for female chefs isn’t about female prerogative or tokenism; it’s about evening out the scales. Darroze summed it up nicely when she said, 'female chefs are still a minority and, like all minorities, it’s important to be visible'.

So with that in mind we’re profiling 40 of our favourite female chefs who are smashing it in the male-dominated restaurant world, and look forward to the day when lists like these are redundant. 

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Champagne Ayala: Celebrating over 160 years of history, Champagne Ayala was one of the original twenty-six Grandes Marques Champagne Houses, received a Royal Warrant in 1908, and became a part of the Bollinger family in 2005. With its longstanding commitment to the restaurant industry, Champagne Ayala is known for its fresh and elegant wines, made with precision and delicacy, and crafted in a boutique scale. Ayala’s well-balanced Chardonnay-focused blends and low dosage make it a terrific epicurean pairing. No wonder the wines have been served in the UK for over 100 years in many of London’s most prestigious establishments.

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Lisa Goodwin-Allen

Who is she? Lisa is a genuine industry trailblazer among female chefs - she spent her youth travelling up and down the country just to stage in kitchens, and became head chef at Northcote at just 21 years old. She inherited a kitchen that had already established itself as one of the best in the UK under Nigel Haworth, but Lisa has taken Northcote to new heights, putting it right at the forefront of modern British cooking and inspiring a generation of young chefs. Lisa also runs Northcote's Obsession food festival, and has made it one of the most relevant events of its kind in the world. Read more about Lisa in our interview with Lisa Goodwin-Allen. 
What should I order? Go for classic cooking and luxury ingredients, like roasted veal sweetbread with white mushroom, tarragon and capers.
Where can I find her? Northcote, Northcote Road, Blackburn; The Game Bird at The Stafford Hotel, 16-18 St James’s Place, London

Chantelle Nicholson

Who is she? New Zealand-born Chantelle Nicholson arrived in the UK via Gordon Ramsay's Chef Search programme, and quickly established herself as a lynchpin of his operation at The Savoy. She then joined Marcus Wareing at his eponymous restaurant Marcus, and soon became his head of operations, helping to manage his restaurant and launch his cookbooks, before taking over The Gilbert Scott on his behalf. Now having struck out on her own, Nicholson is chef-patron of Apricity in Mayfair, where she combines genuine sustainable credentials with her faultless cooking. Read more in our interview with Chantelle Nicholson.
What should I order? The signature chouxnut (half eclair, half doughnut), dusted liberally in cinnamon sugar.
Where can I find her? Apricity, 68 Duke Street, London

Lorna McNee

Who is she? Scottish chef Lorna McNee spent more than a decade at the legendary Restaurant Andrew Fairlie (where she had worked her way up the ranks to sous chef), before departing in 2020 to relaunch the kitchen at popular Glasgow brasserie Cail Bruich. The gamble paid off, with Cail Bruich being awarded one Michelin star in the 2021 guide, the first restaurant in the city to do so in 18 years and an accolade McNee has retained since.
What should I order? The food offering changes with the seasons, but opt for the chef’s tasting menu for the full experience
Where can I find her? Cail Bruich, 725 Great Western Road, Glasgow

Sally Abe

Who is she? An acolyte of Phil Howard (Elystan Street) and Brett Graham (The Ledbury), Abe held a Michelin star at the Harwood Arms for many years before moving to fresh pastures, with multiple openings at the Conrad London St. James hotel. Her debut restaurant, The Pem, has been phenomenally well received, as has the more relaxed Blue Boar Pub. With at least two more openings in the pipeline, Abe's star is only getting brighter. Check out our interview with Sally Abe, where she talks about getting started in the industry, her inspirations and favourite dishes.
What should I order? The Black Forest gateau at The Pem - Sally's favourite dessert and soon to be yours too.
Where can I find her? The Pem, 22-28 Broadway, London; The Blue Boar Pub, 46 Tothill Street, London

Julie Lin

Who is she? Scottish-Malaysian chef Julie Lin first came to our screens as a contestant on MasterChef, but she has since becoming a driving force in Glasgow's exciting culinary scene with her restaurant Gaga Glasgow. Julie's Kopitiam was her original restaurant - a tiny, charming eatery serving authentic Malaysian cooking which closed its doors in 2023, whilst Gaga is a little more modern, mixing up south east Asian small plates and cocktails. 
What should I order? Julie's nasi goreng and mee goreng are must-orders when on the menu.
Where can I find her? Gaga Glasgow, 566 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow

Nieves Barrágan Mohacho

Who is she? For nine years she was executive chef at Barrafina (and the woman responsible for its Michelin star), but since 2018 Barrágan Mohaco has been at the helm of her first solo restaurant, Sabor, just off Regent Street. Thanks to her, queues outside the four Barrafinas are still a nightly event and they're a regular occurance at Sabor too. Read our full interview with Nieves Barrágan Mohacho for more about what motivated her to open one of London’s best restaurants and stay tuned for news of a second Sabor restaurant rumoured to be coming to Soho soon.
What should I order? Barrafina has always been famous for the best croquetas in London; some reckon that Sabor’s prawn and piquillo versions are even better.
Where can I find her? Sabor: The Counter, 35 Heddon Street, London

Ravinder Bhogal

Who is she? Charmingly dubbed ‘the new Fanny Craddock’ by Gordon Ramsay on The F Word, Bhogal hasn’t let that backhanded compliment stop her launching award-winning cookbooks, TV shows and supper clubs. Jikoni, her first restaurant, is her crowning glory, a unique combination of cosy kitsch and cracking cooking. Check out our interview with Ravinder Bhogal for more on her journey.
What should I order? One of the three signature Scotch eggs; the prawn toast version with banana ketchup and pickled cucumber gets our vote.
Where can I find her? Jikoni, 19-21 Blandford Street, London

Erchen Chang

Who is she? Anyone who has ever bit into a pillowy-soft Taiwanese bun has Chang to thank for turning the Taiwanese delicacy mainstream with Bao, the market stall-turned-restaurant empire. Outposts in Soho, Borough and King's Cross have joined the original Netil Market stall and a Shoreditch noodle shop. Her restaurants combined with Chang's recognisable artwork and some karaoke thrown into the bargain means Bao has emerged as one of London's most recognisable and reliable restaurant brands.
What should I order? The ‘classic’ bao, an umami explosion of peanut and slow-braised pork belly.
Where can I find her? Bao Borough, 13 Stoney Street, London; Bao Soho, 53 Lexington Street, London; Bao King's Cross, 4 Pancras Square, London; Bao Noodle Shop, 65-66 Shoreditch High Street, London

Hélène Darroze

Who is she? The recipient of the 2015 World’s Best Female Chef award (among numerous other awards and accolades) and chef-patron of the recently-refurbished three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Connaught Hotel. Darroze comes from three generations of chefs, but training with Alain Ducasse cemented her fine-dining credentials. She was also the inspiration for Collette in Pixar’s Ratatouille and now exists in Barbie doll-form. For more on her 30-year career, read SquareMeal’s full interview with Hélène Darroze.
What should I order? Scallop with tandoori, carrot, citrus and coriander is a signature dish – as is a glass of Darroze Armagnac.
Where can I find her? Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, Carlos Place, London

Adejoké Bakare

Who is she? Affectionately known as ‘Joké’ to family and friends, Bakare’s debut restaurant Chishuru was one of a clutch of sites shining a much-needed light on West African cuisine. A home cook who originally found success with her dinner parties and supper clubs, Bakare went on to win in the amateur category at 2019’s Brixton Kitchen competition, which allowed her to open Chishuru in August of 2020 (in the midst of a pandemic, no less). After a good run, Bakare has now closed up shop at the site in Brixton and will be cooking at a range of pop ups until the new restaurant opening in 2023. With excellent, tongue-tingling food inspired by Nigeria, she is one to watch.
What should I order? Check out the changing menus for Adejoké Bakare's pop up restaurants on Chishuru's Instagram.

Florence Knight

Who is she? The head chef and driving force behind beloved Soho stalwart Polpetto, Florence Knight was hot property when she left the restaurant in 2015. She has since proven to be a woman of many talents, releasing a cookbook and penning a column in the Sunday Times for years before making her long-awaited return to the London restaurant scene at the well-received Sessions Arts Club.
What should I order? Lamb sweetbreads, lettuce and lovage - classic flavours, perfectly executed.
Where can I find her? Sessions Arts Club, 22 Clerkenwell Green, London

Roberta Hall-McCarron

Who is she? Tom Kitchin alumnus Roberta Hall-McCarron rose quickly through the ranks at The Kitchin in Edinburgh before striking out on her own with phenomenal success. Edinburgh is a very competitive food scene, but Roberta's debut restaurant The Little Chartroom became an instant hit, and she added a second restaurant, Eleanore, to the portfolio in early 2022, all after crushing the competition in the 2021 series of Great British Menu.
What should I order? Go for classic cooking with Scottish flair - rump of beef with haggis scotch pie and ox tongue salad sounds perfect.
Where can I find her? The Little Chartroom, 14 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh; Eleanore, 30-31 Albert Place, Edinburgh

Shauna Froydenlund

Who is she? A long-standing Wareing alumnus who worked her way up the ranks to become chef-patron of his eponymous restaurant, alongside her husband Mark. Originally from Northern Ireland, Froydenlund began her career at Pétrus under Marcus Wareing and was chef-patron of Marcus for five years, helping to keep the restaurant firmly atop London's fine dining pyramid. In January 2022 Shauna and Mark left Marcus, with plans to return home to Northern Ireland and take over a family restaurant.
What should I order? We'll update you once Froydenlund has opened her new restaurant.
Where can I find her? The exact location is still TBC but we can't wait to find out

Monica Galetti

Who is she? The chef-patron of Mere is one of the best known female chefs on TV thanks to her role as a judge on Masterchef: The Professionals. It’s the kind of fame that guarantees full houses for her first solo restaurant, though it’s certainly not just Galetti’s famous face that draws the crowds – the former senior sous chef of Le Gavroche is just as much of a star in the kitchen as she is on the telly. To learn more about Galetti’s success as one of London’s top female chefs, read the full interview she gave as part of our Best Female Chefs Series.
What should I order? The six-course tasting menu gives a taste of everything this masterchef has to offer.  
Where can I find her? Mere, 74 Charlotte Street, London

Skye Gyngell

Who is she? The chef-patron of Spring and winner of 2019’s AYALA SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year award, this Aussie chef and food writer made the national news in 2012 when she resigned from Petersham Nurseries and described winning a Michelin Star as a ‘curse’. These days she is better known for her commitment to sustainability and her disarmingly simple cooking that champions impeccably sourced British ingredients. To learn more about the ways in which this lauded female chef is blazing a trail for the industry to become more sustainable, and to learn what she means by “organics with voodoo”, read our full interview with Skye Gyngell.
What should I order? Sea bass carpaccio with blood orange, crème fraiche and rhubarb typifies Gyngell’s mix of seasonal Mediterranean and British flavours.
Where can I find her? Spring, Somerset House, London

Cherish Finden

Who is she? A multi-award winning pastry chef, Cherish Finden became a household name as a no-nonsense judge of Bake Off: The Professionals. That, however, was just the culmination of a career of excellence - with over 20 years spent working at the very highest level in pastry as Executive Pastry Chef at The Langham Hotel, creative development chef at Godiva chocolates, and now, executive pastry chef for Pan Pacific London, where she has opened her very first retail patisserie - SHIOK - as well as looking after the afternoon tea offering. Finden's unique creations blend intricate pastry technique with her Singaporean heritage.
What should I order? Try Cherish's Singaporean pineapple tart
Where can I find her? Afternoon tea at Pan Pacific London, 80 Houndsditch, London

Alex Hely-Hutchinson

Who is she? Alex Hely-Hutchinson has taken 26 Grains from a modest Old Street pop-up to a Neal’s Yard standout in the space of a few years, and all while still being in her early-to-mid thirties. The team recently closed casual Med-inspired eatery Stoney St. but Hely-Hutchinson still finds time to pen cookbooks on top of managing everything else. We’re expecting big things for her next move.
What should I order? You can’t go wrong with the five grains porridge with blood orange curd.

Ruth Hansom

Who is she? The first female winner of the Young National Chef of the Year award in 2017 and executive chef at Swinton Estate. Aged just 26, Hansom spent five years at The Ritz progressing from commis to chef de partie, and has also appeared on BBC’s Million Pound Menu. Her passion for locally-sourced British produce is evident in the fresh, vibrant dishes on her menus, previously at The Princess of Shoreditch and now Swinton Estate.
What should I order? The dry aged sirloin of beef with bone marrow butter and marmite glazed short rib is not one to be missed.
Where can I find her? Swinton Estate, Swinton Park Hotel, Ripon

Ifeyinwa Frederick

Who is she? Londoners are used to new restaurants claiming to be the first of their kind, but we challenge you to find another Nigerian tapas bar in the capital. The brains behind this hyper-original concept? That would be Ifeyinwa Frederick, who opened Chuku’s alongside her brother Emeka (pictured above), after the pair tired of not seeing good enough representation of Nigerian food on the capital’s restaurant scene. So far, Chuku’s has received rave reviews from the likes of restaurant critics Grace Dent and Jimi Famurewa.
What should I order? The Chin Chin cheesecake (boasting flavours of orange and stem ginger) is a must order.
Where can I find her? Chuku’s, 274 High Road, London

Angela Hartnett

Who is she? Trailblazing Angela Hartnett first won fame as the breakout star of Hell’s Kitchen with her then boss Gordon Ramsay. Inspired by the cooking of her Italian grandmother – and now as much of a restaurateur as a chef – she has Michelin-starred Murano and three Café Muranos in St James’s, Covent Garden and Bermondsey to her name,. In 2018, Hartnett won our first Ayala SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year award.  
What should I order? Hartnett’s pasta is sublime; try the pumpkin tortelli with sage and pine nut at Café Murano.
Where can I find her? Murano, 20 Queen Street, Loneon; Café Murano Covent Garden, 36 Tavistock Street, London; Café Murano St James’s, 33 St James’s Street, London; Café Murano Bermondsey, 184 Bermondsey Street, London

Emily Scott

Who is she? Emily Scott rose to prominence as head chef of the beloved St Tudy Inn in Bodmin, Cornwall, where her stripped-back seasonal cooking earned her a Bib Gourmand and a host of other awards. An appearance on Great British Menu followed, and she has since taken over the restaurant at the Watergate Bay Hotel in Cornwall, where her coastal cooking is making waves once again.
What should I order? It has to be seafood - try the roasted scallops with truffle butter.
Where can I find her? Emily Scott Food at the Watergate Bay Hotel, Watergate Bay, Cornwall

Anna Haugh

Who is she? The female chef once at the helm of some of London’s most well-known kitchens, including London House and Bob Bob Ricard, Dublin-born Haugh now heads up her own restaurant. Her menus at Myrtle use as much Irish produce as possible, and she's an effortless TV presence too, featuring as the new judge on Masterchef: The professionals, as well as guest hosting Saturday Kitchen.
What should I order? Haugh’s roasted beef fillet with boxty is sublime.
Where can I find her? Myrtle, 1A Langton Street, London

Margot Henderson

Who is she? Kiwi-born Margot (wife of Fergus Henderson of St. John fame) heads up the Rochelle Canteen in Shoreditch. The restaurant serves stripped-back, unfussy food that pleases all the senses, and has a reputation, like St John, for nurturing talented chefs. She specialises in catering and cook-book writing, too and has been claimed by many to be a genius of hospitality – we agree.
What should I order? The menus change regularly, but her grilled lamb with green sauce is a must.
Where can I find her? Rochelle Canteen, 16 Playground Gardens, London

Rachel Humphrey

Who is she? Humphrey is the first female executive chef at two Michelin-starred Le Gavroche, where she has worked since 1996. Championing seasonal ingredients, she is living her childhood dream of cooking with the Roux family. For more on the chef’s career and aspirations, read our full interview with Rachel Humphrey.   
What should I order? The ever-present and ever-gorgeous soufflé suissesse at Le Gavroche (we’re a sucker for the classics).
Where can I find her? Le Gavroche, 43 Upper Brook Street, London

Marguerite Keogh

Who is she? Yet another Marcus Wareing alumnus, Irish-born Keogh worked at Pétrus and then Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley before teaming up with chef-patron Taylor Bonnyman to open The Five Fields in Chelsea in 2013.
What should I order? Foie gras with beetroot, rainbow carrots and pickled shimeji mushrooms.
Where can I find her? The Five Fields and The Roque Room at Five Fields, 8-9 Blacklands Terrace, London

Asma Khan

Who is she? Khan is the chef and owner of Darjeeling Express in Covent Garden and also the first British chef to feature on Netflix’s Chef’s Table. Her relaxed, comforting restaurant provides a showcase for her blend of north Indian and Bengali cooking.
What should I order? Khan's Tangra chilli and garlic prawns are zapped with a tongue-popping five-spice blend and are an absolute must-try.
Where can I find her? Darjeeling Express, 2.4 Kingly Court, London

Selin Kiazim

Who is she? Winning the 2017 series of BBC Two’s Great British Menu is no small feat and thoroughly put this Southgate-born chef – and her modern Turkish cooking – on the map. After opening Turkish Cypriot restaurant Oklava in 2015, she went on to open her second venture, Kyseri, in the middle of 2018. Both have since closed, but Kiazim is still very much a chef in demand - she has released three cookbooks and counting, and recently started a restaurant consultancy business alongside long-time partner Laura Christie. Currently, Kiazim is also producing meals for Dispatch, a delivery service for restaurant meal kits at home.
What should I order? The menu changes regularly so check out the website for what's available.
Where can I find her? Dispatch.co.uk

Pip Lacey

Who is she? Having been groomed for greatness at Murano by Angela Hartnett, Lacey went solo with Hicce in the the Coal Drops Yard development at King's Cross (with backing from Hartnett) in late 2018. More recently, alongside Gordy McIntyre, the Great British menu finalist has opened new venture hicce hart, a gastropub in North London, serving great-tasting, healthy, international food.
What should I order? The crème caramel to finish, made with condensed milk for added richness.
Where can I find her? Hicce, 102 Stable Street, London, hicce hart, 58 Penton Street, London

Anne-Sophie Pic

Who is she? The grand dame of French cuisine, Anne-Sophie has an impressive eight Michelin stars across her five restaurants, including the two-star London-based La Dame de Pic at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square.  
What should I order? Her signature berlingots (pasta parcels of goats’ cheese and mascarpone) and a fantastically constructed millefeuille dessert.
Where can I find her? La Dame de Pic at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square, London

Ruth Rogers

Who is she? Ask most chefs where they like to eat on their time off and many will say The River Café. Of course, it helps that many of them learned to cook at Ruth Rogers’ legendary Hammersmith restaurant, which first opened its doors in 1987. Critics might complain that it is legendary because of its prices, but you’re paying for the best ingredients Rogers can get her hands on.
What should I order? The lemon tart is the sort of simple classic that is impossible to reproduce at home.
Where can I find her? The River Café, Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London

Clare Smyth

Who is she? The only British woman to win three Michelin stars during her 11 years as head chef and then chef-patron of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Smyth opened her first solo restaurant, Core, in summer 2017. Since then, she's been awarded three Michelin stars and won every award under the sun, including SquareMeal's Restaurant of the Year title in 2018. Tasting menus of British ingredients are the focus, with an emphasis on making vegetables as important as meat and fish.
What should I order? Carrot braised in lamb stock confounds expectations of just how good our homegrown veg can taste.
Where can I find her? Core by Clare Smyth, 92 Kensington Park Road, London

Abby Lee

Who is she? Born in Singapore to Malaysian parents, Abby Lee grew up watching her family cook classic Malaysian dishes and developed a love for food. After moving to London in 2015, Abby’s passion for cooking grew whilst at uni, and in 2017 she gained a diploma at Le Cordon Bleu. With experience cooking at Pashá Ristorante in Italy for a couple of years, she returned in 2019 to start her first solo venture. After a brief blip when first opening due to Covid, Mambow (2.0) is now firmally installed in Peckham offering up ‘Malaysian heat & juicy wines’.
What should I order? We recommend the Sarawak Laksa, the perfectly spiced laksa broth is served with rice vermicelli noodles, shredded chicken, prawns and an egg roll.
Where can I find her? Mambow, 133A Rye Lane Stall 11, London

Minal Patel

Who is she? Born in Gujarat, Minal Patel’s life has always focused around cooking, from role playing as a head chef with friends, to working for her family’s business in the kitchen at a traditional Mithai shop. Now head chef at Prashad in Yorkshire, Minal is championing Gujarati cuisine in this family run restaurant, that is the only two-star AA and Michelin Bib Gourmand Indian restaurant in the county.
What should I order? Go for the typical Gujarati experience and get the Maharani Thali, that comes with the chef’s choice of two mini starters, four curries, rolti, rice, dhal/khudi and dessert.
Where can I find her? Prashad, 137 Whitehall Road, Bradford

Kim Ratcharoen

Photography: Jodi Hinds
Who is she? Meriting her love of cooking to her grandma, Kim Ratcharoen has gone from strength to strength since leaving Thailand and moving to London to follow her passion. Starting her fine dining career at 64 degrees, Kim then applied to a one-month apprenticeship at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in 2015, that’s since turned in a 8-year stint. She’s appeared on Great British Menu and is definitely one to watch.
What should I order? Restaurant Gordon Ramsay offers set menus or a la carte, but if you’re looking to splash out, we’d recommend ‘Carte Blanche’ where an entirely bespoke menu is created for your table.
Where can I find her? Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, 68 Royal Hospital Rd, London

Thomasina Miers

Who is she? Thomasina Miers quickly became a household name, after co-founding the Wahaca chain of Mexican street food restaurants following her MasterChef win back in 2005. Now a regular on TV programmes like Saturday Kitchen, and presenting her own such as ‘Mexican Food Made Simple’, she strives to make sure everyone has access to good, easy-to-follow recipes and champions local, seasonal ingredients. Be it through work with Soil Association, or creating a garden in her local primary school, Thomasina is a force for good, and we couldn’t be happier about the impact she’s having on future generations. 
What should I order? The sweet potato and feta taquito, with caramelised onion, salsas and chipotle mayo.
Where can I find her? Wahaca, various locations across the UK

Nina Matsunaga

Phototography: Phil Rigby
Who is she? Being born in Germany to Japanese parents, Nina Matsunaga’s upbringing can be seen throughout her dishes with Asian and occasionally German flavours influencing her food. Her career has seen her moving between Germany, London and Manchester before finally residing near the Lake District where she now runs The Black Bull, alongside husband James Ratcliffe. The menu focuses on seasonal, local produce, combining both Nina and James’ heritage.
What should I order? The Cornish Monkfish with chicken wing, crab and sugar snap peas gets our vote here.
Where can I find her? The Black Bull, 44 Main Street, Cumbria

Sarit Packer

Photography: Patricia Niven
Who is she? Hailing from Northern Israel, Sarit Packer moved to London when she decided she wanted to become a chef. Her career has spanned across a number of impressive restaurants, including OXO Tower, Ottolenghi and also managing the opening of NOPI. Now Sarit and her partner, Itamar Srulovich, run the much-loved Honey & Co Bloomsbury, as well as Honey & Smoke which focuses more on grill cooking, and Honey & Spice, a Middle Eastern Deli.
What should I order? You can’t visit one of these spots without trying the feta & honey cheesecake on a kadaif base. Served with Greek thyme honey, almonds and blueberries, it’s not one to be missed.
Where can I find her? Honey & Co. Bloomsbury, 54 Lamb's Conduit Street, London; Honey & Smoke, 216 Great Portland Street, London; Honey & Spice, 52 Warren Street, London

Anna Tobias

Photography: Photography: Sam A. Harris
Who is she? A protégée of some of London’s greatest chefs – Margot Henderson of Rochelle Canteen, Ruth Rogers of The River Café and Jeremy Lee of Quo Vadis – Anna Tobias has inherited a similar simple cooking style to her mentors, where focus is more on high quality ingredients than fussy plating. This shines through at her latest venture which is run with the 40 Maltby Street Team. Anna champions a purist technique, which is always welcomed in a time where food trends can easily lose sight of what really matters. Quality, and flavour.
What should I order? Pork Chop with cavolo nero and anchoïade has our vote.
Where can I find her? Café Deco,43 Store Street, London

Elly Wentworth

Who is she? Don’t be fooled by Elly Wentworth’s age, because even at just 29, she has a wealth of experience. After studying professional cookery at City College Plymouth, she first worked at the three AA rosette Tanner Restaurant, followed by three, one Michelin star kitchens. She appeared on Masterchef: The Professionals in 2016 and more recently has be seen on Great British Menu in 2021. Now Elly can be found at The Angel in Dartmouth, where local ingredients are championed including some of the best fish in the UK, caught off of Devon’s shores.
What should I order? The day boat brill with charred leek, caviar and mussel cream, or a Sunday roast if you can make it – those crispy potatoes are worth visiting for alone.
Where can I find her? The Angel, 2 South Embankment, Dartmouth

Harriet Mansell

Who is she? Starting her career travelling the world as a private chef on yachts, Harriet Mansell returned to the South West of England to open her debut restaurant, Robin Wylde. Harriet spent her childhood foraging whilst being exposed to wild ingredients at school, which has led to a menu hugely influenced by this growing passion. Now with a second restaurant under her belt, nearby Lilac continues a similar theme using ingredients that can be found in the local countryside, as dishes change with the seasons.
What should I order? Whilst Robin Wylde only offers a tasting menu, Lilac’s a la carte provides a great choice, so save room for pudding and try the bay leaf affogato.
Where can I find her? Robin Wylde, 63A Silver Street, Lyme Regis, Lilac, 57-58 Broad Street, Lyme Regis

SquareMeal has partnered with Champagne Ayala for the Best Female Chefs Series, interviewing some of the UK's best female chefs. 

Can’t get enough of famous chefs? Check out our list of the all the best British chefs doing amazing things for the hospitality industry.