I would like some resources or information on the history of women chefs - when did they become able to rise in ranks in the kitchen? How did this evolve? Was this in the USA first? Any info on this would be most appreciated. I am doing a program in February on women chefs in Kansas City and am featuring many of our women chefs and their culinary specialties - for my introduction I would like to give a little history on this subject. Thank you.

By complete coincidence, I found myself talking to someone today who is from the Internation Association of Female Chefs. I asked her for a reference in response to your question and she most definitely had an answer: "Ann Cooper of the Putney Inn in Putney, Vermont is writing a book on the history of female chefs." You can contact her at the Inn: #802-387-5517.
—Amy