The Veuve Clicquot World's Best Female Chef 2014: Helena Rizzo

Helen Rizzo of Mani Restaurant in São Paulo, Brazil has been named the 2014 Veuve Clicquot Best Female Chef.
Brazilian-born Rizzo moved to São Paulo aged 18 to pursue a career in modelling.
She then went to work part-time in kitchens but soon decided to leave behind the idea of modelliny to concentrate on her love for gastronomy.
Rizzo worked with some of the most influential names of the Brazilian food scene.
She spent two years running the Kitchen at São Paulo Na Mata Café.
Then Stints in Italy and Spain followed. In Spain she worked at El Celler de Can Roca,  currently the highest ranked Restaurant on The World 50 Best Restaurants list.
While working at Girona Restaurant she met her future husband and kitchen partner, Spanish chef Daniel Redondo.
They went to open Mani Restaurant in 2006.
The Restaurant offers a unique gastronomic experience, respectful of traditional Brazilian culinary practices but married with modern techniques with a Spanish influence.
When asked what makes Helena such a great chef Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca explained: " Helena has talent, sensibility and passion. She is authentic and faithful to her roots."
William Drew , Group Editor of the world 50 Best Restaurants added: "We are very proud to present this award, in conjuction with Veuve Clicquot to Helena. In what remains a very male world, we feel that celebrating  the success of a brilliant female chef is vitality important".
The Champagne house has long been known for empowering innovative  and audacious women.
The award is inspired by the life and achievements of Madame Clicquot who nearly 200 years ago set the standard for women in business.

Chef Helena Rizzo celebrating

 her award with Veuve Clicquot