Chef's Kiss x Karen Akunowicz

I am the Chef/Owner of Fox & the Knife Enoteca in South Boston, Bar Volpe Ristorante and The Fox Pasta Company. I have been touted as “Boston’s Queen of Pasta,” and my restaurant Fox & the Knife was called an “Instant Classic” by Food & Wine Magazine and named one of their “Best New Restaurants in America.” In 2024, I opened my third restaurant, Fox & Flight by Karen Akunowicz, in Logan Airport in Boston. I appear regularly on television and am a fan favorite on the Bravo TV show “Top Chef” (seasons Season 13 as well as “All-Stars”). I am also a recurring judge on The Food Network's “Beat Bobby Flay.” I was named one of the “21 Badass Women Changing the Food World” by Marie Claire Magazine and am the author of “Crave: Bold Recipes That Make You Want Seconds,” which was published in September of 2023 by W.W. Norton and was recently honored with the prestigious 2023 Cook Book of the Year Award by Readable Feast.

I have been working in restaurants since I was 17 years old. They are magical and an important part of the fabric of our communities. I have done every job there is to do in a restaurant—waitress, server, bartender and general manager. At 24, while in the process of getting my master's degree in social work, my girlfriend at the time said, "I don't know why you're getting your master's degree in social work. All you ever talk about is what you'll do when you own your own restaurant someday." That gave me pause and two weeks later I enrolled in culinary school.

Culinary school is great, but your real education comes from working under talented chefs. It’s about working with people who teach you not only how to be a better cook and chef but also a better leader. Understanding the business side of restaurants is crucial, as it can be the game changer between success and failure. While learning to cook and loving the work were my favorite parts of my culinary education, mastering the business side of restaurants was the most important.

Farm-to-table is a no-brainer. We get our food from farms, and everyone should know where their food comes from and have a connection to it, whether it’s produce, fish or meat. It’s incredibly important to have respect for the ingredients. This philosophy deeply influences my cooking.

I think that right now (surprising because it's 2024!) is a very challenging time for the LGBTQIA + community. We're having our rights systematically taken away from us. And so, being outwardly supportive is great and it's important. Lifting up the community is great and important. However, voting and making sure that the folks in office are championing LGBTQIA+ rights is the most important thing that we can do.

Creating a space that contributes to a neighborhood is so much fun and so important. It’s exciting to know that something you have created will become a piece of the fabric of the community.

You can never get it all done, but prioritizing your physical and mental health is crucial. Working with an exceptional team is key, and making decisions about what is important in the moment, the day, or the month is paramount.

I dress for both style and utility. I believe that if you look good, you feel good. This philosophy is central to my approach. I need to be ready to play a million different roles every day, as my schedule is always changing. Sometimes I'm cooking, sometimes I'm in meetings, other times I'm at a photo shoot or writing recipes for my cookbook. I want to be able to transition seamlessly from one activity to another. It's important for me to be comfortable and look good, as it helps me feel my best throughout the day. Additionally, I have a two-year-old, so I need to be able to run and be an active mom while staying comfortable. For me, fashion and function go hand in hand.

Chic and minimalistic with an urban edge.

I can't narrow it down to just one piece. I've been traveling for the past two weeks, attending a variety of events, including presenting at a convention and participating in a panel on trailblazing women in the culinary industry. I even visited the White House. During this trip, I packed the Salma Top, Mei Pants, Selena Vest, and Montrose Dress. These four pieces are incredibly versatile. I wore them to a beautiful Michelin star restaurant, on the street, and even to the White House. The Selena Vest paired with the Montrose Dress was my choice for the White House event. These pieces from the capsule collection are beautiful. They were a lifesaver for my two-week trip, and I found myself wearing them over and over again.