Russell, Mariya (Moore-Russell)
c.1989- · Contribution: 2019
Chef
Became the first Black woman to receive a Michelin star in the guide's 94-year history, awarded in September 2019 for her work as chef de cuisine at Chicago's Kikkō

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Quick facts
- Born
- c. 1989
- Active since
- 2019
- Category
- Agriculture & Food
- Best known for
- First Black woman with a Michelin starKikkō (Chicago)Japanese-inspired omakase
Impact on the world
Russell shattered a barrier that had stood since the Michelin Guide's founding, in a cuisine far from where she might have been expected. Her star forced a reckoning with how long the milestone had taken.
Sources
- Chicago Magazine
5 more sources and references are available to members.
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