Over the past decade, Karen Akunowicz has emerged as one of Boston’s most celebrated chefs, carving out a niche as both a culinary innovator and a force of personality. From winning a James Beard Award to becoming a fan favorite on “Top Chef “— twice — Akunowicz has built an impressive career centered on her love for handmade pasta and Italian-inspired cuisine.
Now at the helm of three restaurants and a nationwide pasta company, she’s redefining what it means to lead a food empire in New England. As for what’s next? Boston — or perhaps the world — is her oyster.
In a lively conversation, Akunowicz opened up about her journey from a New Jersey diner to the forefront of Boston’s dining scene, the lessons learned along the way, and how a simple touch of cream can elevate even the humblest dish. Her humor, authenticity and passion are evident in every word, as she reflects on her past, celebrates her present and hints at what’s to come.
Karen Akunowicz attends the 2024 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards at Lyric Opera Of Chicago on June 10, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Jeff Schear/Getty Images for James Beard Foundation)
The following interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
This is neither here nor there, but my brother and I have developed this tradition of watching older “Top Chef” seasons whenever he’s home for the holidays. So, we actually just so happened to watch your first season back again last week, which was really great.
Can I tell you something? I swear this is true. You are the third person to tell me that this week. Yeah! [People] gathering with their brother[s] and they’re like, I was just watching your season. I was just watching your first season. And I was like, really? Yeah. So I think that might be a tradition. I think “Top Chef” has really become, of course, a household name, but kind of a tradition for a lot of people in a lot of families.
That’s so cool. I am so happy to hear that. And I did also want to note that I live, I don’t know, 20, 25 minutes from Kearny.
So I saw in your bio that you were from New Jersey and I was like, ‘Oh, I definitely want to ask about that then.’ [But] I was like, ‘OK, I’m not going to do that.’ Where do you live?
I grew up in Bloomfield!
Yeah, my parents still live in Kearny and my sister’s in Parsippany, my aunt is in Vernon. Yeah, everyone’s still there.
That is so cool. How funny! Initially, why did you head to Boston?
So I did my undergrad at UMass Amherst. And so when I was in school, I had a summer where I was an intern at the State House in Boston.