Dominique Crenn

Ingredient: Tomato

About Chef

Growing up in France, Dominique Crenn inherited an interest in cuisine from her parents, who celebrated fine dining. After earning degrees in economics and business in Paris, Crenn began her formal kitchen training in San Francisco in 1988. For two years she worked at Jeremiah Tower and Mark Franz’s Stars before moving onto other legendary restaurants.

In 1997, Crenn made culinary history as the first female executive chef in Indonesia, heading the kitchen at the InterContinental Hotel in Jakarta. She returned to California in 1998 as executive chef of Manhattan Country Club in Manhattan Beach. She then opened Abode in Santa Monica, but it was Luce that brought her back to San Francisco and where she earned her first Michelin star in 2009.

A poetic combination of craft, heritage, and storytelling, Atelier Crenn debuted in January 2011, quickly earning its first Michelin star and a second by October 2012. Crenn is the first female chef in the United States to receive a second coveted star and has maintained the distinction through 2018. She was named “Best Female Chef” in 2016 by World’s 50 Best.

Fashioned after the food of her childhood in Brittany, Crenn opened Petit Crenn in 2015, followed by Bar Crenn in 2018.

“

Why I Love The Tomato

“When I was a girl, my mother used to make a simple tomato salad, composed of three components: fresh tomatoes from our garden, simple vinaigrette, and a hunk of bread. When it appeared at the table, I couldn’t see anything else. My family teased me about my crush on this salad; they would laugh about “Dom and her tomato,” I didn’t care. I feasted on all the sunshine the tomatoes had absorbed and then I drank all the vinaigrette at the bottom of the bowl. I still miss these tomatoes from my childhood.”

“

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Serves 4

- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons chives
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Salt to taste
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- Salad
- 2 pounds heirloom tomatoes
- 2 cucumbers
- Basil & tarragon leaves, for garnish
Dressing
1. Add the avocado, garlic, tarragon, basil, and chives to a food processor. Season with lemon juice and salt. Turn the machine on, and slowly add the olive oil until combined. Set dressing aside. 
Prepping
1. Cut the tomatoes into wedges. Using a vegetable peeler, make long ribbons with the cucumbers.  
Assembly
1. Arrange tomatoes and cucumbers on a serving platter. Drizzle with olive oil and season with finishing salt.  
2. Drizzle the avocado herb dressing over the tomatoes and cucumbers.  
3. Garnish with more fresh basil and tarragon leaves.

1 ripe avocado
1 clove garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves
½ cup fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chives
Juice of ½ lemon
Salt to taste
⅓ cup olive oil
Salad
2 pounds heirloom tomatoes
2 cucumbers
Basil & tarragon leaves, for garnish

Dressing

Add the avocado, garlic, tarragon, basil, and chives to a food processor. Season with lemon juice and salt. Turn the machine on, and slowly add the olive oil until combined. Set dressing aside.

Prepping

Cut the tomatoes into wedges. Using a vegetable peeler, make long ribbons with the cucumbers.

Assembly

Arrange tomatoes and cucumbers on a serving platter. Drizzle with olive oil and season with finishing salt.  
Drizzle the avocado herb dressing over the tomatoes and cucumbers.  
Garnish with more fresh basil and tarragon leaves.

Delicacies Chef’s Table

Jan 1 - March 31, 2016

Chef Dominique chose to support non-profit SF-Marin Food Bank with a monetary donation (resulting from sales) from Delicacies in 2016.

Mythology

Tomatoes, a paradox. Deadly nightshade or symbol of love? Is it a fruit or a vegetable? (It’s a fruit). Yet, the debate rages on. (It doesn’t). Europeans were suspicious of the bright fruit introduced from the heathen west and considered it poisonous, creating associations with witchcraft and werewolfery. In reality, the tomato is pulsing with vitamins and nourishing life energy, both almost palpable when you pluck one ripe from a fragrant summer stalk. The tomato reminds us to embrace the inherent ambiguity and polarizing forces of life. Wear the tomato charm for balance and to express your dual nature.

Shop the Tomato collection

#WhatsYourIngredient