Giovanna Huyke Explained

Giovanna Huyke
Birth Name:	Giovanna Maria Huyke-Souffront
Birth Date:	21 Dec 1956
Birth Place:	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Education:	Tulane University (Dramatic Arts)
Occupation:	Chef
Years Active:	67
Website:	http://giovannahuyke.com/

Giovanna Huyke-Souffront (born 21 December 1956), known as Giovanna Huyke and "Chef Giovanna", is a Puerto Rican celebrity chef^{[1] [2] [3]} and an international culinary leader often referred to as the “Julia Child of Puerto Rico."^[4]

Early life and education

Huyke was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 21 December 1956. Her parents are Alice Huyke, a celebrated cooking teacher in Puerto Rico for over 30 years,^[5] and Hector Huyke-Colon, a civil engineer and architect in Puerto Rico. Huyke began her career in theater, obtaining a bachelor's degree in Dramatic Arts at Tulane University. While in New Orleans, she worked in Paul Prudehomme’s Louisiana Kitchen and as an assistant to Lee Barnes, and then moved on to New York City to work with renowned chef Felipe Rojas Lombardi. Huyke then returned to Puerto Rico and worked at the Caribe Hilton for one year, after which she founded Amadeus in San Juan, where she pioneered “nouvelle criollo”, which consists of native ingredients and recipes with classic techniques. She was also the chef at Ali-Oli, founded by one of her mentors, Alfredo Ayala. Huyke founded the restaurants Don Juan in the El San Juan Hotel and Giovanna's Café.

Career

Over the later part of her 40+ year cooking history, Giovanna Huyke has been credited with leading a transformation of Puerto Rican cuisine by emphasizing local ingredients along with traditional cooking methods^[6] and by constructing lighter and healthier Puerto Rican dishes, without sacrificing traditional Puerto Rican flavor.^{[7] [8]}

Huyke competed in Food Network's TV show "Beat Bobby Flay.^[9] She has also been featured on Good Morning America, Pierre Franney’s Cooking in America, AARP VIVA,^[10] Burt Wolf's Travels and Traditions, and Univision’s Despierta. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, Shape en Español, Vanidades and Cristina. She has additionally published six cookbooks and 20 recipe booklets showcasing her culinary creations.

Huyke is currently serving as a global culinary ambassador for Puerto Rican cooking by consulting for various restaurant projects, serving as menu-designer and composer, speaking at various cooking events, and serving as judge at various Puerto Rican culinary events, including Saborea 2016.^{[11] [12]} She was most recently the Executive Chef at Mio Restaurant in Washington, DC, which has been called the “Embassy of Latin America in DC”^[13] by Washingtonian Magazine. Huyke was critiqued by Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, calling one of her specialties a “last meal request”^[14] and leading Mio to be listed in the Washington Post “Top Forty Fall Dining Guide”^[15] restaurant list and the Washingtonian Magazine's “Top 100 Restaurants”.^[16]

Awards / Accomplishments

• Host of a daily cooking show called Giovanna's Kitchen (“La Cocina de Giovanna”), which was broadcast uninterrupted for over 23 years in Puerto Rico
• Host of a weekly cooking show called En Casa con Giovanna, which is referenced in the 2013 book Eating Puerto Rico: A History of Food, Culture and Identity^[17]
• Host of a dinner party cooking show called Giovanna Primetime^{[18] [19] [20]}
• Walmart/Amigo spokesperson,^[21] writing recipes and cooking techniques and tips for the in-store cooking magazine
• Procter & Gamble spokesperson in Puerto Rico for “Brand Saver” coupon, cooking and healthy living magazine^[22] and P&G's Brand Saver web portal called P&G Every Day^[23]
• Served as culinary ambassador from Puerto Rico to Japan, sponsored by the Puerto Rican tourism bureau
• Weekly writer for Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald^[24] and El Nuevo Dia^[25]

TV shows

Giovanna Huyke's TV shows have included:

• La Cocina de Giovanna,^[26] which was broadcast uninterrupted for over 23 years in Puerto Rico
• At home with Giovanna, showcasing recipes, arts, crafts and home decorating ideas
• Giovanna Primetime,^[27] a dinner party cooking show

Restaurants

• La Fábrica Central Restaurant (Central Square Cambridge, Ma) 2018-Current
• K Paul's Louisiana Kitchen^[28] (New Orleans, LA) - Chef Paul Prudehomme's landmark restaurant
• ^[29] (New Orleans, LA) - Chef Giovanna served as an assistant to one of the best-known culinarians in New Orleans
• Dean and Deluca Gourmet Food Store (New York City) - Chef Giovanna worked with Renowned Peruvian Chef Felipe Rojas^[30] as he was the founding chef of Dean and Deluca, and whose other experience included serving as James Beard's assistant at the James Beard Cooking School, serving as the Chef/Owner of The Ballroom restaurant in Chelsea and being named America's Bicentennial chef in 1976.
• ^[31] ' (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - Chef Giovanna began to pioneer a new method of cooking consisting of native ingredients and recipes with classic techniques.
• Ali-Oli (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - founded by one of Chef Giovanna's mentors, Alfredo Ayala
• Don Juan Restaurant at the El San Juan Hotel and Casino^[32] (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - The first restaurant Chef Giovanna founded
• Giovanna's Cafe (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - Chef Giovanna's second restaurant

Books

• A tu Salud^[33]
• Cocina con Giovanna Celebraciones^[34]
• Entremeses-Alice and Giovanna Huyke^[35]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #1^[36]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #2^[37]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #3^[38]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #4^[39]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #5^[40]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #6^[41]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #7^[42]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #8^[43]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #9^[44]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #10^[45]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #11^[46]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #12^[47]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #13^[48]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #14^[49]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #15^[50]
• La Cocina De Giovanna #16^[51]
• La Cocina De Giovanna Huyke^[52]
• La Cocina De Giovanna-Primera Temporada^[53]
• La Cocina Puertorriquena De Hoy Por Giovanna Huyke^[54]
• Postres Variados-Alice and Giovanna Huyke^[55]
• Puerto Rico Does it Better-The Recipe Book^[56]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chef Spotlight: Giovanna Huyke explains why cooking from the heart requires courage. NBCLatino.com. NBC Latino. June 27, 2013.
2. Web site: Stephanie Izard: Girl and The Goat, Chicago, IL. Made in America-Our Best Chefs Reinvent Comfort Food. Welcome Books. October 13, 2008.
3. Web site: Chef Hector Santiago. For Food's Sake. August 9, 2009.
4. News: Chef's Secret? In The Sauce. Gail Forman. December 12, 1993. The Baltimore Sun.
5. Book: Puerto Rico: Grand Cuisine of the Caribbean. Jose Luis Diaz de Villegas. La Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico; First edition. 2004. 0847704157. 13.
6. Web site: AARP. Shrimp With Plantain and Island Coconut Mojito. AARP.org. Spring 2011.
7. News: Puerto Rico's new cuisine is going green (Miami Herald) . Miami Herald. Stacey Hocheiser-Fox. July 6, 2013.
8. Book: Miguel Ortíz Cuadra, Cruz. Eating Puerto Rico A History of Food, Culture, and Identity. 2006. The University of North Carolina Press. 978-1-4696-0882-2. 220.
9. Web site: Beat Bobby Flay: She's a Lady. Food Network.
10. Web site: Bencomo Lobaco. Julia. A Chef Fascinated With What She Does. AARP.org.
11. Web site: Chef Giovanna Huyke-Personality Detail.
12. Web site: Saborea Puerto Rico – The Culinary Event of the Year. March 23, 2016.
13. News: Our Time: Success Stories of Washingtonians of Latino and Hispanic Descent. Washingtonian. Dec 12, 2013. Luisita Lopez Torregrosa.
14. News: Mio Restaurant Review. https://web.archive.org/web/20091029145634/http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/mio,1137797.html. dead. October 29, 2009. Washington Post. Oct 21, 2012. Tom Sietsema.
15. News: Tom Sietsema. Washington Post Magazine's 2012 Fall Dining Guide. Washington Post. 17 Oct 2012.
16. News: 100 Very Best Restaurants 2013. Washingtonian. Feb 19, 2013 . Cynthia Hacinli . Todd Kliman . Ann Limpert . Jessica Voelker.
17. Book: Eating Puerto Rico: A History of Food, Culture, and Identity. 14 October 2013 . UNC Press Books. 978-1-4696-0884-6 . October 14, 2013. Footnote 105.
18. Web site: Cristina Soler and René Monclova GIOVANNA PRIMETIME today.
19. Web site: Giovanna Huyke WIPR with new program. 3 February 2012 . February 3, 2012.
20. Web site: Giovanna Primetime Lunes 9:30pm por PRTV. PRTV Puerto Rico.
21. Web site: Gonzalez. Emilio. Giovanna and SAL! Walmart. SAL. November 9, 2012.
22. Web site: Kantrow. Michelle. P&G publishing Christmas 'brandSAVER' coupon booklet. November 24, 2011.
23. Web site: P&G Everyday . .
24. Web site: Huyke. Giovanna. Delicious Dishes for Father's Day. Miami Herald.
25. Web site: Huyke. Giovanna. Flanes para todos los gustos. June 6, 2012.
26. Web site: Huyke, Giovanna . 2024-08-02 . Saborea Puerto Rico . en-US.
27. Web site: Huyke, Giovanna . 2024-08-02 . Saborea Puerto Rico . en-US.
28. Web site: K Paul's Louisiana Kitchen.
29. Web site: Lee Barnes Cooking School and Gourmet Shop.
30. News: Felipe Rojas-Lombardi, 46, Dies; Chef Known for Spanish Cuisine. Molly O'Neill. The New York Times . September 11, 1991.
31. Web site: Caribe Hilton Puerto Rico.
32. Web site: El San Juan Hotel and Casino.
33. Book: A tu salad. Jan 2000. B007SW3E4M. Huyke . Giovanna . Berberian M.D. . Anahid.
34. Book: Huyke, Giovanna . Cocina con Giovanna-Celebraciones. April 2004. Nupress of Miami, Inc.. Miami, FL. 153 . 2nd. Spanish.
35. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. Entremeses-Alice and Giovanna Huyke. 2000. B003GCMJ9E.
36. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #1. 1989.
37. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina de Giovanna-Recetario Numero 2. May 1991. HH Productions, Inc.. Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. 2nd. Spanish.
38. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #3.
39. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #4. December 1995.
40. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #5. February 1996.
41. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #6.
42. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna-#7. June 1996. Borinquen Lithographers Corp.. San Juan, PR. Spanish.
43. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #8. June 1996.
44. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #9. January 1997.
45. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #10.
46. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #11. September 1998.
47. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #12. September 1999.
48. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #13.
49. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna #14.
50. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna-#15. September 2002. Advanced Graphic Printing, Inc.. San Juan, PR. Spanish.
51. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna-Recetario 16. 2002. Advanced Graphic Printing, Inc.. Guaynabo, PR. Spanish.
52. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina De Giovanna Huyke. June 2008. Three A Press. Rio Piedras, PR . 2nd. Spanish.
53. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. Cocina De Giovanna Primera Temporada. December 2006. Three A Press. Rio Piedras, PR . Spanish.
54. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. La Cocina Puertorriquena De Hoy Por Giovanna Huyke. April 1992. H.H. Productions, Inc.. Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Spanish.
55. Book: Huyke, Giovanna. Postres Variados. Jan 2004. Editorial Cultural. B008TV0GCE. Spanish.
56. Book: Puerto Rico Does It Better-The Recipe Book. 2008. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company. San Juan, Puerto Rico . Huyke. Giovanna . Huyke. Alice . English.