Daisy Ryan
Daisy Ryan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Daisy Freitas California |
| Education | Culinary Institute of America |
| Culinary career | |
Rating | |
Current restaurant
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Award won
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Daisy Ryan is an American chef and restaurateur. Her restaurant, Bell's, in Los Alamos, California, was awarded a Michelin star in 2021. Food & Wine named her one of their Best New Chefs in 2020.
Early life and education
Ryan grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley near Los Alamos, California and attended the Culinary Institute of America.[1][2] Her parents, Brent and Suzi Freitas, owned a garden center.[2]
Career
After graduating from culinary school, Ryan was hired by Per Se into a front-of-house position.[1] She worked at other New York City and Austin, Texas, restaurants.[1] In 2014 she moved to Los Angeles with her husband and helped Roy Choi open a hotel and restaurant complex in Koreatown.[3]
Ryan owns and operates Bell's, a bistro in Los Alamos, California, with her husband, Greg.[1][4] The couple opened the restaurant in January 2018 with a goal of creating a restaurant that was not chef-driven but was focussed on diner experience.[2] Ryan describes the restaurant's menus as "Franch", a portmanteau of French and ranch, meaning the dishes are French-inspired but more relaxed; the term also references the many ranches in the area which the restaurant showcases.[1][2]
Ryan and her husband have helped incubate other food businesses in the Los Alamos area.[5]
Recognition
in 2020 Food & Wine named her one of their Best New Chefs.[1][6] Bell's was named a Wine Spectator Aware of Excellence winner in 2020 and awarded a Michelin star in 2021.[5][7] Ryan was named a semifinalist in the Best Chef:California category of the 2026 James Beard Awards.[8]
Personal life
Ryan met her husband in 2008 while they were both working at Per Se.[3][5] The couple have a son born in 2017.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shah, Khushbu (12 May 2020). "Food & Wine Best New Chefs 2020: Daisy Ryan". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Kettmann, Matt (2020-05-18). "Bell's Daisy Ryan Named 'Best New Chef' by 'Food & Wine' Magazine". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- 1 2 Kettmann, Matt (2018-05-22). "Bell's Brings Bistro Cuisine to Los Alamos". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Karten, Rachel (2019-09-04). "This French Bistro Is the Reason You Should Visit Los Alamos, California". Bon Appétit. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- 1 2 3 Wilson, Emily (2022-10-04). "This Couple Turned a Sleepy Wine Region Into a Buzzy Food Scene—But They Don't Want All the Limelight". Saveur. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Elliott, Farley (2020-12-09). "Award-Winning Central Coast Restaurant Stars Plot a Pair of New Openings Next Year". Eater LA. Retrieved 2026-02-18.
- ↑ Romano, Aaron (6 October 2022). "Restaurant Spotlight: Bell's". Wine Spectator.
- ↑ Roland, Rebecca (2026-01-21). "Here Are Los Angeles's 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists". Eater LA. Retrieved 2026-02-18.