Author of the James Beard Award-winning Cookbook 'Weir Cooking in the City'

Joanne Weir | Biography

Owner of Restaurant Copita Tequileria y Comida

• By Ojasbi
• Original : August 23, 2021

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Joanne Weir is a renowned chef and the author of the James Beard Award-winning cookbook ‘Weir Cooking in the City.’

Who is Joanne Weir?

Weir is a renowned chef, culinary TV host, author, restauranteur, and cooking teacher. She has presented a few culinary TV shows, such as Weir Cooking in the Wine Country (part one and two), Joanne Weir’s Cooking Class, and Joanne Weir’s Plates. 

Weir is also an author of about 17 culinary books. A few among the collection include ‘Kitchen Gypsy: Stories and Recipes from a Lifetime Romance with Food,’ ‘Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence: Dinner Made Simple,’ and ‘Winter: Recipes Inspired by Nature’s Bounty.’

In 2005, Weir received a ‘James Beard Award’ for her cookbook ‘Weir Cooking in the City.’

And when Weir is not occupied in her professional ventures, she offers culinary lessons worldwide. 

How old is Joanne Weir?

Weir was born on 2 August 1952. She shared with Meals on Wheels bulletin that she enjoyed roaming around from the moment she could walk. As a child, she once told her father that she wanted to be a bus driver because she wanted to drive on every road in the world. She would in the future be a well-known personality in the culinary world. 

Weir comes from a long line of expert cooks. Her mother, grandfather, and great-grandmother were all professional cooks. 

Weir earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts. After graduation, she decided to pursue a career as a teacher. She was teaching art in Boston when she learned about many international cuisines. There, she began to learn how to cook and became doubtful of her decision to pursue a career in arts. After much deliberation, Weir decided to fly to France, where she spent a year learning to cook and earned a Master Chef Diploma in 1985.

When did Joanne Weir work at Chez Panisse?

Weir worked as a cook for the restaurant Chez Panisse from the year 1985 to 1990. At Chez, she worked alongside Alice Waters, a renowned chef. 

TV Shows and Tours

Weir hosted a few culinary TV shows after 1990. The 26 episode Weir Cooking in the Wine Country II was one of the culinary shows. She also hosted two seasons of the PBS series, Joanne Weir’s Cooking Class, from 2006 to 2009. She further hosted Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence from 2011 to 2013. 

Weir started another culinary show, Joanne Weir’s Plates & Places, in 2018. The show was carried for four seasons till March 2021. In 2015, she had also facilitated Joanne Weir Gets Fresh for two seasons. The show displayed her to her new students in the kitchen.

Books and publication

Weir, a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author with 17 volumes to her credit, wrote her culinary autobiography, ‘Kitchen Gypsy: Stories and Recipes from a Lifetime Romance with Food’ inculcating the experiences from her excursions. The book was published in September 2015. Her other books include ‘Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence: Dinner Made Simple’ released in 2012, ‘Tequila: A Guide to Types, Flights, Cocktails, and Bites’ released in 2009, ‘From Tapas to Meze: Small Plates from the Mediterranean’ in 2004, ‘Wine Country Cooking’ in 2001, ‘Small Plates’ (Williams-Sonoma Lifestyles) in 1999, ‘Winter: Recipes Inspired by Nature’s Bounty’ (Williams-Sonoma Seasonal Celebration) in 1997 and many more.

She has additionally contributed to Sunset Magazine, Cooking Light, Better Homes and Gardens, Fine Cooking, and Food & Wine, among other publications, as a freelance writer.

Awards and Recognition

Her book ‘From Tapas to Meze’ was named one of ‘Julia Child’s favorite 12 cookbooks’ out of 1000 books in 1994. Later, in 1996, she was awarded the first International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) ‘Julia Child Cooking Teacher Award of Excellence.’ In 2002 her other book ‘More Cooking in the Wine Country’ (2001), was nominated for both ‘IACP Cookbook Award’ and ‘James Beard Award.’ The revised version of her book ‘From Tapas to Meze’ further won the ‘Gourmand World Cookbook Award’ in the category ‘Best Mediterranean Cookbook’ in 2004. 

A year later, in 2005, she was awarded the James Beard Foundation’ Best Cookbook, General Category Award’ for ‘Weir Cooking in the City’ (2004). Additionally, in 2012 Weir’s culinary show Joanne Weir’s Cooking Confidence won the ‘Taste Award’ for ‘Best New Television Series.’ She was also selected to serve in the American Chef Corps by the US State Department the same year.

 In 2013, Weir received yet another IACP’s recognition—it was an ‘Award of Excellence, Culinary Tour Operator of the Year.’ In 2016, she bagged another award, a ‘Saucy Award’ for the category ‘People’s Choice Winner of the Year.’ The award was presented by San Francisco Magazine to her restaurant Copita Tequileria y Comida . In 2018, Weir brought home the ‘Taste Award’ for ‘Best Food Program, Television’ for her culinary show Joanne Weir’s Plates & Places. In 2019, she was a ‘Taste Award’ honoree and nominee for her show Joanne Weir’s Plates & Places in the categories’ Best Chef in a Series,’ ‘Best Food Travel Series,’ ‘Best Food Program,’ and ‘Best Travel Program.’

Present

Her present engagement includes her affiliation with Joannie Weir LLC and Joannie Weir Productions LLC. She currently functions professionally as the PBS TV host, executive television producer, cookbook author, restaurateur, and cooking teacher. She has been fulfilling the given roles for the past three decades, from 1985 to the present. 

Restaurant Coptia Tequileria

Weir is the owner of Owner Copita Tequileria y Comida since 2012. The restaurant is located in Sausalito, California. It serves seasonal and modern Mexican foods. 

Is Joanne Weir married?

She got married to Joe Ehrlich, the former president of the Owens Group, on 30 August 2009. 

Ehrlich has been working as co-national practice leader for private equity, family office, and M&A for Beecher Carlson, according to the insurance brokerage and risk management firm’s website.

Did You Know?
Joanne Weir doesn't have a exclusive Wikipedia page.