Passion Set The Course: Chef Barbara Lynch at TEDx UMass Boston

James Beard Award-winner and Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef Barbara Lynch is regarded as one of Boston's—and the country's—leading chefs and restaurateurs. While growing up in South Boston, Barbara, at the age of 13, got her first kitchen job cooking at a local rectory. It was in high school, however, that an influential home economics teacher and a job working with Chef Mario Bonello at Boston's esteemed St. Botolph Club piqued her interest in one day becoming a professional chef. During her early twenties, Barbara worked under some of Boston's greatest culinary talents. After working with Todd English for several years at Michaela's and Olives, Barbara traveled to Italy where she learned about the country's cuisine firsthand from local women. She returned to Boston and became the executive chef at Galleria Italiana, bringing national acclaim to the tiny trattoria when she captured Food & Wine's "Ten Best New Chefs in America" award. As CEO of Barbara Lynch Gruppo, Barbara oversees the operations of eight concepts and employs over 200 people. In addition to running her company, Barbara has always recognized the importance of giving back to the community and has been involved in a number of philanthropic programs over the years. In 2012, in an effort to make a more direct impact, she established the Barbara Lynch Foundation. The BLF is a charitable organization dedicated to helping Boston's communities create healthy and inspired futures for its youth by providing leadership and support to build life skills, to improve access to nutritious foods, and to empower families.