10 Most Popular Chefs in the World

There are thousands of highly skilled professional cooks in the world, but only a few of them successfully make it to the international scene. Chefs have different specializations and the most popular of them bask in the limelight because of their unparalleled cooking prowess and ingenuity. The most popular chefs today are not only cooks confined within the walls of the kitchen but also cookbook authors and famous media personalities who publish their own cookbooks and host their own cooking shows. Here is a list of the ten most popular chefs in the world today:

10. Mario Batali

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Born September 19, 1960, Mario Batali is an American chef and restaurateur best known for his expertise on both the culture and history of Italian cuisine. Because of his classical culinary training, he has become such an expert that he knows everything about pasta, meatballs, tomato sauce as well as the local and regional variations of Italian dishes. He is currently a Culinary Hall of Famer and owns Italian restaurants throughout Asia and the United States, including Westport, Connecticut, Los Angeles, New York City, Las Vegas, Singapore and Hong Kong. Also known as the “Molto Mario” of the culinary world, he is also a media personality who has had his own cooking shows on television.

9. Julia Child

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An American chef, television personality and author, Julia Child rose to popularity because of her debut cookbook entitled Mastering the Art of French Cooking, which successfully brought French cuisine to the American market and became a bestseller because of its helpful illustrations and details. She premiered in 1963 as one of the first celebrity chefs who had her own cooking shows, of which the most notable was The French Chef. Julia Child is also known for her distinctive voice and for writing and publishing several seminal culinary works tha sparked the craze surrounding French cooking.

8. Emeril Lagasse

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Emeril John Lagasse is a celebrity chef, media personality, cookbook author and restaurateur who became a regional James Beard Award winner because of his notable contributions in the culinary field. Two of his popular shows are the Essence of Emeril and the Emeril Live, which are both shown on Food Network channel. He began to gain fame in the culinary world when he became the executive chef of Commander’s Palace. After his tenure in the famous restaurant, he opened his first restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana which was recognized as the “Restaurant of the Year” by Esquire Magazine. Lagasse also served as the Executive Chef of Dunfey’s Hyannis Resort and is known to specialize in Creole cuisine.

7. Rachael Ray

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This American television personality, author and celebrity chef currently hosts Rachael Ray, 30 Minute Meals, $40 a Day and Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels on Food Network. Equipped with a unique New York accent, she is best known for the practical cooking tips she shares to her viewers. One of Food Network’s most famous celebrity chefs, she can complete a complex recipe in half an hour and uses chicken stock, herbs and flavors to boost the flavors of her dishes. She is also popular for her EVOO catchphrase which means “extra virgin olive oil.”

6. Anthony Bourdain

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Best known for his cookbook Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, Anthony Bourdain is an American chef and television personality who rose to fame in 2005 when he hosted Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and The Layover, two of the culinary programs of Travel Channel. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Bourdain is a veteran of a wide array of professional kitchens and is often referred to as “chef-at-large” by Brasserie Les Halles, a renowned executive chef in a top restaurant in New York. In his shows, he visits different countries to explore some of the most bizarre dishes in the world.

5. Giada De Laurentiis

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Giada Pamela De Laurentiis is an American chef and writer who currently hosts Giada at Home on Food Network. This Italian-born chef is also a regular guest co-host and contributor on Today of NBC. She particularly specializes in Italian cuisine and once became a winner of the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lifestyle Host. In 2008, she collaborated with the Barilla Group in launching the first gourmet celebrity product line of Academia Barilla. She founded the catering business known as GDL Foods and was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame in 2012.

4. Bobby Flay

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Bobby Flay is another American celebrity chef who owns and leads several restaurants in ten locations worldwide, including Mesa Grill in Las Vegas and the Bahamas, Bobby Flay Steak in Atlantic City, Bobby’s Burger Palace and Bar American in New York City and Uncasville. Since his debut, Flay has hosted several television programs and specials on Food Network. Known as one of the most adorable celebrity chef today, he has published several cookbooks and has received many awards since his debut.

3. Wolfgang Puck

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This Austrian celebrity chef and restaurateur is one of the most celebrated chefs in the world because of his cooking prowess and lovely personality.  He rose to popularity because of his first published book, the Modern French Cooking for the American Kitchen, which was based on his Ma Maison recipes. An honorary chair chef for the “Five Star Sensation” Benefit in Ohio, Puck runs a broad range of businesses which include catering services, restaurants, licensed products and cookbooks. He is best known for his signature dish, the House Smoked Salmon Pizza, and currently holds Michelin Stars. He was also recently inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame.

2. Paula Deen

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Paula Deen is a cooking show host and celebrity chef who operates her own The Lady & Sons Restaurant with her sons Bobby and Jamie Deen. Since her rise as a celebrity cook, she has published a total of fourteen cookbooks which include The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cooking and The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cooking 2. She also appeared as guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002, 2007 and 2010 and has been featured in Extraordinary Comebacks: 201 Inspiring Stories of Courage, Triumph and Success. Paula Deen has also been with Food Network since 1999.

1. Gordon Ramsay

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Considered the most popular celebrity chef today, Gordon Ramsay is known around the world for his cooking skills and for his shows entitled Kitchen Nightmares and Hell’s Kitchen. He has already been awarded a total of fifteen Michelin Stars since the beginning of his career and his signature restaurant is the Restaurant Gordon Ramsay which is currently located in Chelsea, London.

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Top 10 Negative Effects of Drinking Coffee

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world together with beer and water. About 83 percent of the US population drinks coffee and the number is steadily growing each year. Coffee is not anymore served in black or with plain cream and sugar. Today, it comes in all sorts of tastes and style – from brewed, frappuccino, and decaffeinated. Drinking coffee is a customary act in all kinds of occasions and it is one of the favorite past times of people around the world. It is present at workplaces, homes, and even during vacation holidays. While many people enjoy the coffee leisure, only a fraction is well knowledgeable about the risks and dangers of taking too much caffeine. Remember, caffeine is not deadly by nature but it can trigger risk factors causing serious health conditions. Below are some of the negative effects that excessive caffeine intake may bring.

10. Cardiovascular problems.

Caffeine intake, regardless of the amount, increases heart rate and elevates blood pressure level. In a worst-case scenario, it can trigger a heart attack. Caffeine along does not cause hypertensive attacks but it can be a factor affecting strokes and coronary vasospasms. People with a family lineage of heart diseases should refrain from drinking coffee especially when they reach 35 years of age.

9. Stress.

Surprisingly, coffee does not help you deal with stress effectively. In fact, caffeine intake increases the production of stress hormones called Cortisol. When the body produces too much of these negative adrenal hormones, it causes irritability, muscular fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, and indigestion among many other things leading to sickness. People normally drink coffee to keep the adrenaline at an optimum level and help them stay awake. In reality, it only alters the body clock which is detrimental to one’s health.

8. Emotional disturbances.

Contrary to popular beliefs, coffee does not necessarily increase a person’s energy level. Caffeine is a natural downer and though some people may feel invigorated upon drinking coffee, the long-term effects are disturbing. Depression occurs when the effect of caffeine wears out and the body needs to have the next dose just to feel and function “normally”. This is when the concept of coffee addiction comes in.

7. Blood sugar and insulin problems.

People with diabetes and other insulin-related problems tend to say that decaffeinated coffee should do the trick in order for them to keep a balanced blood sugar level. This is an issue of mental conditioning because in reality, caffeine intake causes the overproduction of insulin in just a matter of few hours. People with weight problems should refrain from drinking coffee because the body’s biological language allows excess sugar to be stored as fat. It also makes you crave for carbohydrate and glucose-rich food. This is the same case with sodas and other beverages, so unless you will completely strain yourselves from these temptations, you will still experience insulin challenges at one point in your life.

6. Gastrointestinal problems.

Drinking coffee with an empty stomach can really be hazardous to health, and this is a scientific fact that is oftentimes ignored by many. Caffeine intake, regardless of the amount per instance, increases the production of hydrochloric acid (HCI). In normal body conditions, HCI is ideally produced to facilitate digestion. When the body reaches its height of HCI production, it will have difficulty producing enough amount to deal with a larger meal. This causes indigestion, diverticulitis, and in worse cases, colon cancer. This is the reason why people experience that burning sensation after they drink coffee. Hyperacidity can also lead to heartburn and gastro-esophageal reflux also known as “acid reflux”. Ulcer is not caused by caffeine but rather caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, but increased intake of coffee can worsen the thinning of the stomach. This is the same case with patients with spasms, gastritis, and Crohn’s disease. People diagnosed with hyperacidity or ulcers are advised to avoid caffeine intake regardless of the amount.

5. Nutritional deficiencies.

Caffeine intake, not just coffee, causes serious nutritional deficiencies leading to osteoporosis. Caffeine inhibits the absorption of important nutrients in the body responsible for growth such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and other minerals.

4. Male reproductive health problems.

Caffeine is a natural diuretic substance and it causes the inflammation of the prostate gland, which then lead to urinary problems. Reduce your caffeine intake if you are experience sleeping troubles just because you have to get up several times just to pee.

3. Female reproductive health problems.

Drinking coffee has a profound effect for females, more than the normal perception. Health conditions such as PMS, osteoporosis, miscarriage, infertility problems, and fibrocystic breast problems are all exacerbated by caffeine intake. The ultimate culprit is the massive loss of magnesium and calcium that are important elements for lactating and pregnant women.

2. Adrenal exhaustion.

People tend to drink lots of coffee to keep them awake and accomplish more tasks. Ironically, caffeine makes the body weaker and more vulnerable to immune diseases. These include inflammation of the muscles, autoimmunity where the antibodies are not functioning well against bad bacteria, colds, flue, and over fatigue. During stressful and physically-demanding activities, the body naturally excretes adrenaline and other anti-aging hormones to cope up with the environmental condition. But with coffee intake, caffeine automatically replaces these good hormones which is similar to a car running on an empty gas tank. As a result, you will most likely feel irritability, drowsiness, anger, and additional pressure. It is just making everything worse contrary to what you are expected to believe.

1. Accelerated aging.

Have you ever wondered why some people look older than their actual age? If you look closely to their diet plan, you should be able to notice a common denominator – coffee or any other caffeine-related products. Caffeine dehydrates the body. It takes out body water needed to replenish skin and melatonin, which is responsible for giving you a healthy glow. It drains cells particularly in the kidneys, giving you a hard time flushing toxins out of the body.

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Top 10 Youngest Billionaires 2014

A person’s net worth is the basis of wealth that is combination of profits, earnings, and other sources of income. Having a million dollar is already overwhelming, what more if you have gained a billion dollar. On this list you would find reputable, smart, and hardworking young men who have gained not just respect of older colleagues in the same field, rank, and business, but also wealth. Some individuals would die working so hard in a day, but can’t even reach a $1,000 earning or some less than $100 in a day. On this list you find bachelors and those who are under age 40 who have reached the peak of their careers, wherein they can live in a next two decades or more without even working a lot because they are self-made billionaires.

10. Fahd Hariri

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He is the 32-year old  richest man in Lebanon who inherited the wealth and businesses of his father, the late Prime Minister Rafig Hariri who died because of assassination. He has a playboy image, but he protected the inheritance that he received from his father, he built and collected several businesses. He has made several investments including Future TV Network, Dubai 5-star hotel, and other businesses around the world. His current total net worth is $6.9 billion.

9. Yang Huiyan

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She is one of the richest women in China and in the world. She is married and despite that there’s a sudden drop of their family’s wealth, she’s still part of the top 10 youngest billionaires in the world. She is the major shareholder of Country’s Garden Holdings. She is also the Vice President of the said company. Her current net worth is $6.9 billion.

8. Eduardo Saverin

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This 32-year old billionaire who resides in Singapore is a co-founder of the king of Social Media online, Facebook. He was born and raised in Brazil who has aided Mark Zuckerberg in launching Facebook while staying in the dormitory of Harvard University. It is indeed the largest social network in the world today. You could find more of the story of the case that he filed against Zuckerberg in the 2010 film entitled The Social Network. He has also renounced his US citizenship which was actually a smart move so he could avoid further taxes from the US. He still invests, and his current net worth is $4.1 billion.

7. Scott Duncan

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He is one of the heirs of their later father, Dan Duncan who founded the energy pipeline fortune. Because of his dividend plans his net worth has increased a year after he received his share in the company. His current net worth is $6.3 billion.

6. Albert von Thurn und Taxis

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The bachelor from Germany whose fullname is Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Prinz von Thurn und Taxis or in short Albert von Thurn und Taxis. He is also the 3^rd prince of Thurn and Taxis. He has been listed in youngest billionaires for a couple of times since his father demise. In fact, he was one  the youngest wealthiest men listed then at the age of 8. He earned a degree in Economics and Theology at the University of Edinburgh where he also completed his masters degree. His total net worth right now is $3.8 billion.

5. Drew Houston

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He is the CEO and founder of Dropbox who was born and raised in the United States on March 04, 1983. He completed Computer Science at Massachussetts Institute of Technology where he met his co-founder of Dropbox, Arash Ferdowsi. Before he finally found and dig his path to richness in the world of internet, he worked several startups like Accolade, Bit9, and Hubspot. His simple idea brought him the wealth and fame that he is enjoying right now. Simple things indeed can bring about great results which is an affirmation of what transpired in Drew Houston’s life. His net worth right now is estimated at $1.2 billion.

4. Anton Kathrein, Jr

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This 29-year old billionaire of the third generation heir of Kathrein-Werke AG that is known manufacturer of largest antenna in the world has a total net worth of $1.35 billion. Their family’s company is the leading provider of automotive, TV broadcast, and radio antennas. It also includes antenna, reception, and multimedia transmission systems. His family owns around 18 production sites across the globe and currently employs over 6,800 employees.

3. Mark Zuckerberg

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He is the CEO and co-founder of Facebook who was a computer programmer himself at the age of 12. His fondness in computer became his stepping stone in reaching the perk of his career and as a online business tycoon. He had not imagine that his simple aim to develop a networking site for the campus would have a remarkable impact not just to the people of this generation, but in his life. It did not only bring about wealth to him, but he became one of the youngest billionaires of the world. He was born and raised on May 14, 1984 in New York. Although, he has lived a comfortable life while growing up, but he never realized that he would reach this stage. Facebook already celebrated its 10^th year despite that he sold 18 million shares in December. His net worth has doubled, and became $28.5 billion.

2. Dustin Moskovitz

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He is the co-founder of Facebook too and is known as an internet entrepreneur. He has recently founded Asana that is growing fast as well with the assistance of his co-founder Justin Rosenstein in 2008. He is indeed a self-made billionaire because he did not receive any inheritance but his assets and net worth are all fruits of his ingenious mind and hardwork. He was born and raised in United States on May 22, 1984. His current net worth is $6.8 billion.

1. Perenna Kei & family

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She inherited last year his father’s wealth and businesses, but it was hard to find information about her when the news came out that everything was transferred to her, making her the youngest and newest billionaire in the world. She owns 85% of Logan Property Holdings which is a known Chinese Real Estate Developer. She finished Economics and Finance at University of London. This number one spot was actually held by Dustin Moskovitz, but took over by the beautiful young lady as the youngest billionaire today because she became heir of her father, Ji Haipen. Her current net worth at the age of 24 is $1.3 billion.

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