Monday 8th March marks International Women’s Day – a celebration of social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and a day to raise awareness on equality issues still faced by women all over the world today.

One area where the achievements of women are overlooked is the food industry. The restaurant and fine-dining scene has long been dominated by men, with male head chefs getting much of the recognition and time in the limelight. So, in honour of International Women’s Day, we’d like to turn your attention to 5 culinary queens who’ve had a huge part to play in the world of food.

Clare Smyth

Clare Smyth began her career in a local restaurant at the age of 15. Less than 30 years later, she’s lauded by many as the best female chef in the world. Her award-filled career has seen her cater the royal wedding reception, and become the first female to run a three-Michelin-star restaurant, when she was appointed head chef at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant.

Smyth later left the post to open her very own restaurant, Core. Just this year, Core was awarded three Michelin stars of its own – making Smyth not only the first female head chef to run a restaurant of this standard, but now the first British female chef to own one, too.

Julia Child

Julia Child had one of the more unique paths into the cooking industry. First a top-secret researcher for the American army during WW2, she later became an assistant to developers creating shark repellent, to keep them away from underwater explosives targeting the German navy. Child helped keep sharks at bay by ‘cooking’ up concoctions to sprinkle in the water and deter sharks.

After the war and her unusual first foray into cooking, Child moved to Paris, where she fell in love with French cuisine and attended the prestigious cooking school, Le Cordon Bleu. Enamoured by French food, Child joined two other female chefs to create a French cookbook for an American audience, paving the way for Child to write food columns, star in multiple TV shows, and be credited for bringing French cuisine to America.

Alice Waters

While much of the fine dining scene was traditionally centred around luxury ingredients from far far away, Alice Waters found fame as a chef by using local, organic produce. This way of cooking is typical of ‘Californian cuisine’ – a food movement pioneered by Waters with the opening of her restaurant ‘Chez Panisse’ in 1971.

Water’s passion for local produce extends well beyond her restaurant. She’s also the founder of the ‘Edible Schoolyard’ project, which teaches students the importance of sustainability through hands-on agriculture classes in fruit and vegetable gardens in the school premises.

Cristeta Comerford

Cristeta Comerford’s current job title will tell you all you need to know about her success in the culinary field. She currently holds the position as White House Executive Chef – and has done since 2005, when she became the first female to do so. Comerford’s Filipino roots also make her the first person of Asian origins to hold this prestigious post.

As White House Executive Chef, Comerford has to manage kitchens, create menus and prepare meals for the President and all his family. Her responsibilities mean she has to make sure tummies are filled at both private presidential dinners and larger White House functions – no pressure.

Tao Huabi

You might not know the name – but you’ll definitely know the face. Tao Huabi is the spicy godmother behind China’s favourite spicy sauce, Lao Gan Ma. Tao was born into poverty in a village in Guizhou province. She worked tirelessly making tofu, before eventually being able to open a small noodles restaurant serving cold noodles and her own home-made chilli sauce – the latter of which proved incredibly popular among local patrons and even other noodle restaurants.

Seeing an opportunity, Tao started handing out her sauce to truck drivers from out of town, which quickly saw her popularity grow and grow in other regions of China. At the age of 49, Tao’s entrepreneurial spirit took full charge as she opened a sauce factory, and the rest is history. Tao now has an estimated worth of over $1 billion, and is a member of the Chinese Communist Party.