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Barbara Lynch

Barbara Lynch

Keynote Speaker: James Beard Award-Winner, One of America's Leading Chefs

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    Live Event Fee: $10,000 - $20,000
    Virtual Event Fee: Below $10,000
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Barbara Lynch Biography

James Beard Award-winner Barbara Lynch is regarded as one of Bostons, and the countrys, 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 Bostons esteemed St. Botolph Club piqued her interest in one day becoming a professional chef. During her early twenties, Barbara worked under some of Bostons greatest culinary talents including Chef Todd English, first at Michaelas then at Olives and later Figs. After working with Todd for several years, Lynch traveled to Italy where she learned about Italian 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 & Wines Ten Best New Chefs in America award.

In 1998, Lynch opened a restaurant of her own, No. 9 Park, in Bostons Beacon Hill neighborhood. The restaurant immediately received rave reviews from publications around the country and was named one of the Top 25 New Restaurants in America by Bon Apptit and Best New Restaurant by Food & Wine.

Lynch expanded her presence in Boston by opening two restaurants in the South End in 2003: B&G Oysters, serving exquisitely fresh oysters and New England classics, and The Butcher Shop, a wine bar and full service butcher shop. Barbara continued to grow her culinary empire by opening three unique concepts in succession: In 2005, Niche Catour, a catering company; Plum Produce in September 2006, and next door, Stir, a demonstration kitchen and cookbook store in 2007.

In fall 2008 Lynch launched two concepts in Bostons Fort Point neighborhood: Drink, a bar dedicated to the craft of the cocktail, and Sportello (Italian for counter service), Barbaras modern interpretation of a diner. Her catering company, 9 at Home (formerly Niche Catour), relocated to Fort Point in 2008 as well. In spring 2010 Barbara and her team opened the eagerly anticipated third concept in Bostons Fort Point neighborhood, Menton, a fine dining restaurant. Menton has received several accolades, including being named one of Bon Apptit and Esquire magazines best new restaurants in 2010, being nominated as a James Beard Foundation Awards 2011 finalist for Best New Restaurant, and a 4 star review from The Boston Globe. In 2012, Mentons reputation as a culinary destination earned the restaurant AAAs Five Diamond Award and Forbes Travel Guides Five-Star Award. Menton is the first and only Relais & Chteaux Property in Boston, and Barbara is the only female in the United States to hold the distinguished title of Grand Chef Relais & Chteaux.

Lynch's talents have continued to garner numerous accolades over the years, both locally and nationally. In 2003, The James Beard Foundation named her Best Chef Northeast and Travel & Leisure proclaimed No. 9 Park one of the Top 50 Restaurants in America. For two consecutive years, No. 9 Park was named Best Restaurant, General Excellence by Boston Magazine and Gourmet included it as one of Americas Top 50 Restaurants in 2006. In 2007, Boston Magazine named her Best Chef.

In 2013, Lynch was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America, a prestigious group of the most accomplished food and beverage professionals in the country, and she also received an honorary doctorate in public service from Northeastern University in recognition of her culinary and philanthropic contributions. In 2014, she received her second James Beard Foundation Award and named “Outstanding Restaurateur.” She is the second woman ever to receive this honor. In 2017, she was named to the TIME 100, Time Magazine’s annual list of the world’s most influential people.

Lynch and her recipes have been featured in many publications including Saveur, Boston Common, Bon Apptitt, The New York Times, and Inc. magazine. She was one of a handful of Bostonians to be profiled in the ABC-TV documentary series Boston 24/7 and is the subject of a documentary film entitled Amuse BoucheA Chefs Tale.

In 2009, Lynch was honored to receive the Crittenton Womens Unions Amelia Earhart Award. Past recipients include Doris Kearns Goodwin and Julia Child. She is also a member of distinguished industry organizations including the Bocuse dOr USAs Culinary Council, Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, and Les Matres Cuisiniers. Women Chefs & Restaurateurs presented her with the 2011 Barbara Tropp Presidents Award. As a member of the Bocuse dOr USA Culinary Council, Barbara judged the Bocuse dOr Commis and Finalist Competition in 2012. Because of her unique story and entrepreneurial insight, Barbara has had the privilege of participating as a panelist and speaker at events including The Ad Clubs Women in Leadership Forum, the Massachusetts Conference for Women, and Women Chefs & Restaurateurs National Conference.

Lynch's first cookbook, Stir: Mixing It Up in The Italian Tradition, was published by Houghton Mifflin in fall 2009 and immediately earned praise from both media and home cooks and received a prestigious Gourmand award for Best Chef Cookbook for the US. Stir was received enthusiastically by both the media and home cooks and received a prestigious Gourmand award for “Best Chef Cookbook” for the United States. Barbara’s second book, her memoir, Out of Line: A Life of Playing with Fire, was published in April 2017.

As the CEO of Barbara Lynch Gruppo, she oversees the operations of eight concepts and employs over 200 people. In addition to running her company, each year she dedicates time and resources to several neighborhood organizations around the city of Boston as well as a number of local and national philanthropic missions. In 2011, she and the Gruppo team launched an initiative dedicated to cultivating healthy, sustainable eating habits through hands-on learning ingardens and classrooms at Bostons at-risk schools.

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Barbara Lynch Videos

Chef Barbara Lynch Admire's New Orlean's Development Culture
The Dish: Chef Barbara Lynch
Guts and Passion Shaped my Career | Barbara Lynch

How do I book Barbara Lynch to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Barbara Lynch for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Barbara Lynch, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Barbara Lynch or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Barbara Lynch for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Barbara Lynch, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Barbara Lynch are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Barbara Lynch, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Barbara Lynch speak about?

Barbara Lynch is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Celebrity Chef, Food & Beverage, Motivational, Culture and Lifestyle.

Where does Barbara Lynch travel from?

Barbara Lynch generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Barbara Lynch?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Barbara Lynch for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Barbara Lynch for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Barbara Lynch or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Barbara Lynch is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Celebrity Chef, Food & Beverage and Motivational. The estimated speaking fee range to book Barbara Lynch for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Barbara Lynch generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Stephanie Izard, Sean Brock and Alice Waters. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Barbara Lynch for an upcoming event.

Barbara Lynch Videos

Chef Barbara Lynch Admire's New Orlean's Development Culture
The Dish: Chef Barbara Lynch
Guts and Passion Shaped my Career | Barbara Lynch

Barbara Lynch Reviews

  • We’ve received lots of positive feedback on the event. Barbara had great energy and it was a pleasure working with you!
    BAIN & Company - Jan 04 2021

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