April Bloomfield
April Bloomfield | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974 Birmingham, West Midlands, England |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | The Spotted Pig, The Breslin Bar & Dining Room, Sailor |
April Bloomfield (born 1974) is a British-American culinary professional recognized for launching two prominent New York dining venues: The Spotted Pig (which closed on January 26, 2020) and The Breslin Bar & Dining Room. Her earlier career includes experience at esteemed UK restaurants such as The River Café and Bibendum.
Early life and education
Originating from Birmingham, West Midlands, England, Bloomfield initially aspired to join the police force but chose to pursue culinary studies alongside her sister, where she uncovered her enthusiasm for cooking. Following her education, she gained experience at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham before relocating to London to work at Kensington Place and subsequently at Bibendum. After a brief stint in Northern Ireland, she returned to London and secured a position at The River Café, which she credits as foundational to her culinary expertise.
Career
During her tenure at The River Café, Bloomfield was approached by American chef Mario Batali, through a recommendation from Jamie Oliver, to help establish a bistro-style eatery in New York City. After an extensive interview process, she moved to New York in 2003, having spent the previous summer at Chez Panisse to gain familiarity with American ingredients. She co-created the gastropub The Spotted Pig alongside business partner Ken Friedman, which received a Michelin star in 2005—the first Michelin star awarded in New York City.
Bloomfield broadened her ventures by opening The Breslin at the Ace Hotel New York, which also earned a Michelin star, along with The John Dory Oyster Bar located within the same hotel. In collaboration with Friedman, she introduced Salvation Taco at the Pod 39 Hotel in New York City and revitalized San Francisco’s Tosca Cafe. In 2016, they launched Salvation Burger at the Pod 51 Hotel in Midtown East.
Spotted Pig scandal
In December 2017, co-owner Ken Friedman of The Spotted Pig faced allegations of sexual harassment reported by the New York Times. Several employees claimed that April Bloomfield was aware of these incidents but responded dismissively by advising staff to "get used to it" or leave. Bloomfield later admitted that the restaurant’s infamous third-floor area was referred to as 'the rape room'. Following these revelations, Friedman stepped down from his managerial role, and Bloomfield publicly apologized for her failure to safeguard her employees.
Subsequently, Bloomfield and Friedman dissolved their business partnership. She defended her previous silence by describing an abusive workplace atmosphere, including threats from Friedman to revoke her green card if she did not comply with his demands.
Sailor
In September 2023, Bloomfield debuted Sailor in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene district in partnership with restaurateur Gabriel Stulman. The establishment earned a 3-star critique from The New York Times reviewer Pete Wells and was later recognized as one of the top 100 restaurants in New York City for 2024.
Honors
Chef Bloomfield holds the record for the highest score achieved by a challenger on Iron Chef America, defeating Michael Symon in 2008 with a score of 56–53. In 2012, she was among ten female chefs across the United States awarded a Michelin star; however, she lost this distinction several years afterward.
Published works
- A Girl and Her Pig (2012, Ecco, New York)
- A Girl and Her Greens (2015, Ecco, New York)