Barbara Lynch

The Climb

Boston is the through-line in Barbara Lynch’s work: front-of-house service at the St. Botolph Club, then a first kitchen post cooking meals for priests in the rectory at the church across from her family’s home in South Boston, Massachusetts. From 1989, she worked with Todd English at Todd English, then moved into executive chef roles at Rocco's in Boston's theatre district, Boston, Massachusetts, and at Galleria Italiana in Boston, Massachusetts. The operator model in her record centers on multi-unit control. Barbara Lynch Gruppo in Boston, Massachusetts (until 2024) sat alongside No. 9 Park near Boston Common and Massachusetts State House, Boston, Massachusetts (1998–2024), and Plum Produce in Boston's South End, Boston, Massachusetts (from 2006), while she also oversaw a catering company and restaurants including Sportello, Drink, B&G Oysters, the Butcher Shop, Menton, and Stir in Boston, Massachusetts (until 2024). She was also working on opening at The Rudder in Gloucester, Massachusetts (until 2023).

Career - waitress — St. Botolph Club, Boston, Massachusetts - first kitchen job (cooking meals for priests in the rectory) — church across from her family's home, South Boston, Massachusetts - worked with Todd English — Todd English (from 1989) - executive chef — Rocco's, Boston's theatre district, Boston, Massachusetts - executive chef — Galleria Italiana, Boston, Massachusetts - chef-owner — Barbara Lynch Gruppo, Boston, Massachusetts (until 2024) - owner / restaurateur — No. 9 Park, near Boston Common and Massachusetts State House, Boston, Massachusetts (1998–2024) - owner / restaurateur — Plum Produce, Boston's South End, Boston, Massachusetts (from 2006)

Recognition

Barbara Lynch’s record includes the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurateur (2014), the Gourmand Award for Best Chef Cookbook in the US, Best Chef in the Northeast, Time magazine's Top 100 Most Influential People of the Year (2017), Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America, and Outstanding Wine Program.

FAQ Where did Barbara Lynch work before? Barbara Lynch's earlier career included St. Botolph Club, church across from her family's home, and Todd English. What recognition has Barbara Lynch received? James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Restaurateur (2014).