Rebecca Wilcomb

The Path

Rebecca Wilcomb’s work is built through repetition: line time, station work, and the accumulation of habits that hold under pressure. Early roles as chef at Harvest in Cambridge, Massachusetts, then at Casablanca and Oleana, put her in kitchens where precision had to be earned service by service. Those years show up later in New Orleans, where direct seasoning, balance, and clarity matter on every pass. At Herbsaint in New Orleans, LA (2008–2011), she worked the line inside a kitchen known for exacting standards. That kind of service sharpens timing, movement, and consistency. From 2011, as Head Chef at Herbsaint in New Orleans, LA, she took on broader responsibility and kept the same practical discipline, with authority coming from having done the work at every station. In 2019, she also became executive chef and partner at Gianna in New Orleans, where her work centered on authentic Italian cuisine. From 2019 she has been chef at Gianna in New Orleans. The focus there rewards restraint, structure, and respect for ingredients already carrying their own weight.

The Work Today

Sicilian beef with anchovies and olives is one signature that shows Wilcomb’s range at Gianna. The dish sits in a savory register: briny, layered, and direct. It reflects a way of cooking that builds depth without crowding the plate, letting salt, richness, and brightness work against each other in balance. Her method is guided by testing rather than trend. That keeps the kitchen moving through trial, adjustment, and repetition instead of fixed ideas. “We’re not thinking about trends; we're just thinking of things to try.”

Career - chef — Harvest, Cambridge, Massachusetts - chef — Casablanca - chef — Oleana - working the line — Herbsaint, New Orleans, LA (2008–2011) - Head Chef — Herbsaint, New Orleans, LA (from 2011) - chef — Gianna, New Orleans (from 2019)

Signature

Rebecca's signature dishes include tortellini in brodo and Sicilian beef with anchovies and olives. Together they show two useful poles in her cooking: one based in broth, delicacy, and a quieter kind of comfort; the other in brine, depth, and a more forceful savory line. In both dishes, the structure is clear and the flavors are placed with intent.

In Their Words “We’re not thinking about trends; we're just thinking of things to try.”

FAQ Where did Rebecca Wilcomb work before? Rebecca Wilcomb's earlier career included Harvest, Casablanca, and Oleana. What recognition has Rebecca Wilcomb received? James Beard Award for Best Chef: South.