Suzanne’s incredible culinary career started at a young age, when she interned during high school at Ma Maison. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she continued to work in some of the most acclaimed restaurants including L’Orangerie, Al Forno in Providence, Olives in Boston, and Chez Panisse in Berkeley. After graduation from Brown University, she ventured to France to hone her culinary skills, at Alain Passard’s three-star Arpege, Didier Oudill’s two-star Pain and Patisserie Christian Pottier.
Upon returning to Los Angeles she worked at Mark Peel’s Campanile, becoming the executive chef, and laying the groundwork for her own restaurant. Suzanne opened Lucques in 1998 with her business partner Caroline Styne in West Hollywood. Lucques was an immediate success, and Suzanne was named one of Food and Wine magazine’s “Best New Chefs” in 1999 plus received a prestigious 3-star review by the Los Angeles Times. A.O.C., a groundbreaking concept of inspired wines by the glass with a small plates menu opened in 2002. A third restaurant, The Hungry Cat, followed in 2005, with her husband Chef David Lentz. Successful additions along the way include Tavern in 2009, Larder in 2011, and a move of A.O.C. in 2012.
Chef Goin has received many accolades from the James Beard Foundation over the years, including Best Cookbook from a Professional Viewpoint for Sunday Suppers at Lucques and Best Chef California in 2005. In 2016 she won for Outstanding Chef of the Year. She became the 11th chef, and first woman in the United States to win the GAYOT Restaurateur of the Year 2019. Suzanne’s second book, The A.O.C. Cookbook, brings the small-plate recipes a.o.c. is known for into main courses for the home chef.
Suzanne and her husband David live in Los Angeles with their three children.