Carvel Grant Gould

Carvel Grant Gould, Executive Chef of Canoe in Atlanta, Georgia, earned her place among Atlanta's top chefs the hard way. As a young student at the University of Georgia, Gould made the decision to pursue her culinary interests much to the chagrin of her family. Gould's mother approached her longtime friend, Gerry Klaskala, who was working at Buckhead Diner, in hopes that he could help mentor, and perhaps even discourage, the aspiring chef. Klaskala, now currently Executive Chef and owner of Aria, offered to give Gould a first-hand look at the culinary world as a line cook.

While at the Buckhead Diner, Gould became a culinary scholar, learning as much as possible from the brilliant and experienced chefs under which she worked. Klaskala recognized Gould's talent and dedication and when the time came for him to launch Canoe, Gould was offered a place on his team. In 1995, she opened Canoe as a line cook. Five years later, Klaskala opened Aria and Gould found a new mentor in Canoe's next Executive Chef, Gary Mennie. When Mennie left Canoe to open Taurus in 2005, Gould was ready and able to take on the role for herself.

One of the most magical aspects of Carvel’s talent is the way she infuses her passionate, feminine sensibility into all of her dishes. “As I think of new dishes, I can actually taste the flavors in my head,” she says. “Finding the freshest ingredients, respecting their flavors and applying solid cooking techniques in the kitchen is how they come to life.”

canoeatl.com