Ann Kearney Biography

Kearney earned her toque at the Greater Cincinnati Culinary Arts Academy. Five years after graduation she visited New Orleans for Mardi Gras celebration she left her home state of Ohio for New Orleans. In New Orleans, she worked at Mr. B's bistro, then at Bistro at the Maison de Ville hotel under John Neal; in 1991, she followed Neal to Peristyle.

Kearney credits her stint as sous-chef there for the development of her classic French cooking techniques. The flair for the flavors of New Orleans evolved during her three years with Emeril Lagasse, where she did everything from cooking on the line and developing cookbook recipes to researching and writing Emeril's TV show scripts. Kearney returned to Peristyle as its chef and proprietor shortly after Neal died.

In 2004, Kearney sold Peristyle and moved back to Ohio. She and her husband Tom Sand worked on Two Small Tomatoes, an all-natural organic garden.

On November 27, 2007, Kearney and Sand opened Rue Dumaine in Centerville, Ohio. "Rue Dumaine" was the street on which Peristyle was located. Rue Dumaine has gone on to win both awards and recognition for their food, wine list and service.

Riding on Rue Dumaine's success, Kearney and Sand plan to open Alligator Annie's, a Southern style social club, in 2013.

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