Nestled in New York City‘s historic West Village, Jody Williams‘ culinary empire began with a simple yet revolutionary idea: the all-day café-bistro known as Buvette Gastrothèque. Williams, born in California around 1963 and raised in Sacramento by a single working mother, developed her culinary skills at her father’s hot dog stand in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf before relocating to New York City at age 24.
After working at several notable establishments including Tappo Italian restaurant and Morandi, Williams opened Buvette on Grove Street in 2011. The concept quickly gained recognition for its honest rustic French-Italian fare served in a casually elegant setting. Williams’ approach to hospitality focuses on creating a supremely convivial atmosphere where guests can enjoy food and drinks at any time of day. She has been celebrated for her ability to create enchanting culinary enclaves that transport diners to another time and place. Her restaurants in central locations ensure that guests can easily access iconic sites and enjoy convenient public transport connections.
Following Buvette’s success in New York, Williams expanded the concept internationally, opening locations in Paris (2013), Tokyo (2018), and London (2020). Now, Williams plans to reinvigorate the London culinary scene with her Buvette concept, bringing her distinctive blend of French-Italian cuisine to a new audience of discerning diners.
From New York to Paris, Tokyo to London, Williams’ Buvette serves up convivial French-Italian charm to discerning diners worldwide.
Williams’ culinary journey has been marked by significant achievements, including the 2019 James Beard Award for Best Chef New York City and the 2013 French Le Fooding Award for Buvette Paris. Her restaurants have been praised in prestigious publications like the New York Times and Vogue, and featured in the 2020 Michelin Guide. Her culinary expertise was honed during her training in Italy with chef Kathy Casey when she was 25 years old.
Beyond Buvette, Williams has built a family of restaurants with her wife and business partner Rita Sodi, whom she married in 2015. Their collaborative partnership began as a way to spend more time together while pursuing their culinary passions. Their joint venture, Via Carota, opened in 2014 and has garnered its own accolades. Together, they’ve created Officina 1397, encompassing five eateries, a wine shop, and a provisions shop clustered in the West Village.
Williams has also shared her culinary expertise through publications, including “Buvette: The Pleasure of Good Food” and the bestselling “Via Carota: A Celebration of Seasonal Cooking,” bringing her distinctive approach to good food to home cooks worldwide.
