Aretah Ettarh is the Chef de Cuisine of Gramercy Tavern.

A New Jersey native, Aretah was exposed to a diverse set of cuisines growing up, positioning her well for a career in the kitchen. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Aretah enrolled in The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, earning an Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate.

In 2015, Aretah moved to New York City and began her career at Jean Georges and Nougatine. A regular guest at Gramercy Tavern during that time, Aretah officially joined the team as a line cook in 2016. In her current role as Chef de Cuisine, only the third in the restaurant’s 30-year history, Aretah works alongside Executive Chef Michael Anthony to implement and execute the restaurant’s celebrated seasonal menu. As a mentor and leader in the kitchen, Aretah was a recipient of The Lee Initiative’s Women in Culinary Spirits Mentee Program and was named a StarChefs “Rising Star” in 2023. In 2024 & 2025, Aretah was nominated for a James Beard Award in the category of “Best Chef: New York State.”

Generously supported by Vanessa and Chuck Ames