Elizabeth Kief is best known as the first wife of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. The couple married in 1978 and had two daughters, Jessica and Jillian Lagasse. Their marriage ended in the late 1980s. After the split, Elizabeth largely stayed away from public attention, and very little is known about her current life.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Elizabeth Kief |
| Known for | Emeril Lagasse’s first wife |
| Date of birth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Age | Not reliably known |
| Birthplace | Not publicly confirmed |
| Nationality | Not clearly confirmed |
| Former husband | Emeril Lagasse |
| Marriage | 1978 |
| Divorce | Late 1980s, reportedly around 1986 |
| Children | Jessica Lagasse and Jillian Lagasse |
| Profession | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
| Current residence | Not publicly known |
Early Life and Family
Very little information is publicly available about Elizabeth Kief’s early life.
Her exact date of birth has not been confirmed. Her birthplace is also not clearly documented in the available sources.
There is no reliable public information about her parents, siblings, or childhood.
Her nationality is also not directly confirmed in the material available.
Education
Elizabeth Kief’s educational background is not well documented.
There is no reliable information about the school, college, or university she attended. No degree or field of study has been publicly confirmed.
How Elizabeth Kief Met Emeril Lagasse
Elizabeth reportedly met Emeril Lagasse while he was working at a restaurant to help pay for culinary school.
At the time, Emeril was still at the beginning of his career. He had not yet become the well-known chef, restaurant owner, and television personality he would later become.
The exact restaurant and date of their first meeting are not clearly identified.
Marriage to Emeril Lagasse
Elizabeth and Emeril reportedly married in 1978.
Their marriage took place during the early years of Emeril’s culinary career. He was still working long hours and trying to establish himself professionally.
The couple later became parents to two daughters.
Some reports say the marriage ended around 1986, while others describe the divorce as taking place in the late 1980s.
The exact legal divorce date is not clearly established in the available information.
Their Life in Massachusetts and New Orleans
Elizabeth and Emeril raised their daughters for a time in Somerset, Massachusetts, near Emeril’s hometown of Fall River.
The family later moved to New Orleans, where Emeril continued building his career in professional kitchens.
During these years, Emeril has said he worked very long hours and sometimes held two jobs while trying to support his family and develop his career.
After Elizabeth and Emeril separated, Elizabeth reportedly returned to the Northeastern United States with their daughters.
Elizabeth Kief’s Children
Elizabeth and Emeril Lagasse have two daughters:
- Jessica Lagasse
- Jillian Lagasse
Both daughters later developed careers connected in different ways to food, wellness, and hospitality.
They are Emeril Lagasse’s two eldest children.
Who Is Jessica Lagasse?
Jessica Lagasse was born in August 1979.
She grew up around food because of her father’s career and later developed a strong interest in cooking.
Jessica was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity in 2001. She began experimenting with gluten-free recipes and eventually worked with her sister Jillian on cookbooks.
The sisters published:
- The Gluten-Free Table: The Lagasse Girls Share Their Favorite Meals in 2012
- The Lagasse Girls’ Big Flavor, Bold Taste and No Gluten in 2014
Jessica is married to Steven Swanson.
They have two sons, Jude and John Peter.
Who Is Jillian Lagasse?
Jillian Lagasse was born on October 10, 1981.
She showed an interest in cooking from a young age and later helped her father with cookbook projects, cooking events, and book tours.
Jillian was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2004.
She also built a separate career in beauty and wellness.
In 2004, she moved to London to attend makeup school. She later worked as a massage therapist and aesthetician.
She also worked as a staff makeup artist on some of Emeril’s television programs, including The Originals and Emeril’s Table.
In 2024, she was reported to be working as an aesthetician at Blush Beauty Lounge in Sarasota, Florida.
Jillian is married to Andrew Yeum.
They have one daughter, Eleanor “Ellie” Yeum.
Elizabeth Kief as a Grandmother
Elizabeth is a grandmother through both of her daughters.
Her known grandchildren are:
- Jude
- John Peter
- Eleanor “Ellie” Yeum
The available sources do not provide details about Elizabeth’s relationship with her grandchildren.
Who Is Emeril Lagasse?
Emeril Lagasse is an American chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality.
He was born on October 15, 1959, in Fall River, Massachusetts.
He studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, and graduated in 1978.
After further culinary training, Emeril moved to New Orleans and became executive chef at Commander’s Palace in 1982.
He later opened his own restaurants and became widely known through television.
His major television programs have included:
- The Essence of Emeril
- Emeril Live
- Emeril Green
- Emeril’s Florida
He also appeared on Top Chef and Good Morning America.
His television catchphrases included “Bam!” and “Kick it up a notch.”
Emeril Lagasse’s Career During Their Marriage
Elizabeth was married to Emeril before he became a major television personality.
During their marriage, he was still developing his culinary career and working long hours.
Emeril later said that becoming a father at a young age was difficult because he was trying to balance work and family.
He has said that he sometimes worked about 80 hours a week, six days a week, while holding two jobs.
Elizabeth therefore experienced the early years of his career before his later restaurant and television success.
Divorce and Family Separation
After Elizabeth and Emeril separated, Elizabeth reportedly moved back to the Northeast with Jessica and Jillian.
This meant Emeril had a long-distance relationship with his daughters for a period of time.
He later said that he arranged visits with them and continued trying to maintain a close relationship.
The available accounts mainly describe this period from Emeril’s point of view. Elizabeth herself has not publicly shared much about the divorce.
Emeril Lagasse’s Later Family
After his marriage to Elizabeth ended, Emeril married again.
He later married Alden Lovelace, with whom he has two more children:
- Emeril John “E.J.” Lagasse IV
- Meril Lovelace Lagasse
E.J. and Meril are Elizabeth Kief’s former step-family connections through Emeril, but they are not her children.
E.J. later followed his father into professional cooking and became closely involved with Emeril’s flagship restaurant.
Elizabeth Kief’s Career
Elizabeth Kief’s own profession is not clearly documented.
The available sources focus mainly on her marriage to Emeril and their daughters.
There is no reliable information confirming a long-term career, business, public office, or professional achievement.
Where Is Elizabeth Kief Now?
Very little is publicly known about Elizabeth Kief’s current life.
There is no reliable information about:
- Her current residence
- Her current job
- Whether she remarried
- Her recent public appearances
She appears to have kept a private life after her divorce from Emeril.
Elizabeth Kief’s Net Worth
Elizabeth Kief’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Emeril Lagasse has had a successful career in restaurants, television, books, and food products, but his financial success should not be treated as Elizabeth’s personal wealth.
No reliable public financial records give a clear estimate of Elizabeth’s assets or income.
Social Media
No verified public social media accounts belonging to Elizabeth Kief have been clearly identified.
She does not appear to have a widely known public presence on Instagram, Facebook, X, or other major platforms.
Interesting Facts
- Elizabeth Kief was Emeril Lagasse’s first wife.
- She reportedly met Emeril while he was working at a restaurant during his culinary-school years.
- They married in 1978.
- They had two daughters, Jessica and Jillian Lagasse.
- Jessica was born in August 1979.
- Jillian was born on October 10, 1981.
- The family lived in Massachusetts before moving to New Orleans.
- Elizabeth and Emeril divorced in the late 1980s.
- Some reports place the divorce around 1986.
- After the separation, Elizabeth reportedly returned to the Northeast with their daughters.
- Jessica and Jillian later became cookbook authors.
- Elizabeth has at least three known grandchildren.
- Her date of birth, profession, current residence, and net worth are not reliably known.
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