Sophie Pic, of Maison Pic in Valence, France, was announced the Best Female Chef for 2011, beating Italian chef Nadia Santini, and Elena Arzak from Spain. The award is established by Veuve Clicquot and is aimed at celebrating women who attained sucess in their careers, in food service industry, which is recognized to be men-dominated.

Pic, who is fourth-generation chef, first made headlines in 2007, when she was awarded 3 Michelin stars for her work in the restaurant she has inherited from her father and grand-father. She was the first female chef in France to be granted such an award.

To learn more about this year’s best female chef and her business, please visit www.pic-valence.fr.

The Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef was introduced this year. 837 voters of the Electrolux World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy participated in selection of the winner.

Stephane Gerschel, Director of International Communications at Veuve Clicquot, said: «We are delighted to announce Anne-Sophie Pic as this year’s winner of the World&’s Best Female Chef. Anne-Sophie Pic’s achievements at Maison Pic exemplify what the Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef award set out to identify. She is known for her commitment to innovation and creativity whilst observing and honouring the traditions of the restaurant set up by her grandfather. As in Madame Clicquot’s case 200 years ago, Anne-Sophie Pic also sets the standard for women in the creative culinary arts and Veuve Clicquot would like to congratulate her on this fantastic accomplishment.»