Hedda Dowd

Epicure and Francophile Hedda Gioia Dowd is the creative founder of rise restaurant in Dallas, Texas. In 2008, she opened the premier French restaurant along with renowned chef Cherif Brahmi to bring the French experience to Dallas. Rise has received rave reviews from the New York Times, the Dallas Morning News, Texas Monthly, D Magazine, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, among others. The restaurant's light and classic French fare has a few clever twists, but the focus of the menu is on the...See more

Epicure and Francophile Hedda Gioia Dowd is the creative founder of rise restaurant in Dallas, Texas. In 2008, she opened the premier French restaurant along with renowned chef Cherif Brahmi to bring the French experience to Dallas. Rise has received rave reviews from the New York Times, the Dallas Morning News, Texas Monthly, D Magazine, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, among others. The restaurant's light and classic French fare has a few clever twists, but the focus of the menu is on the soufflé. In addition to working in the culinary world, Dowd's love of French-style cooking and entertaining led her to found Antique Harvest in 1997, a unique company that collects and sells fine French antiques for everyday living. Dowd's endeavor met with great critical acclaim, and she received attention from publications such as Food & Wine, Town & Country, and Martha Stewart Living. Despite her lack of formal culinary training, Dowd's experience and love for the French lifestyle have made her an expert on both the country's food and culture. Born to an Italian father and a French mother, she has spent every summer since childhood in France and her passion for French food grew with her. Dowd resides in Dallas. See less