Name: Amanda Moll
City, State: Washington, D.C.
Age: 25
Profession: Executive Sous Chef, Doi Moi
In a few words, how would you describe yourself?
A determined and loyal person combined with the nature of a goofball.
Your favorite hangout spots.
A League of Her Own is definitely my second home. I am there way too often, but wouldn’t have it any other way. There is a sense of community due to the wonderful staff, regulars, and good vibes.
Favorite guilty pleasure.
This is a tough one. Dancing the night away with friends, going around the streets of D.C., being at the bottom of a puppy mountain…you know the usual things that can make your day a little brighter, and a little more fun.
Favorite quote.
“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” —Marilyn Monroe
Who is your biggest influence? And why?
I definitely have a few, but the top two are my mentor Johanna Hellrigl, Executive Chef of Fat Baby Restaurant Group, and my mom. Johanna pushes me every day to be my best inside and outside of the kitchen, and also, she is brutally honest when I need it. And, my mom taught me patience and kindness. They allow me to grow as a chef, a leader, a friend, and a daughter.
Favorite event.
They let me into the James Beard House to cook earlier this year. I was lucky enough to be one of the all-women crew Chef Johanna put together. We really got to show New York and D.C. what lady chefs are all about. We had too much fun cooking and laughing the night away.
Do you have any regrets in life?
My only regret would be that I didn’t come out earlier. I grew up in a place where the only openly out gay person I knew got thrown out of his home. I wish I spoke up so he was not alone in his fight. I am very proud of who I am today and only wish I got to showcase the amazing attributes of being a young lesbian woman earlier.
Favorite lesbian celebrity.
Kate McKinnon has been killing the game lately.
Any fun facts or anything else you want our readers to know?
Doi Moi—where I work—is an all female-run restaurant front of house and back, meaning all the Chefs and managers are women.
Also, I was on the team that won the Little League Softball World Series in 2005.
