People love a good comeback story, but in the culinary world, relationship timelines can be as messy as a dinner rush. Long before Anne Burrell was riding in horse-drawn carriages to marry Stuart Claxton, there was another high-profile name attached to the spiky-haired Worst Cooks in America star. That name was Koren Grieveson.
If you followed the Food Network back in 2012, you probably remember the "outing" that wasn't actually an outing. Ted Allen, the Chopped host, basically mentioned Anne’s sexuality on a radio show like it was common knowledge. Honestly, it kind of was in the industry, but the public went wild. Anne didn't skip a beat. She didn't hide. She just confirmed she’d been with her girlfriend for two years.
That Anne Burrell ex girlfriend wasn't just some random partner; she was a culinary heavyweight. Koren Grieveson is a James Beard Award winner. We’re talking about real-deal, high-end kitchen credentials. For a few years, they were the ultimate lesbian power couple of the food scene.
The Engagement That Had Everyone Talking
By the end of 2012, things looked like they were headed for a permanent "I do." On New Year's Eve, Anne jumped on Twitter (now X) to announce their engagement. They had traveled to Vieques, Puerto Rico, where the question was popped. It felt like the natural next step for two people who had survived the intense pressure of the New York and Chicago restaurant worlds.
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Koren even moved from Chicago to New York to be with Anne. That’s a massive sacrifice for a chef of her caliber. You don't just leave a successful post at a place like Avec unless you're serious. But as many fans noticed, the wedding date kept getting pushed. Then, the mentions of Koren started to fade from social media.
Why Did Anne Burrell and Her Ex Girlfriend Break Up?
The truth is, neither Anne nor Koren ever sat down for a "tell-all" about why they called it quits. In the world of celebrity chefs, schedules are brutal. You’re lucky if you see your partner for an hour between service and sleep.
When Anne eventually surfaced with a new outlook on love, she was candid about her past. She told Today that she had reached a point where she thought marriage just wasn't in the cards for her. That's a heavy admission. It suggests that the end of her relationship with Koren wasn't just a simple "we grew apart," but perhaps a fundamental shift in how she saw her future.
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Life After the Split
Koren Grieveson largely retreated from the massive spotlight that comes with being a Food Network "plus one." She’s a chef’s chef. She stayed focused on the food, taking roles at places like Resto in New York.
Anne, on the other hand, stayed in the public eye. Most people were genuinely shocked when she announced she was dating Stuart Claxton in 2018. Why? Because she had lived so authentically as a lesbian for years.
- The Bumble Factor: Anne met Stuart on a dating app.
- The Identity Shift: Some fans on Reddit and social media questioned the change, but Anne was clear: she fell for the person, not a label.
- The Marriage: They eventually tied the knot in 2021 in Cazenovia, New York.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Outing"
There's this lingering myth that Ted Allen "forced" Anne out of the closet. That’s not quite how it went down. Anne’s reps at the time were very clear that she wasn't offended. She’d been out to her colleagues and family for a long time.
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The Anne Burrell ex girlfriend era was a period of professional peak and personal transition. It’s a reminder that even the most confident, public figures have private lives that are way more nuanced than a 280-character tweet can capture.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking for the legacy of this relationship, don't look for drama. Look at the work.
- Check out Koren Grieveson’s work: She is an incredible talent who proved that you can be a "celebrity" chef without needing to be a "TV" chef.
- Respect the Pivot: Anne Burrell’s journey shows that life at 50 can look completely different than life at 40. Whether it’s a career shift or a new relationship, it’s never too late to change direction.
- Separate the Persona from the Person: The "tough-as-nails" mentor we see on Worst Cooks is a character. The real Anne has navigated public breakups and private grief with a lot more vulnerability than her TV fans might expect.
While Anne Burrell tragically passed away in 2025 at the age of 55, her impact on the culinary world—and her openness about her life and loves—remains a significant part of her story. She lived her life out loud, whether she was standing in a professional kitchen with Koren or starting a new chapter with Stuart.