Allegra Kent [own] parents. She borrowed a neighbor's working papers and took a job at twelve. By fourteen, she was teaching ballroom dancing at night in someone's private home, mostly to Japanese men". Born in Santa Monica, Kent studied with Bronislava Nijinska and Carmelita Maracci before joining the School of American Ballet. She discovered music and dance at the age of 7 and enjoyed both, but she was 11 before she took her first ballet lesson. She had completely flat feet as a little girl and consulted a doctor, who prescribed wedges in her shoes to give her arches. She then began
Allegra McEvedy Food Monthly" Awards. In March 2009 McEvedy gave up her role at Leon to focus on writing and television work, but she remains a shareholder in the business. McEvedy published her first book, "The Good Cook" (Hodder) in 2000, and in October 2006 published her second, "Allegra McEvedy's Colour Cookbook" (Kyle Cathie). It won the International Association of Culinary Professionals 2007 Cookbook award in the Chefs and Restaurants category. In October 2008 her third book, "Leon: Ingredients & Recipes" (Conran Octopus); Giles Coren of "The Times" said it was "Without doubt, the coolest food book I have ever seen." McEvedy