Grand Marshal

• Historical photo gallery of past Grand Marshals

Chef Emeril Lagasse, the well-known chef, best-selling author and television personality was chosen to be Grand Marshal of the 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade, themed "Passport to the World's Celebrations".

Grand Marshal Emeril Lagasse and his family cruise down the five and-a-half mile Parade Route in a 1910 Pierce-Arrow Model 48. It boasts luxurious features and stylish open coachwork made of lightweight cast aluminum and all of the trim is polished brass. Considered the quintessential Pierce, only sixteen others of this model are known to exist. The car, provided courtesy of the Nethercutt Collection, and decorated with floral arrangements by FTD florists, is driven by Jack Nethercutt who is accompanied by his wife Helen. Lagasse is joined by his wife Alden, and children E.J. and Meril as he kicks things up a notch in the 2008 Rose Parade.

Lagasse operates nine restaurants including three in New Orleans, two in Las Vegas, two in Orlando, one in Atlanta and one in Miami. He is also a national TV personality. Lagasse joined the Food Network in 1993 and celebrated his 1500th show with the network in 2005. He is the host of both "The Essence of Emeril" and "Emeril Live," which reaches more than 78 million homes daily. He has been nominated for numerous Emmy Awards, and was voted by Time magazine for having one of the "Top 10 TV Shows" during 1996.

Chef Emeril's first restaurant, Emeril's, opened in 1990 in the chic Warehouse District near downtown New Orleans. Two years later, he opened NOLA Restaurant in the French Quarter, and in 1995, Emeril brought his "New New Orleans" cooking to Las Vegas when he opened Emeril's New Orleans Fish House, located in the MGM Grand Hotel. Between 1998 and 2003, he opened Emeril's Delmonico in New Orleans' historic Garden District, Emeril's Orlando at Universal Studios City Walk, Delmonico Steakhouse in the Venetian Resort/Hotel/Casino, Emeril's Tchoup Chop at Universal Orlando's Royal Pacific Resort, Emeril's Atlanta at One Alliance Center and Emeril's Miami Beach at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. This summer, Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House will open at the Island View Casino Resort on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The recognition and awards he has garnered have made him known to food-loving Americans everywhere. His restaurants consistently win critical praise and top ratings. John Mariani of Esquire magazine dubbed Emeril's Restaurant "Restaurant of the Year" in 1990. In 1991, he received the coveted Wine Spectator "Grand Award." In 1999, People magazine named Emeril one of the "25 Most Intriguing People of the Year" and in 1998 he was chosen as "Chef of the Year" by GQ magazine. In 2004, Restaurants & Institutions magazine named him "Executive of the Year."

Lagasse is also a best-selling author. In 1993, he published the best-selling cookbook "Emeril's New New Orleans Cooking" which introduced his creative approach to Creole cuisine. Eleven other books have followed and as of 2005, 4.2 million copies of Lagasse's books have been sold.