Rishia Haas is best known as the former wife of celebrity chef and television host Andrew Zimmern, star of Bizarre Foods. While her ex-husband built a career in front of the camera, Haas took the opposite path. She built a quiet, purposeful life centered on family, community work, and personal growth. This article looks at her early life, her marriage to Zimmern, her career, and where she stands today.
Rishia Haas Bio Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rishia Anne Haas |
| Known For | Ex-wife of chef Andrew Zimmern |
| Birthplace | Champlin, Minnesota, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Anoka High School, Augsburg College |
| Occupation | Administrative assistant, recovery support worker |
| Spouse | Andrew Zimmern (m. 2002, divorced 2018) |
| Child | Son, Noah Zimmern (born 2005) |
| Residence | Edina, Minnesota |
| Notable Employer | Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation |
Early Life and Education
Rishia Haas was born and raised in Minnesota, growing up in a close-knit, middle-class family. Her parents raised her with a strong sense of responsibility and community awareness, values that shaped her outlook well into adulthood. She attended Anoka High School, where she balanced academics with volunteer work, an early sign of the service-oriented path she would later follow.
After high school, Haas enrolled at Augsburg College (now Augsburg University) in Minneapolis. There, she developed skills in communication and organization that would later support her administrative career. Unlike her future husband, Haas never sought a public career in entertainment or media; she preferred steady, behind-the-scenes work.
How Rishia Haas Met Andrew Zimmern
Haas and Zimmern crossed paths in the late 1990s at a Minneapolis cooking school. Zimmern taught culinary classes there, and Haas worked at the school’s connected store. Their early conversations grew into a genuine friendship built on a shared interest in food.
At the time, Zimmern was rebuilding his life after a well-documented struggle with addiction and homelessness. Haas’s work in recovery support gave her an understanding of what he was going through, and that understanding helped their relationship grow. Despite a twenty-year age gap, the couple grew close and began dating seriously before deciding to marry.
Marriage to Andrew Zimmern
Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern married on December 26, 2002, in a small, private ceremony surrounded by close family and friends. Three years later, in 2005, they welcomed their only child, a son named Noah. The timing of their marriage lined up closely with the early growth of Zimmern’s television career, which premiered Bizarre Foods in 2006.
As Zimmern’s fame grew, his travel schedule grew with it, and the couple’s family life came under increasing strain. Zimmern has openly admitted that his career took priority over his time at home. In multiple interviews, he acknowledged that his absence put pressure on his marriage and his relationship with his son.
Divorce and Life After Zimmern
After 16 years of marriage, Haas and Zimmern divorced in 2018. Both described the split as amicable, and they have continued to co-parent Noah together since. Zimmern has spoken candidly about his role in the marriage’s end, once telling The New York Times that he “wasn’t there” for his wife or his son the way he should have been.
Despite the public nature of Zimmern’s career, Haas has kept her post-divorce life almost entirely private. She has avoided social media and interviews, choosing instead to focus on raising her son and maintaining her own sense of stability. Zimmern has continued to speak highly of her, once calling her the “bravest mom” he knows in a Mother’s Day tribute on Instagram.
Career and Personal Interests
Professionally, Rishia Haas has built a career around administrative work and recovery support services. She worked as an admissions coordinator at The Retreat, a Minnesota rehabilitation center, before joining the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation as an administrative assistant. This organization is one of the most respected addiction treatment and research institutions in the country.
Beyond her career, Haas has also developed an interest in beekeeping, reportedly working with the University of Minnesota Bee Lab, which focuses on pollinator health and education. This hobby reflects her broader pattern of choosing quiet, meaningful work over public recognition.
Where Is Rishia Haas Now?
As of recent reports, Rishia Haas lives in Edina, Minnesota, close to family and community. She continues to prioritize privacy, staying out of the spotlight even as her ex-husband remains a well-known public figure. Her focus remains on her son, her work, and the causes she cares about.
Her story stands as an example of someone who chose substance over visibility, even while connected to a famous public figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rishia Haas?
Rishia Haas is an American administrative professional best known as the ex-wife of celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizarre Foods.
Is Rishia Haas still married to Andrew Zimmern?
No. The couple divorced in 2018 after 16 years of marriage but remain on good terms as they co-parent their son.
Do Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern have children?
Yes, they have one son together, Noah Zimmern, born in 2005.
What does Rishia Haas do for a living?
She works in administrative and recovery support roles, including a position with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
Why did Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern divorce?
Zimmern has publicly said his demanding travel schedule and television career kept him away from home, which strained the marriage over time.
