Emeril Lagasse ( born October 15 , 1959 - ) is an American celebrity chef . Emeril John Lagasse ( Ë É mÉ rÉ l lÉ Ë É É ` Ë si ; born October 15 , 1959 ) is an American celebrity chef , restaurateur , television personality , and cookbook author . A regional James Beard Award winner , he is perhaps most notable for his Food Network shows Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril as well as catchphrases such as â Kick it up a notch !