Rishia Haas: Inside Andrew Zimmern’s Former Wife’s Quiet Life, Their Son, Divorce Story, Career, and Life After Fame

Before Bizarre Foods made Andrew Zimmern famous, one woman knew him as a hardworking chef trying to build a new life in Minnesota. Rishia Haas later became his wife, the mother of his only son, and a steady part of his life during his rise to television fame. However, their marriage could not survive the pressure forever. Today, Rishia lives quietly, while many websites still share old or unconfirmed details about her.

Quick Bio: Rishia Haas

Who Is Rishia Haas?

Rishia Haas is best known as the former wife of chef, writer, and television host Andrew Zimmern.

She was part of Andrew’s life before he became a major television star. The couple met in Minnesota in 1999 and married in 2002.

Later, Andrew became famous for travelling around the world and trying foods that many viewers had never seen before.

Rishia sometimes joined him at public events. However, she never tried to build her own celebrity career.

Instead, she focused mainly on work, family, and raising their son, Noah.

Is Rishia Haas Still Married to Andrew Zimmern?

No. Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern are no longer married.

They publicly revealed in 2018 that they were moving toward an amicable divorce. The word “amicable” means they hoped to end the marriage without a bitter public fight.

However, some sources use 2018 as the end of the marriage, while others say the legal process was completed later.

A March 2020 report said the split had been finalised during the previous 15 months. Therefore, the legal divorce may have ended in 2019 or early 2020.

This explains why some websites say the marriage lasted 16 years, while others say it lasted around 18 years.

Both figures can appear because one counts the public separation and the other counts the completed divorce.

How Did Rishia Haas Meet Andrew Zimmern?

Rishia and Andrew reportedly met in 1999 at a cooking school in Minnesota.

Andrew was teaching a class there. Rishia worked in a shop connected with the school.

They began talking and later started dating.

Andrew had already been sober for several years at that point. He had entered treatment in Minnesota in 1992 and slowly rebuilt his personal and professional life.

Their meeting happened before the bright lights of television fame.

At that time, Andrew was known mainly inside Minnesota’s food world. He had worked in restaurants, radio, television, and local magazines, but he had not yet become a worldwide travel-food star.

When Did Rishia Haas Marry Andrew Zimmern?

Rishia and Andrew married in December 2002.

Many online profiles list December 26, 2002, as their wedding date.

However, large trusted profiles usually confirm only the year rather than every detail of the ceremony.

Their wedding happened around four years before Bizarre Foods began its full television run in 2006.

Therefore, Rishia married Andrew before his biggest success.

She saw his career grow from local food work into an international television business.

Did Rishia Haas Know Andrew Before He Was Famous?

Yes. Rishia knew Andrew long before most television viewers knew his name.

When they met, he had already worked hard to rebuild his life after addiction and homelessness. He had also started making a name for himself in Minnesota restaurants and media.

However, the huge travel shows, major awards, bestselling books, and large public profile came later.

This part of their story matters.

Rishia did not meet a rich television star. She met a chef and media worker who was still trying to create a stable future.

How Old Is Rishia Haas?

Rishia Haas has not publicly confirmed her exact age.

Several biography websites give different years for her birth. Some place her birth in the 1970s, while others offer an exact date without showing reliable proof.

Major articles about Andrew, their marriage, and their family do not provide a confirmed birthday for Rishia.

Therefore, her age should remain listed as not publicly confirmed.

A missing birthday is better than a false one.

When Is Rishia Haas’ Birthday?

No reliable public source clearly confirms Rishia’s birthday.

Social-media pages may contain birthday messages for someone with the same name. However, that does not prove the page belongs to Andrew Zimmern’s former wife.

In addition, many celebrity biography sites copy dates from one another.

Think about it like this: when one website makes a mistake, several other websites may repeat it. The claim may look popular, but it can still be wrong.

Where Was Rishia Haas Born?

Rishia has strong links with Minnesota.

Several secondary profiles say she was born in Anoka, Minnesota. They also connect her with Anoka High School.

However, no major interview or official biography clearly confirms her exact birthplace.

Therefore, Minnesota is an important part of her known life, but a certain birth city should be treated as reported rather than proven.

Where Did Rishia Haas Go to School?

Many online profiles say Rishia attended Anoka High School and later studied at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

An online alumni directory does list a Rishia Haas in connection with Anoka High School. However, the directory does not give enough detail to prove that the person is Andrew Zimmern’s former wife.

The Augsburg College claim also appears widely on biography pages, but it is not clearly supported by an official university profile.

Therefore, these education details should be described carefully.

They may be correct, but Rishia has not personally confirmed them through a major public interview.

What Did Rishia Haas Do for Work?

Rishia has been widely described as an administrative worker.

Several secondary profiles say she worked as an admissions coordinator at The Retreat, a Minnesota organisation that supports people recovering from alcohol and drug problems.

Other pages say she later worked as an administrative assistant for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

However, no current official staff page clearly confirms her present position.

For that reason, the safest wording is that Rishia has been publicly linked with administrative and recovery-support work.

Her current full-time job remains private.

Did Rishia Haas Work in Addiction Recovery?

She has been linked with organisations that help people in recovery.

This connection is interesting because Andrew entered treatment for alcohol and drug addiction in Minnesota years before they met.

Still, readers should not assume that Rishia became involved in recovery work only because of Andrew.

She may have had her own professional reasons for choosing that field.

There is also no reliable evidence that she worked as a doctor, therapist, or addiction counsellor.

Administrative work and clinical treatment are different roles.

Did Rishia Haas Help Andrew Zimmern Become Sober?

Andrew became sober before meeting Rishia.

He entered treatment at Hazelden in 1992. The couple reportedly met in 1999, about seven years later.

Therefore, it would be wrong to say Rishia rescued him from active addiction or took him into treatment.

However, she became part of his life while he continued protecting his sobriety and building a more stable future.

Recovery is often a lifelong process. Family, friends, community, and personal responsibility can all play important parts.

Who Is Andrew Zimmern?

Andrew Zimmern is an American chef, food writer, producer, businessman, and television host.

He was born in New York City on July 4, 1961.

Many viewers know him from Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. The show followed him as he travelled to different countries and explored local food and culture.

Although people often remember the strange meals, Andrew said his real goal was helping viewers understand other communities.

He wanted food to become a doorway into history, culture, patience, and respect.

Why Did Andrew Zimmern Become Famous?

Andrew became famous because he was willing to try foods that many other television hosts would avoid.

However, his success was not only about shock.

He spoke with local cooks, visited family homes, learned traditions, and explained why certain dishes mattered.

The Travel Channel series began in 2006 and later created several related shows. Andrew also won four James Beard Awards for his television work.

His success brought money and opportunity.

However, it also required long periods of travel. One major profile said he was often away for around six months each year.

Did Andrew Zimmern’s Fame Affect His Marriage?

Andrew has openly accepted that his work harmed his family life.

In a statement reported by The New York Times, he said he had not been present enough for Rishia or their son. He also said Rishia had given him many chances to fix the problem.

This is an important part of the story.

Andrew did not publicly blame Rishia for the marriage ending. Instead, he accepted responsibility for allowing his public work to take too much space.

His travel schedule and celebrity demands appear to have created distance inside the family.

However, no outsider knows every private reason behind a divorce.

Why Did Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern Divorce?

The couple did not publish a detailed list of private problems.

Andrew explained that he spent too much time focused on work and was not present enough at home.

He also described his wife and son as people who had suffered because of his public fame and the attention around him.

Still, a marriage is complex.

Travel may have played a major role, but readers should not assume that one quote explains every year of the relationship.

The respectful answer is that work pressure and Andrew’s long absences contributed to the split, while the complete private story remains known only to the family.

Was Their Divorce Friendly?

The couple described the planned divorce as amicable in 2018.

That suggests they wanted to avoid a public battle.

No major report describes a bitter fight over money, property, or parenting.

There was also no large public campaign in which one person attacked the other.

Therefore, the divorce appears to have remained mostly private and respectful.

Did Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern Have Children?

Yes. Rishia and Andrew have one son named Noah.

Noah was born in 2005, about three years after his parents married.

Andrew shared a public message in early 2025 saying his son had turned 20.

That confirms Noah was born around February 2005.

However, Noah is not a regular television personality.

Although he is now an adult, private details about his school, health, home, relationships, and work should remain protected unless he chooses to share them himself.

Who Is Noah Zimmern?

Noah Zimmern is the only child of Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern.

He grew up in Minnesota while his father travelled around the world for work.

Andrew has occasionally shared photographs and warm messages about his son. However, Noah has not used his family name to build a large public profile.

In 2025, Andrew called him an incredible young man while celebrating his 20th birthday.

Beyond these selected family moments, Noah’s adult life remains private.

Did Rishia Haas Support Her Son Through Difficult Times?

In 2014, Andrew and Rishia spoke about seeking help from the Washburn Center for Children during a hard period for their family.

Rishia said families need support not only from relatives but also from the wider community.

The couple later supported the centre through public speaking, volunteering, and donations.

This story showed Rishia as a parent willing to ask for help.

However, private medical details about Noah should not be repeated or turned into gossip.

The useful lesson is simple: the family faced a challenge, reached out for professional support, and later tried to help other families find support too.

Did Rishia Haas Attend Public Events With Andrew?

Yes. Rishia sometimes joined Andrew at food and entertainment events.

Photographs show them at the James Beard Foundation Awards, food festivals, and a public roast for Anthony Bourdain.

She also appeared beside him at a New York hot-dog competition in 2015.

Still, she was never a regular red-carpet celebrity.

Her appearances usually supported Andrew’s work rather than promoted a career of her own.

Was Rishia Haas on Bizarre Foods?

No trusted cast record shows Rishia as a regular host or television personality on Bizarre Foods.

She may have appeared briefly in family footage or supporting content.

However, she did not travel around the world as a main on-screen member of the show.

Andrew remained the face of the series.

Therefore, calling Rishia a television host, producer, or Bizarre Foods star would be misleading.

Is Rishia Haas a Chef?

Rishia has been connected with food through her marriage to Andrew.

Mashed also reported that recipes under the name Rishia Zimmern appeared on food websites.

However, no major restaurant or culinary organisation identifies her as a professional chef.

Cooking at home or sharing recipes is not the same as running a professional kitchen.

Therefore, the careful answer is that Rishia may enjoy food and cooking, but she has no widely confirmed chef career.

Did Rishia Haas Change Her Name?

During the marriage, public event photographs and magazine reports often called her Rishia Zimmern.

Her birth or earlier surname was Haas.

After the divorce, many newer articles returned to the name Rishia Haas.

However, her present legal surname is not publicly confirmed.

Some people keep a married surname after divorce, while others return to an earlier name.

Therefore, both Rishia Haas and Rishia Zimmern may appear in older records.

Where Does Rishia Haas Live Now?

Rishia’s current home is not publicly confirmed.

During the marriage, the family lived in Minnesota. A 2016 profile described Andrew living at home with Rishia and Noah while travelling for much of the year.

Andrew still has strong links with Minneapolis.

However, that does not prove Rishia lives in the same home, city, or neighbourhood today.

An exact address should never appear in a respectful article about a private person.

What Is Rishia Haas Doing Today?

Rishia has not released a major recent interview about her present life.

Her current employer, relationship, projects, and daily routine remain private.

She may still work in administration, recovery support, community service, or another field.

However, websites should not choose a current job for her without proof.

What appears clear is that she has stepped away from the public attention connected with Andrew’s television career.

Did Rishia Haas Remarry?

No trusted public report confirms that Rishia remarried.

There is no clear wedding announcement or verified public profile identifying a new spouse.

Some biography sites describe her as single. However, that is also not firmly confirmed.

A private relationship may exist without becoming public news.

Therefore, her current relationship status should remain listed as not publicly confirmed.

Does Rishia Haas Have Instagram?

No clearly verified public Instagram account has been linked to Rishia by a trusted publication or official source.

Accounts using her name may belong to unrelated people.

In addition, a private person may use social media only for friends and family.

Readers should avoid copying photographs or personal details from unverified accounts.

What Is Rishia Haas’ Net Worth?

Rishia Haas has no publicly confirmed net worth.

Some biography pages claim she owns several million dollars. Others try to calculate her money from an estimated administrative salary or Andrew’s wealth.

Neither method produces a reliable answer.

A former husband’s success does not reveal a former wife’s personal finances.

Nobody outside Rishia’s private financial circle knows her savings, property, investments, debts, income, or divorce agreement.

Therefore, every exact Rishia Haas net-worth figure should be treated as a guess.

Did Rishia Receive Money in the Divorce?

The financial terms of the divorce remain private.

A marriage lasting many years may involve property, savings, support, and other agreements.

However, no trusted public record clearly reports a settlement amount.

It would be wrong to claim that Rishia received millions of dollars without evidence.

A private agreement should remain private unless the people involved choose to make it public.

Is Rishia Haas Rich?

Rishia was married to a successful television personality and businessman.

However, that fact alone cannot confirm her current wealth.

She also had her own reported work in administrative and recovery-support roles.

Still, no public document provides a full picture of her finances.

The fair answer is that she may be financially stable, but her personal wealth remains unknown.

Is Rishia Haas Related to Any Other Famous People?

No trusted source shows that Rishia came from a famous acting, music, political, or business family.

Public interest in her began mainly through her relationship with Andrew Zimmern.

Her parents and other possible relatives have remained private.

Therefore, websites should not collect or publish unnecessary details about them.

Why Is There So Little Information About Rishia Haas?

Rishia never tried to become a public celebrity.

She did not host a major show, release films, build a public lifestyle brand, or give regular interviews.

Most media coverage mentioned her only as Andrew’s wife or as Noah’s mother.

After the divorce, she had even less reason to appear in public entertainment stories.

This left large gaps in her online biography.

Unfortunately, some websites filled those gaps with unconfirmed ages, jobs, family names, addresses, salaries, and net-worth figures.

Why Do Websites Still Call Rishia Andrew Zimmern’s Wife?

Many older articles were written before the couple separated.

Search engines may continue showing these pages even though the information is no longer current.

Some newer websites also copy older biographies without checking the date.

As a result, Rishia is still called Andrew’s wife on pages that have not been properly updated.

The correct current wording is Andrew Zimmern’s former wife or ex-wife.

What Facts About Rishia Haas Are Most Reliable?

Several parts of her story have strong public support.

Rishia met Andrew in Minnesota around 1999. They married in 2002 and welcomed their son Noah in 2005.

She attended public events with Andrew and helped support their family through both success and difficult periods.

The couple announced an amicable divorce in 2018, while reports suggest the legal split was completed later.

Her exact birth date, present job, current home, relationship status, and net worth are not reliably confirmed.

What Makes Rishia Haas’ Story Interesting?

Rishia knew Andrew before the awards, world travel, and television fame.

She watched him build a career that reached millions of viewers.

However, that success also brought long absences and heavy public pressure.

Their story shows that fame can improve one part of life while placing strain on another.

Rishia did not turn the divorce into a public battle.

Instead, she stepped back into privacy and continued being known mainly as a mother and private professional.

What Can Readers Learn From Rishia Haas’ Life?

A person does not become public property simply because they marry someone famous.

Rishia shared many years with Andrew, but she did not choose his level of fame.

Her life also shows the importance of seeking help when a family faces a difficult period.

In 2014, she spoke about the value of community support and the idea that families do not have to face every challenge alone.

Finally, her story reminds readers to check dates.

An old article may still be visible, but that does not mean its relationship or career information remains true today.

Final Thoughts

Rishia Haas is best known as Andrew Zimmern’s former wife, but her story began before his worldwide fame.

The couple met in Minnesota in 1999 while Andrew taught at a cooking school and Rishia worked in a connected store.

They married in 2002 and welcomed their only child, Noah, in 2005.

As Andrew’s career grew, he began travelling for long periods. Bizarre Foods turned him into an international television star, but his public work created pressure at home.

Andrew later admitted that he had not been present enough for Rishia or their son.

The couple announced an amicable divorce in 2018. Some reports list that year as the end of the marriage, while others suggest the legal process was completed by early 2020.

Rishia has since returned to a quiet life.

Trusted sources do not clearly confirm her age, birthday, current job, home, new relationship, social-media account, or net worth.

She has been linked with administrative work and organisations that support people in recovery. However, her current professional position remains private.

Rishia’s story is not about chasing fame.

It is about building a family before fame arrived, facing the pressure that followed, asking for support during hard times, and later choosing privacy.

Sometimes the person standing away from the cameras carries an important part of the story too.

FAQs About Rishia Haas

Who is Rishia Haas?

Rishia Haas is the former wife of chef and television host Andrew Zimmern. She is also the mother of his only son, Noah.

Is Rishia Haas still married to Andrew Zimmern?

No. The couple announced in 2018 that they were divorcing.

When did Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern divorce?

They announced an amicable divorce in 2018. Reports suggest the legal split was completed sometime before March 2020.

Why did Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern divorce?

Andrew said that his career and long absences kept him from being present enough for his wife and son. However, the full private reason remains known only to the family.

When did Rishia Haas marry Andrew Zimmern?

They married in 2002. Many websites list December 26 as the wedding date.

How did Rishia Haas meet Andrew Zimmern?

They reportedly met in 1999 at a cooking school where Andrew taught and Rishia worked in a connected shop.

Did Rishia know Andrew before he was famous?

Yes. They met years before Bizarre Foods made him internationally famous.

How old is Rishia Haas?

Her exact age and birth date are not publicly confirmed.

Where was Rishia Haas born?

She has strong links with Minnesota, and some profiles list Anoka as her birthplace. However, this detail is not firmly confirmed.

Where did Rishia Haas go to school?

She is widely reported to have attended Anoka High School and Augsburg College, but strong official confirmation is limited.

What does Rishia Haas do for work?

She has been linked with administrative and recovery-support work. Her current profession is not publicly confirmed.

Did Rishia Haas work at Hazelden Betty Ford?

Several secondary profiles say she worked there as an administrative assistant. However, no recent official staff page confirms her current role.

Did Rishia Haas help Andrew Zimmern become sober?

Andrew became sober several years before they met. However, Rishia was part of his family life while he continued his long-term recovery.

Does Rishia Haas have children?

Yes. She has one son, Noah Zimmern, with Andrew.

When was Noah Zimmern born?

Noah was born in 2005 and turned 20 in 2025.

Is Noah Zimmern a chef?

No trusted public source confirms that Noah has chosen a professional cooking career.

Did Rishia Haas appear on Bizarre Foods?

She was not a regular host or cast member. She may have appeared in selected family content.

Is Rishia Haas a chef?

No major source confirms that she worked as a professional chef.

Did Rishia Haas remarry?

No reliable public source confirms that she remarried.

Where does Rishia Haas live now?

Her current home remains private and publicly unconfirmed.

Does Rishia Haas have Instagram?

No clearly verified public Instagram account has been linked to her.

What is Rishia Haas’ net worth?

Her personal net worth is not publicly confirmed. Exact figures found on biography sites lack reliable proof.

Why is Rishia Haas famous?

People mainly know her because of her former marriage to Andrew Zimmern and her role in his family life before and during his rise to television fame.

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