She was married to one of America’s most recognized celebrity chefs for 16 years. She helped him through addiction, raised their son, and then rebuilt her life quietly after divorce. Most people only know her name — here’s the full picture.
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Rishia Haas (also Rishia Anne Haas) |
| Birth Date | July 29, 1973 (per some sources; unconfirmed) |
| Birthplace | Champlin / Anoka, Minnesota, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Augsburg College, Minnesota (Bachelor’s degree) |
| Occupation | Administrative Professional / Beekeeper |
| Current Job | Beekeeper, University of MN Bee Lab |
| Former Jobs | Admissions Coordinator at The Retreat; Admin Assistant at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation |
| Ex-Husband | Andrew Zimmern (celebrity chef, Bizarre Foods host) |
| Son | Noah Zimmern (born 2005, age 21 in 2026) |
| Marriage | December 26, 2002 |
| Divorce | Announced 2018; finalized March 2020 |
| Location | Edina, Minnesota |
| Net Worth | Undisclosed (Andrew Zimmern’s estimated at ~$5 million) |
Who Is Rishia Haas?
Rishia Haas became known to the public as the former wife of Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern. But her story runs deeper than that one connection.
She spent years working in addiction recovery support, raised a son largely on her own while her husband traveled the globe, and has lived a deliberately private life in Minnesota from start to finish.
Early Life and Background
Rishia grew up in Minnesota, likely in the Champlin or Anoka area. Birth records and early background details are not fully confirmed in public sources.
She attended Anoka High School in Minnesota before going on to Augsburg College, a private liberal arts school in Minneapolis. She earned her bachelor’s degree there. Her parents are Robert Haas and Karen Haas, and she has two siblings — a sister named Jennifer and a brother named John.
Career
Rishia has spent her professional life in administrative and service-oriented roles. She never pursued fame or a high-profile career — she focused on work that involved helping people directly.
Her career path includes:
- Cooking school store worker (Minneapolis, late 1990s) — where she first met Andrew Zimmern
- Admissions Coordinator at The Retreat — an addiction recovery center in Minnesota
- Administrative Assistant at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation — one of the most respected addiction treatment organizations in the US (from 2014 through approximately 2025)
- Beekeeper at University of Minnesota Bee Lab — her current role since 2025, based in Edina, Minnesota
Addiction Recovery Work
Working in addiction recovery is not glamorous work. It involves long days, difficult conversations, and a lot of patience. Rishia spent more than a decade in these environments.
At The Retreat, she served as an Admissions Coordinator, meaning she was often the first point of contact for people seeking treatment. That role requires compassion, organization, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Those qualities she clearly had.
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Hazelden Betty Ford is not a small operation. It is one of the most recognized addiction treatment foundations in the United States, with facilities across the country. Rishia worked there as an Administrative Assistant for roughly a decade.
Her time there overlapped with some of the harder years in her personal life. She was supporting patients at work and holding things together at home simultaneously. That combination takes real strength.
Beekeeper at University of MN Bee Lab
Since 2025, Rishia has been working as a beekeeper at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab in Edina. This is a surprising shift on paper, but it fits her personality. The work is patient, detailed, and rooted in nature.
The University of Minnesota Bee Lab is a research facility focused on bee health, pollination science, and sustainable agriculture. Working there is not just a hobby job — it involves real agricultural and research responsibilities. She appears to have embraced this new chapter fully.
Marriage to Andrew Zimmern
Rishia and Andrew Zimmern were together for nearly two decades. Their relationship started long before he was famous.
How They Met
They met in 1999 at a cooking school in Minneapolis. Andrew was teaching cooking classes there as he worked to rebuild his life after overcoming addiction and homelessness. Rishia worked in the school store.
That context matters. She didn’t meet a celebrity. Rishia met a man who was still rebuilding himself, still proving he could stay sober, still figuring out what his future looked like. She saw potential in him and chose to be part of his journey.
The Wedding and Early Marriage
They married on December 26, 2002 in a small, private ceremony. Because the first event was limited in size, they held a larger celebration in June 2003 for extended family and friends.
Their early married years were stable and hopeful. Andrew’s career was gaining momentum, and Rishia was working and managing their home. In 2005, they welcomed their son, Noah Zimmern. Noah is now 21 years old as of 2026.
Life During Andrew’s Fame
When Bizarre Foods took off, everything changed. Andrew was traveling constantly. He was filming all over the world. He won not one but two James Beard Awards — in 2010 and 2013, the food world’s equivalent of an Oscar.
Rishia stayed in Minnesota. She raised Noah, kept their home together, and kept her own career going. She was not in the spotlight, and she did not seem to want to be. In 2015, she attended a James Beard Foundation event and reportedly won a “Best Dressed” recognition — one of her rare public appearances on the culinary circuit.
Supporting Andrew Through Addiction
Andrew Zimmern has been publicly open about his past. Before his TV career, he struggled with serious drug and alcohol addiction. He was homeless for a period. His recovery is a central part of how he talks about his life.
Rishia was part of that recovery story. She stood by him when he was still proving himself. Andrew himself has spoken about her role in his life with a lot of respect. He said publicly: “I wasn’t there for my wife, and I wasn’t there for my son. My wife gave me a thousand chances.”
He has also called her “the bravest mom I know.” That’s not just a nice thing to say. It carries weight coming from someone who also worked through his own struggles. As of 2024, Andrew has been sober for more than 32 years.
The Divorce
The divorce was announced in 2018 and finalized in March 2020. The marriage lasted 16 years.
Why It Ended
No dramatic falling-out has been reported. The core issue was Andrew’s schedule and the emotional distance that came with it. He was constantly traveling, filming, running restaurants, writing, speaking. That level of career intensity takes a toll on a marriage — even a strong one.
Andrew acknowledged this directly in public comments. He wasn’t fully present at home for years. Rishia had been patient with that for a long time. Eventually, the situation became something neither of them could continue to work around.
The Divorce Was Handled Well
Both parties handled the divorce with maturity. There were no public disputes or bitter statements. Andrew has continued to speak about Rishia with genuine respect. They co-parent Noah together and by all accounts do so without conflict.
That kind of outcome after a 16-year marriage and a highly public divorce is not common. It says something about both of them.
Life After Divorce
Rishia stayed in Edina, Minnesota. She continued her work at Hazelden Betty Ford for several more years before transitioning to the University of MN Bee Lab in 2025. She remains off social media and out of the public eye. Noah is now an adult. She appears to have built a genuinely peaceful life on her own terms.
Culinary Connection
Rishia contributed at least one notable recipe to Andrew’s culinary world. The dish “Chicken with Shallots” — adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe — was credited to her and earned positive feedback. It’s a small detail but a real one. She was part of the food world that defined Andrew’s career, even if she never stood in front of a camera.
Personal Life
Rishia keeps a very low profile. Here’s what is confirmed:
- Location: Edina, Minnesota
- Social media: No active Twitter or Instagram; a private Facebook profile exists
- Relationship status: No confirmed partner as of 2026
- Interests: Beekeeping, nature, and quiet domestic life
- Faith: Raised in a Christian family in Minnesota
She has not given interviews, has not sought media attention, and has let Andrew’s public statements about her speak for themselves. That’s a deliberate choice, and it’s consistent with everything known about her.
Net Worth
Rishia’s personal net worth is not publicly disclosed. Some sources cite an estimate of around $100,000 to $1 million, based on her career in administrative and healthcare roles. One source suggests a higher figure, though that remains unverified.
Andrew Zimmern’s net worth is estimated at around $5 million, built through his TV shows, books, restaurants, and speaking work. Any shared assets from their 16-year marriage would have been addressed in their divorce settlement, which was not made public.
Her current salary as a beekeeper at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab has not been disclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rishia Haas?
She is Andrew Zimmern’s ex-wife, a former addiction recovery worker, and current beekeeper at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab.
Are Rishia Haas and Andrew Zimmern still married?
No — they announced their divorce in 2018 and it was finalized in March 2020 after 16 years of marriage.
Does Rishia Haas have children?
Yes — she and Andrew have one son, Noah Zimmern, born in 2005, now 21 years old in 2026.
What does Rishia Haas do now?
She currently works as a beekeeper at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab in Edina, Minnesota, a role she started in 2025.
Did Rishia Haas help Andrew Zimmern with his addiction?
Yes — Andrew has publicly credited her with being a constant support during his sobriety journey, calling her “the bravest mom I know.”
Conclusion
Rishia Haas built a meaningful life without ever asking for attention or credit. She helped a man rebuild himself from addiction, raised their son largely alone while he became famous, worked for years supporting people in recovery, and then quietly started a new chapter as a beekeeper in Minnesota. Her story is a good reminder that a life lived with purpose doesn’t need an audience to matter.
