From Harvard Law To Lobster Rolls: 5 Surprising Facts About Susan Anne Povich, Maury Povich's Entrepreneur Daughter

Susan Anne Povich is a fascinating example of a high-powered professional who boldly traded the courtroom for the kitchen, forging a unique path far removed from her father's famous television spotlight. As the daughter of legendary talk show host Maury Povich, Susan could have easily pursued a career in media or law, yet she chose to become a highly successful culinary entrepreneur, co-founding one of the most celebrated seafood establishments in New York City and Washington D.C. Her journey is a testament to following one's passion, regardless of a prestigious background or a decade-long career in corporate law.

As of December 13, 2025, Susan Anne Povich continues to oversee the operations and expansion of her award-winning restaurant empire, Red Hook Lobster Pound, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in March 2024. Her story is a compelling blend of legal acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep love for New England-style seafood, proving that a successful career pivot is always possible at any stage of life.

The Complete Susan Anne Povich Biography and Profile

Susan Anne Povich’s life is marked by a series of high-achieving milestones, beginning with her elite education and culminating in her unexpected, yet highly successful, career in the culinary world. She is known for her private nature, balancing a demanding business life with her family life alongside her husband and children.

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• Full Name: Susan Anne Povich
• Date of Birth: December 30, 1964
• Age (as of 2025): 60
• Place of Birth: Washington D.C., USA (Implied from family history)
• Parents: Maury Povich (Father, TV Host) and Phyllis Minkoff (Mother, First Wife)
• Stepmother: Connie Chung (Journalist)
• Siblings: Amy Joyce Povich (Sister), Matthew Povich (Adopted Brother)
• Spouse: Ralph Winthrop Gorham (Married in the late 1990s)
• Children: Jesse Gorham (Son), Charley Gorham (Daughter)
• Education: Harvard Law School (J.D.), French Culinary Institute (Culinary Training)
• Prior Career: Corporate Lawyer in Manhattan (Over 10 years)
• Current Profession: Chef, Restaurateur, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Red Hook Lobster Pound

The Unexpected Career Pivot: From Harvard Lawyer to Award-Winning Chef

The trajectory of Susan Anne Povich’s professional life is a captivating narrative of ambition redirected. For over a decade, she was firmly entrenched in the legal world, working as a lawyer in Manhattan. Her education at the prestigious Harvard Law School set her on a path toward corporate success, dealing with complex legal matters, particularly in the tech and media sectors.

Leaving the Courtroom for Culinary School

Despite her success in law, Povich harbored a deep-seated passion for food and the culinary arts. This passion eventually led her to make a dramatic career shift that stunned many of her peers. She left her established legal practice to enroll in the French Culinary Institute, seeking formal training to complement her natural business acumen.

This decision was not just a whim; it was a strategic move that combined her legal and business knowledge with her creative culinary drive. Her time at the French Culinary Institute provided the technical skills necessary to launch a successful food business, setting the stage for her most famous venture.

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The Birth of Red Hook Lobster Pound

In 2009, Susan Anne Povich and her husband, Ralph Winthrop Gorham, co-founded the Red Hook Lobster Pound. The concept was simple but brilliant: to bring authentic, fresh, New England-style lobster straight from Maine to the streets of Brooklyn, New York. The business began as a single food truck, a humble start for a Harvard-educated lawyer.

The restaurant quickly gained traction and critical acclaim, becoming a staple in the Brooklyn food scene. Its focus on quality, with lobster sourced directly from the docks of Maine, resonated with seafood lovers. The initial success of the food truck led to the opening of permanent brick-and-mortar locations in Brooklyn, New York City, and Washington D.C.

Building a Culinary Empire and Topical Authority

Red Hook Lobster Pound is more than just a restaurant; it is a brand built on topical authority in the seafood space, largely thanks to Susan Povich’s dedication to authenticity and quality. Her business model successfully bridged the gap between a high-end, fresh product and an accessible, casual dining experience.

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Signature Dishes and Menu Entities

The menu at Red Hook Lobster Pound is a masterclass in New England classics, featuring several signature dishes that have become iconic in the New York and D.C. food scenes. The restaurant is famous for its classic lobster rolls, offering both the traditional "Maine" style (cold with a touch of mayonnaise) and the "Connecticut" style (warm with melted butter).

Other popular and highly-praised menu entities include the decadent Lobster Mac and Cheese, the savory Hot Crab Dip, and the innovative Lobster Crunch Wrap. These dishes showcase Povich's ability to take classic seafood and give it a modern, appealing twist, attracting a wide range of customers.

Industry Recognition and Awards

The quality and concept of the Red Hook Lobster Pound have not gone unnoticed by the culinary world. The business has won numerous accolades, including the prestigious title of "Best Food Truck in America." This award solidified Povich’s transition from a legal professional to a recognized and respected figure in the food industry. Her success demonstrates that a background in business and law can be a powerful foundation for a creative entrepreneurial venture.

In a significant milestone, the Red Hook Lobster Pound celebrated its 15th Anniversary in March 2024, a testament to its enduring popularity and stability in the highly competitive restaurant market. This longevity highlights Susan Povich’s strong leadership and the successful partnership with her husband, Ralph Gorham.

Personal Life and Family Legacy Beyond the TV Screen

Despite her famous lineage, Susan Anne Povich has maintained a relatively private personal life, preferring to keep the focus on her business and family. Her connection to the Povich family, one of the most recognized dynasties in American media, is an important part of her story, but not the defining one.

The Povich-Chung Connection

Susan is the daughter of Maury Povich and his first wife, Phyllis Minkoff. She also has a close relationship with her stepmother, the iconic journalist Connie Chung, who married Maury Povich in 1969. The blended family includes her sister, Amy Joyce Povich, and her adopted brother, Matthew Povich. This family unit, steeped in media history and high-profile careers, provided a unique environment that likely fostered Susan's own drive and ambition.

Her father, Maury Povich, has been openly supportive of her career shift, often celebrating her success in the culinary world. This familial support underscores the message that success can be found in any field, even one as demanding as the restaurant industry.

Partnership with Ralph Winthrop Gorham

Susan is married to Ralph Winthrop Gorham, who is not only her business partner in Red Hook Lobster Pound but also a successful entrepreneur in his own right, working as a contractor and motorcycle designer. Their marriage, which began in the late 1990s, is a partnership of complementary skills: Susan’s legal and culinary expertise paired with Ralph’s business and design background.

Together, they are raising two children, a son named Jesse Gorham, and a daughter named Charley Gorham. Their life together, balancing the demands of a high-profile restaurant business with raising a family, provides a grounded, relatable counterpoint to the glitz of the Povich-Chung media legacy.

Susan Anne Povich’s journey from a Harvard Law degree to the French Culinary Institute and finally to the helm of an award-winning restaurant is an inspiring narrative of following one’s true calling. Her success with Red Hook Lobster Pound, celebrated in 2024 for its 15th anniversary, firmly establishes her as a formidable entrepreneur and a culinary authority in her own right, proving that a passion-driven career pivot can lead to the most satisfying and celebrated kind of success.