From Courtrooms To Lobster Rolls: The Reinvention Of Susan Anne Povich

Basic Information

A Portrait in Two Careers

Some careers are straight lines. Susan Anne Povich’s looks more like a tide chart—steady, then suddenly, a turning of the sea. Raised within a journalistic dynasty and schooled in the discipline of the law, she pivoted—boldly—from an attorney’s brief to the briny world of lobster rolls. Today, she’s best known as the co-founder of Red Hook Lobster Pound in Brooklyn, a beloved institution that helped define the city’s modern lobster-roll wave. Her path illustrates how expertise travels: the rigor of legal practice and the timing of a kitchen rush aren’t so different. Both demand clarity, decisiveness, and resilience.

Early Life and Education

Born in 1963, Povich is the eldest daughter of television host Maury Povich and his first wife, Phyllis Minkoff. Journalism and public life ran in the family. Her grandfather was the esteemed Washington Post sportswriter Shirley Povich; her aunt, Lynn Povich, is a decorated magazine editor. From that lineage of deadlines and storytelling, Susan charted her own early course through the academy: a BA from the University of Michigan followed by a JD at Harvard Law School.

By the late 1980s, she had passed the New York bar and entered legal practice. The foundation was elite and formidable—a credentialed ascent that seemed to foretell a lifetime in courtrooms and conference rooms.

The Law-to-Kitchen Pivot

Then came a deliberate swerve. Povich left the legal track to chase a long-simmering passion for food. She trained in culinary school, worked in New York City kitchens, and absorbed the rhythms of the line—heat, speed, precision. The pivot wasn’t a lark; it was an apprenticeship. And it seeded an idea that would soon take hold back home in Brooklyn.

Building Red Hook Lobster Pound

The concept simmered in 2008 and came to a boil in 2009: fresh, well-sourced Maine lobster, served with New England craftsmanship and Brooklyn soul. With her husband and partner, designer-builder Ralph Winthrop Gorham, Povich co-founded Red Hook Lobster Pound. The brand quickly grew beyond its storefront into a mobile phenomenon, rolling out a bright red truck that turned blocks into beach days and lines into rituals. It was a story of grit as much as glamour.

When Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, Red Hook was among the neighborhoods deeply impacted. Rebuilding demanded the unglamorous work of repair, insurance wrangling, and community effort. Povich and Gorham pressed on, integrating brick-and-mortar, trucks, pop-ups, and catering into a flexible operation. The result: a small empire of lobster bliss, seen at festivals, city corners, and private events, anchored by simple pleasures—perfectly toasted buns, just-right seasoning, butter that glows like sunset.

Family Ties: A Public-Private Balance

• Father: Maury Povich, a longtime daytime television host, has been a familiar face in American households for decades. His second marriage to journalist Connie Chung made the family even more publicly recognizable.
• Mother: Phyllis Minkoff, Susan’s mother, built a communications career and maintained a lower public profile.
• Sister: Amy Joyce Povich pursued acting and is married to physician-author David B. Agus, extending the family’s ties into medicine and science.
• Half-brother: Matthew Jay Povich, adopted by Maury Povich and Connie Chung in 1995, is Susan’s younger half-brother.
• Husband and partner: Ralph Winthrop Gorham, whom she married in May 1998, is a builder-designer who helped translate a kitchen-table concept into real-world spaces and wheels.
• Children: Jesse (born circa 1999) and Charley (born circa 2004) grew up around an entrepreneurial household, where family dinners sometimes doubled as R&D.

The Povich tree is a study in complementary talents—journalism, law, food, medicine—disciplines that value evidence, craft, and the audience in front of you.

Selected Timeline

The Skill Transfer: Law Meets Line Cook

At first glance, law and culinary entrepreneurship seem worlds apart. Look again. Both are detail-obsessed. Both require calm under pressure. Both hinge on the ability to communicate clearly—whether to a judge and client or to a crew mid-rush. Povich’s training shows up in contracts, sourcing, and regulatory compliance; her kitchen time shows up in flavor, texture, and timing. The overlap is the secret sauce.

Community, Craft, and Longevity

Red Hook Lobster Pound grew up in a neighborhood defined by docks, artists, small manufacturers, and a stubborn sense of place. The business leaned into that heritage—clean design from Gorham, consistent product from Povich, and a menu that felt both nostalgic and fresh. Over the years, the brand’s trucks have become summer signposts across the city. Orders were tallied in the thousands at busy events, and the lobster roll became a language of its own: Maine-style with mayo, Connecticut-style with warm butter, and the inevitable debates that come with true love.

The Extended Family Legacy

If her grandfather chronicled legends on the field, Povich learned to build a legacy at the counter—one roll at a time. Her aunt’s editorial achievements echo in how the brand tells its story. Her father’s understanding of audiences surfaces in how Red Hook meets people where they are—street corners, festivals, neighborhoods. The lines between public and private have always been part of the Povich landscape; Susan navigates them with restraint, preferring to keep the spotlight on craft and community.

FAQ

Who are Susan Anne Povich’s parents?

Her parents are television host Maury Povich and communications professional Phyllis Minkoff.

What is Susan Anne Povich best known for?

She is best known as the co-founder of Red Hook Lobster Pound, a Brooklyn restaurant and food-truck business launched in 2008–2009.

Did she practice law before becoming a chef?

Yes; she earned a JD from Harvard Law School, was admitted to the New York bar in the late 1980s, and practiced law before transitioning to food.

When did she marry and to whom?

She married builder-designer Ralph Winthrop Gorham in May 1998.

How many children does she have?

She has two children, Jesse and Charley.

How is she related to Connie Chung?

Connie Chung is her stepmother through Connie’s marriage to Maury Povich.

What’s the connection to journalist Shirley Povich?

Shirley Povich, the renowned Washington Post sportswriter, was her grandfather.

Where is Red Hook Lobster Pound based?

It is based in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, with additional presence through food trucks and catering.

Does Susan Anne Povich still work in law?

Her public profile centers on culinary entrepreneurship; her primary work is with Red Hook Lobster Pound.

What is her net worth?

There is no verified public disclosure of her personal net worth; online estimates are speculative.