Ben O'Donoghue facts for kids

Benjamin O'Donoghue, born on May 22, 1970, is a well-known chef from Australia. He has worked in many famous restaurants and appeared on several TV cooking shows.

Early Life and Cooking Start

Ben O'Donoghue was five years old when his family moved from England to Port Hedland, Western Australia. Later, when he was ten, his family moved again to Perth. After finishing school, Ben got his first job in a restaurant. He worked as a kitchen helper for a summer on Rottnest Island. This experience made him want to learn more about cooking.

He then started an apprenticeship at a seafood restaurant called Jo Jo's in Nedlands. An apprenticeship is like a training program where you learn a skill while working. During his final year of high school at La Salle College in Midland, he was even the "head boy," which means he was a leader among the students.

Ben's Cooking Journey

After becoming a qualified chef, Ben O'Donoghue quickly moved up in the cooking world. He became a sous chef at Jessica's Seafood Restaurant in Perth. A sous chef is the second-in-command in a kitchen.

He then worked as a Chef de Partie at Goodfella's restaurant in Newtown, Sydney. A Chef de Partie is in charge of a specific section of the kitchen. After that, he moved to the Tribeca restaurant in Double Bay, where he was promoted to sous chef. In 1993, Tribeca was even named the "Best New Restaurant" by a famous food guide.

In 1996, Ben traveled to the United Kingdom to gain more experience. He worked at The River Café, a very famous restaurant. Later, he became the Head Chef at Monte's Club in Knightsbridge, working alongside another well-known chef, Jamie Oliver. Ben also worked as the Head Chef at the Atlantic Bar & Grill. He even helped Oliver Peyton win a contract to open the National Dining Room at the National Gallery with his creative menus. Ben also helped Jamie Oliver as a food stylist and cooked for important people like Tony Blair.

Ben on Television

Ben O'Donoghue has appeared on many TV shows, sharing his cooking skills. He was on two episodes of Jamie Oliver's show, The Naked Chef. After that, he filmed his own show in Morocco for American television.

In April 2002, he was invited to host a ten-part TV series for BBC Two called The Best. This show also had a book that went with it.

When Ben returned to Australia, he started filming an eight-part food and travel series called Surfing the Menu for the ABC. He hosted this show with fellow chef Curtis Stone. It first aired in 2003 and was so popular that it ran for three more seasons!

From 2007, Ben appeared on LifeStyle Food in shows like The Best in Australia with Darren Simpson and Anna Gare. He also hosted Drive thru Australia, Tom & Ben's Singapore, and Aussie BBQ Hero. In June 2009, Ben took part in a "Celebrity Chef Challenge" on Masterchef Australia.

Ben's Cookbooks

Ben O'Donoghue has written several cookbooks, sharing his recipes and cooking tips. He has released four books with Hardie Grant Books:

• Outdoor: Grill Your Way Round the World
• Ben's Barbeque
• At Home With Ben
• Ben's Barbecue Bible

His fourth book, Ben's Meat Bible, was released in 2015. Ben has also written for major food magazines, including Delicious, for ten years.

Ben's Restaurants

Ben O'Donoghue used to own three restaurants and shops in Brisbane: Billykart Kitchen, Billykart West End, and Billykart Bar. He sold Billykart Kitchen in Annerley in July 2021.

Personal Life

Ben O'Donoghue lives in Australia with his wife, Dee, and their three children, Ruby, Herb, and Cash.