Bobby Chinn facts for kids

Bobby Chinn is a famous American chef, TV host, and author. He is well-known in Asia and the Middle East because he hosted the TV show World Cafe on Discovery TLC. He was also a judge on MBC's Top Chef Middle East. Bobby Chinn opened popular Vietnamese restaurants in Vietnam, first in Hanoi and later in Ho Chi Minh City. In 2014, he moved to London and opened another Vietnamese restaurant called House of Ho.

Early Life and School

Bobby Chinn was born in New Zealand. His father was Chinese-American, and his mother was Egyptian. His grandfather, Saad El Shazly, was an important military leader in Egypt.

Bobby went to school in Cairo, Egypt, and then in England. He finished high school at the Urban School of San Francisco. Later, he went to Richmond College in London. He earned a degree in finance and economics in 1986. In 2020, he received a special honorary award called a Doctorate in Liberal Arts from Richmond College.

After college, Bobby worked in finance for a while. He was a research analyst in Florida and worked for a special investment fund in San Francisco. He even worked on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City.

Bobby's Cooking Career

Bobby Chinn's journey as a chef started in San Francisco. He worked in different restaurants, learning from famous chefs. One of his big chances came when he worked at Fleur de Lys, a well-known restaurant.

In 1995, Bobby moved to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Within six months, he opened his first restaurant there, called Saigon Joe's. He then moved to Hanoi and opened another restaurant named Miro. In 1997, he opened the Red Onion, which was very successful. This success helped him open his own special restaurant, Restaurant Bobby Chinn, in 2001.

In 2014, Bobby moved to London and opened a modern Vietnamese restaurant called House of Ho.

TV Shows and Awards

Bobby Chinn became famous on television with his first solo show, World Café Asia, on TLC. For the second season, called World Café Middle East, Bobby won an award. He was named "Best Entertainment Presenter" at the Asia Television Awards in 2007.

Today, Bobby is a regular judge on the popular cooking competition show Top Chef Middle East on MBC.

Cookbook Adventures

In 2007, Bobby Chinn released his cookbook titled Wild Wild East: Recipes & Stories from Vietnam. This book is not just about Vietnamese recipes; it also shares stories from Bobby's adventures in Vietnam. Famous chef Anthony Bourdain wrote in the book that Bobby knows almost everything about Southeast Asian food.

Special Ambassador Roles

Bobby Chinn has also served as an ambassador for important causes:

• In 2012, he became an ambassador for WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) for Sustainable Seafood. He helped teach people about eating seafood responsibly, especially in the Coral Triangle area, to protect ocean life and fish.
• In 2014, he was chosen as a Tourism Ambassador for Vietnam in Europe. This role helped promote Vietnam as a great place to visit.
• In 2021, he was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the Naomi Tami Memorial Fund.