Graham Elliot facts for kids
Elliot in 2014
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| Born | Graham Elliot Bowles January 4, 1977 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
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| Education | Johnson & Wales University |
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Graham Elliot Bowles (born January 4, 1977) is a famous American chef, restaurant owner, and TV star. He became well-known in the cooking world for being nominated three times for the James Beard Award, which is a big honor for chefs. In 2004, Food & Wine magazine called him one of the "Best New Chefs." He was also the youngest chef in the United States to get four stars from major newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.
Many people know Graham Elliot from TV. He appeared on shows like Iron Chef and Top Chef Masters. He was also a judge on the first six seasons of the American cooking competition MasterChef and its kids' version, MasterChef Junior.
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About Graham Elliot's Early Life
Graham Elliot was born on January 4, 1977, in Seattle, Washington. He describes himself as a "Navy brat," which means his family moved a lot because his parent was in the Navy. He traveled all over the world and visited all fifty states in the U.S. These travels helped him develop a strong interest in food and music. This passion led him to study cooking at Johnson & Wales University.
Graham Elliot's Cooking Career
In 2004, Graham Elliot was recognized as one of the "Best New Chefs" by Food & Wine magazine. Before he turned 30, he became the youngest chef in the United States to earn four stars from important newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.
When he was 27, he was the youngest four-star chef in any city. He also made it onto Crain's Chicago Business's "40 Under Forty" list. This list highlights successful people under 40. He was on the list alongside future President Barack Obama. Graham Elliot even cooked for President Obama's 49th birthday!
In May 2008, he opened his own restaurant called Graham Elliot. It was the first fancy but relaxed French restaurant in Chicago.
Graham Elliot on TV Shows
In 2009, Graham Elliot appeared on the TV show Top Chef Masters. On the show, he cooked to support The Heart and Stroke Foundation. He chose this charity because his nephew needed a heart transplant.
In 2010, the TV series MasterChef started. Graham Elliot was one of the three judges on the show. In 2013, a version for kids called MasterChef Junior began. Graham Elliot was also a judge on this show. He stopped being a judge for both shows in September 2015, after the sixth season of MasterChef finished.
In 2016, he joined another popular cooking show, Top Chef, as a judge.
Awards and Special Honors
Graham Elliot's restaurant, Graham Elliot Restaurant, earned three stars from the Chicago Tribune. It also received two stars in the 2013 Michelin Guide, which is a very respected guide for restaurants.
He has been nominated for the James Beard Award three times. This award is one of the highest honors a chef can receive in the United States.
Other Projects and Collaborations
Besides being a judge on MasterChef and MasterChef Junior from 2010 to 2016, Graham Elliot has also been a judge on Food Network's Cooks vs. Cons. He also made special guest appearances on MasterChef Canada Season 2 and MasterChef Italia Season 3.
Since 2009, he has worked as the Culinary Director for Lollapalooza. This is a big three-day music festival in Chicago. He cooks for both the public attending the festival and for the performers backstage.
In June 2012, he opened another restaurant called Graham Elliot Bistro in Chicago. This bistro uses classic cooking methods and ingredients to create its own version of American dishes. In the same year, Graham Elliot was named Chef of the Year. He was also added to the Chicago Chefs Hall of Fame. The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, even declared September 19 as "Graham Elliot Day" in the city!
In 2017, Graham Elliot appeared in a TV commercial for a cooking product called the Gotham Steel Double Grill.
Graham Elliot's Personal Life
Graham Elliot used to live in Morgan Park, a neighborhood in Chicago. He lived there with his wife, who was also his business partner, and their three children.
Outside of cooking, Graham Elliot enjoys music. He sings and plays the guitar. He also has a hobby of collecting baseball cards.
In 2013, Graham Elliot decided to have weight loss surgery. He also started jogging. He lost about 68 kilograms (150 pounds) and reduced his weight to about 113 kilograms (250 pounds). He explained that he made this decision because he became a father and wanted to be healthier for his children.
