Graham Kerr facts for kids
Kerr in January 2018
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| Born | 22 January 1934 London, England |
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| Education |
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| Spouse |
Treena Kerr
(m. 1955; died 2015) |
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Television show(s)
The Galloping Gourmet (1968–72)
Graham Kerr's Kitchen (1994–96) |
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Graham Kerr (born 22 January 1934) is an English cooking expert. He is most famous for his TV cooking show, The Galloping Gourmet. This popular show aired from 1968 to 1972.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Graham Kerr was born in Brondesbury, London, England. His parents were hoteliers, meaning they owned and managed hotels. Because of this, Graham spent a lot of his childhood around professional chefs in Europe.
He went to Michael Hall School when he was young. At age 14, he left school to start training in hotel kitchens. Later, he returned to study at Brighton Technical College and another school in Devon.
Starting His Cooking Career
Graham Kerr began his career at just 15 years old. He became a trainee manager at the Roebuck Hotel in Forest Row, England. After serving five years in the British Army as a catering adviser, he became the general manager of the Royal Ascot Hotel.
Moving to New Zealand
In 1958, Graham moved to New Zealand. There, he became the main catering adviser for the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
His television journey began in New Zealand. In 1959, he started hosting a TV show called Entertaining with Kerr. On the show, he wore a military uniform. His recipes were also shared on the radio and in magazines. A book based on his show, also called Entertaining with Kerr, sold out very quickly. During these early years, he won an award for being the "Personality of the Year."
Success in Australia
Graham Kerr moved to Sydney, Australia, in 1964. He soon got a cooking show on Channel 10, also named Entertaining with Kerr. The show quickly became a huge hit across Australia. This led to daily radio spots, newspaper columns, and appearances in person.
Even though his TV show was cancelled for a short time, his radio show continued. He eventually returned to national television, becoming even more popular.
The Galloping Gourmet Show
In the late 1960s, Graham Kerr moved to Canada. He started a new TV series called The Galloping Gourmet. The show's name came from a book he co-wrote. He got the nickname "Galloping Gourmet" because he traveled the world to find the best restaurants.
The show was filmed in front of a live audience. Each episode began with Graham running onto the stage and leaping over a chair. This fun stunt was thought up by his wife, Treena Kerr, who also produced the show. Many episodes also included short films of Graham visiting the places where the dish he was cooking came from.
The show was known for its fun humor and Graham's lively personality. He often used a lot of butter and cream in his recipes. He also featured wine, using it in his dishes and talking about it. He would often take a "Short Slurp" of wine as a signal for the show to go to a commercial break.
At the end of each show, Graham would pick someone from the audience to come on stage. They would then enjoy the dish he had just made. He would also make a funny face when tasting his food, as if it was the most delicious thing ever.
The Galloping Gourmet was a big success and was nominated for two Emmy Awards. Graham Kerr became famous worldwide and wrote many cookbooks. The show was even dubbed in French and aired in Canada as Le Gourmet farfelu.
Life Changes and New Directions
Graham Kerr's TV show ended due to some difficult personal events. In 1971, he and his wife Treena were in a car accident. Graham suffered injuries to his back and arm. In 1972, Treena was diagnosed with tuberculosis, a lung infection. She recovered after surgery.
In 1975, both Graham and Treena became born-again Christians. This change deeply influenced Graham's life and work.
Take Kerr and Healthier Eating
Graham returned to television in 1975 with a short daily series called Take Kerr. This show was different. It focused on healthier eating with lighter recipes. It also included Christian elements, like using a hymn as its theme song. This show lasted for four seasons.
In an interview in 1975, Graham said he regretted some aspects of The Galloping Gourmet. He felt that his old cooking style, with lots of fat, was not good given the rise in obesity. He apologized for his past habits and began promoting healthier cooking.
Minimax Cooking and Later Shows
After his wife Treena had a stroke and heart attack in 1986, Graham created a new cooking style called "Minimax." This method focused on minimizing fat and cholesterol. At the same time, it maximized flavor, color, and texture.
Minimax led to The Graham Kerr Show in the 1990s. Later, he starred in the PBS show Graham Kerr's Kitchen from 1992 to 1995. Both shows promoted his low-fat, "minimax" approach to cooking.
He also wrote several successful cookbooks based on his Minimax ideas, including Graham Kerr's Smart Cooking and Graham Kerr's Minimax Cookbook.
Career Since 1995
In 1995, Graham Kerr appeared in a TV special with another famous chef, Julia Child, called Cooking in Concert.
In 1996, he introduced a new idea in his book Swiftly Seasoned. He called it a "Moulded Ethnic Vegetable" (MEV). This was a baked dish of vegetables and starches with flavors from different cultures. He wanted to create a main dish for vegetarian meals, similar to how meat dishes are often the focus for non-vegetarians.
From 1996 to 2000, Graham was also a special editor for Cooking Light magazine. He has also worked with health programs, encouraging people to eat more fruits and vegetables. His older shows, like The Galloping Gourmet, have been shown again on channels like Food Network.
In 1997–98, Graham recorded a series called The Gathering Place. This show featured guests who were experts in health. He also included videos from his travels around the world on the ship Queen Elizabeth 2.
Graham Kerr's autobiography, Flash of Silver...the leap that changed my world, was published in 2015.
Awards and Recognitions
Graham Kerr has received several honors for his work:
- In 1965, he won a gold medal at the Culinary Olympics in Germany for his cookbook, The Graham Kerr Cookbook by the Galloping Gourmet.
- In 2003, he received an honorary doctorate degree for his contributions to culinary arts and nutrition.
- Also in 2003, he was made an Honorary Life Member of the American Dietetic Association.
His Influence on Other Chefs
Many famous chefs today were inspired by Graham Kerr. Chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Charlie Trotter have said they were fans of The Galloping Gourmet when they were children. John Williams, the Executive Chef at the Ritz, also admired his show.
Personal Life
Graham Kerr first met Treena Van Doorne, an English actress, when they were both around 11 years old. They married on 22 September 1955. They had three children: Tessa, Andrew, and Kareena. Treena Kerr passed away on 17 September 2015, just before their 60th wedding anniversary.
Graham lived in Mount Vernon, Washington, for several years. In 2015, he moved to a retirement home in Warm Beach, Washington. He remarried in 2024. Graham Kerr is a Christian.
Books by Graham Kerr
Graham Kerr has written many cookbooks and other books throughout his career. Here are some of them:
- Kerr, G. (1963). Entertaining with Kerr.
- Kerr, G. (1966). The Graham Kerr Cookbook. (This book had a special spiral binding.)
- Kerr, G., & Evans, L. (1967). The galloping gourmets.
- Kerr, G. (1969). The Graham Kerr cookbook, by the galloping gourmet.
- Kerr, G. (1972). The complete galloping gourmet cookbook.
- Kerr, G. (1976). The new seasoning.
- Kerr, G. (1978). The love feast. (This book talked about how good food can help create a strong Christian family.)
- Kerr, G., & Kerr, T. (1982). The Graham Kerr Step By Step Cookbook.
- Kerr, G. (1991). Graham Kerr's smart cooking.
- Kerr, G. (1992). Graham Kerr's minimax cookbook.
- Kerr, G. (1994). Graham Kerr's kitchen.
- Kerr, G. (1995). Graham Kerr's best: A low fat, heart healthy cookbook.
- Kerr, G. (1996). Graham Kerr's swiftly seasoned.
- Kerr, G. (1997). The gathering place.
- Kerr, G., & Suzanne, B. (2004). Graham Kerr's simply splenda cookbook.
- Kerr, G., & Kerr, T. (2004). Charting a course to wellness. (This book was about living with heart disease and diabetes.)
- Kerr, G. (2015). Flash of Silver...the leap that changed my world. (His autobiography.)
Television Cookbooks
From 1969 to 1971, seven volumes of Television Cookbooks were published. These books featured recipes from The Galloping Gourmet series. They were often sold by mail order through the TV show. In 1972, these cookbooks were re-released with new covers and sold in bookstores.
