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 Victor Kerr (born 22 January 1934) is a British cooking expert famous for his television cooking show The Galloping Gourmet. This popular show aired from 1968 to 1972.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Graham Kerr was born in Brondesbury, a part of north London. His parents, Major John Douglas Kerr and his wife, owned hotels in England. Graham explained that his family name, Kerr, is pronounced like "care."
When he was young, he went to Michael Hall, a special school in Forest Row, East Sussex. It was there, in 1945, that he met Treena Van Doorne, who later became his wife. Graham left school at age 14 to start training in kitchens. However, he later went back to college, attending Brighton Technical College and South Devon College.
Career Beginnings
First Steps in Cooking
At just 15 years old, Graham Kerr became a trainee manager at the Roebuck Hotel. He also served in the British Army for five years, working in the Army Catering Corps. After his time in the army, 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. Soon after, he started his television career.
Television Success in New Zealand
In 1959, Graham began hosting a TV show called Entertaining with Kerr in New Zealand. He wore his military uniform on the show. His recipes were also shared on the radio and in magazines. His first cookbook, also called Entertaining with Kerr, sold out very quickly. During these early years, he won an award for being the "Personality of the Year."
Australian Adventures
Graham moved to Sydney, Australia, in 1964. He started a cooking show on Channel 10, also called Entertaining with Kerr. This show quickly became a huge success across Australia. He also had daily radio spots, wrote for newspapers and magazines, and made public appearances. He even endorsed products, which means he promoted them.
At one point, his TV show was cancelled, but his radio show continued. Thanks to a recommendation, the Australian Dairy Board hired him for a big endorsement deal, and he soon returned to national television.
The Galloping Gourmet
A Worldwide Hit
In the late 1960s, Graham Kerr moved to Canada. There, he started his most famous show, The Galloping Gourmet. The show's name came from a book he wrote with wine expert Len Evans. The show was filmed in front of a live audience in Ottawa. Each episode began with Graham running onto the stage and leaping over a chair, a fun stunt thought up by his wife, Treena. Many episodes also included short films of Graham visiting different parts of the world where the dish he was making came from.
The show was known for its fun humor and Graham's lively personality. He often used lots of butter and cream in his recipes. A famous line he said on the show was: "Madam, you could go outside and get run over by a bus, and just think what you would have missed!" He also often featured wine, using it in his cooking and talking about it. He would take a "short slurp" of wine as a signal for the show to go to commercials. This made some viewers think he was drinking a lot, but he actually drank very little.
At the end of each show, Graham would pick an audience member to come on stage and try the dish he had just made. He would also make a funny face, as if he was in pure joy, while tasting his food.
Awards and Challenges
The Galloping Gourmet was a big hit and was nominated for two Emmy Awards. During this time, Graham became famous worldwide and wrote many cookbooks. However, some food experts criticized his style, with one calling him "the Liberace of the food world." The show was also dubbed in French and aired in Canada as Le Gourmet farfelu.
Life Changes and New Directions
Personal Challenges
In 1971, Graham and Treena were in a car accident in California. Graham hurt his back and weakened his left arm. In 1972, Treena was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She recovered, but she needed many medications for her health.
In 1975, both Graham and Treena became born-again Christians. This change greatly influenced Graham's career.
Take Kerr and Healthy Eating
Graham returned to television in 1975 with a short daily show called Take Kerr. This program showed his new focus on Christianity and healthy eating. He shared recipes that were lighter in calories and included Christian elements, like using a hymn as the theme song. This show lasted for four seasons.
In an interview in 1975, Graham said he regretted some aspects of The Galloping Gourmet, feeling that his cooking style, with its rich ingredients, contributed to health issues like obesity. He also apologized for his wine drinking and jokes on the old show.
Minimax Cooking
After his wife Treena had a stroke and then a heart attack in 1986, Graham was inspired to create a new way of cooking called "Minimax." This method focused on minimizing fat and cholesterol while maximizing flavor, color, texture, and taste.
Minimax led to The Graham Kerr Show in the 1990s, and later to the PBS show Graham Kerr's Kitchen (1992–1995). These shows promoted his low-fat, "minimax" approach. He also wrote several successful cookbooks based on this style, including Graham Kerr's Smart Cooking and Graham Kerr's Minimax Cookbook.
Later Career and Legacy
In 1995, Graham appeared in a TV special with another famous chef, Julia Child, called Cooking in Concert: Julia Child & Graham Kerr.
In 1996, in his book Swiftly Seasoned, Graham introduced the idea of a "Moulded Ethnic Vegetable" (MEV). This was a baked dish of starches and vegetables, seasoned to taste like different cultures' foods. He wanted to give vegetarian meals a main focus, similar to how meat dishes are often the center of a meal.
From 1996 to 2000, Graham was also a special editor for Cooking Light magazine. He worked with the 5 A Day program, 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 in Toronto. This show featured guests who were experts in health. Graham 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 Honors
- In 1965, Graham 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 in culinary arts and nutrition from Johnson & Wales University.
- Also in 2003, he was made an Honorary Life Member of the American Dietetic Association.
Influence on Other Chefs
Many famous chefs, like Emeril Lagasse and Charlie Trotter, have said that they watched and enjoyed The Galloping Gourmet when they were children.
Personal Life
Graham Kerr married Treena Van Doorne on 22 September 1955. They had first met when they were both about 11 years old. They had three children together. Treena Kerr passed away on 17 September 2015, just five days 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. Graham remarried in 2024. He is a Christian.
Works
- Kerr, G. (1963). Entertaining with Kerr. Wellington: A.H. and A.W. Reed
- Kerr, G. (1966). The Graham Kerr Cookbook. Wellington: A.H. and A.W. Reed (this cookbook was released in a distinctive spiral binding, with heavy covers)
- Kerr, G., & Evans, L. (1967). The galloping gourmets. Sydney: A.H. & A.W. Reed.
- Kerr, G. (1969). The Graham Kerr cookbook, by the galloping gourmet. Garden City, New York: Doubleday.
- Kerr, G. (1970). The Galloping Gourmet's Kitchen Diary.
- Kerr, G. (1972). The complete galloping gourmet cookbook. New York: Grosset & Dunlap.
- Kerr, G. (Early 1970s). A Festive Occasion, Just For You (a record album). Fremantle Records.
- Kerr, G. (1976). The new seasoning. New York: Simon & Schuster / Fleming H. Revell.
- Kerr, G. (1978). The love feast: How good, natural, wholesome food can create a warm and lasting Christian family. New York: Simon & Schuster / Fleming H. Revell.
- Kerr, G., & Kerr, T. (1982). The Graham Kerr Step By Step Cookbook. David C. Cook Publishing Company.
- Kerr, G. (1991). Graham Kerr's smart cooking. New York: Doubleday.
- Kerr, G. (1992). Graham Kerr's minimax cookbook. New York: Doubleday.
- Kerr, G. (1994). Graham Kerr's kitchen. New York: G.P. Putnam's.
- Kerr, G. (1995). Graham Kerr's best: A low fat, heart healthy cookbook. New York: G.P. Putnam's.
- Kerr, G. (1996). Graham Kerr's swiftly seasoned. New York: G.P. Putnam's.
- Kerr, G. (1997). The gathering place: Informal international menus that bring family and friends back to the table. Stanwood, WA: Camano Press.
- Kerr, G. (2002). The gathering place: Featuring Nutrient-Rich Comfort Food. Quarry Press.
- Kerr, G., & Suzanne, B. (2004). Graham Kerr's simply splenda cookbook. Alexandria, VA: Small Steps Press.
- Kerr, G., & Kerr, T. (2004). Charting a course to wellness: Creative ways of living with heart disease and diabetes. Alexandria, VA: American Diabetes Association.
- Kerr, G., & Kerr, T. (2006). Recipe For Life.
- Kerr, T., & Kerr, G. (2007). Day by Day Gourmet Cookbook. Broadman & Holman.
- Kerr, G., (2010). Growing at the Speed Of Life Putnam.
- Kerr, G., (2015). Flash of Silver...the leap that changed my world. Stanwood, WA: Camano Press..
Television Cookbooks
Seven books called Television Cookbooks, with recipes from The Galloping Gourmet show, were published from 1969 to 1971. These books were often sold by mail order through the TV series. In 1972, these cookbooks were re-released with new covers and sold in bookstores.
Images for kids
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Graham Kerr in January 2018
