Ian Parmenter facts for kids
Ian Richard Parmenter (1945 – April 2024) was an Australian TV personality and author. He was born in England and became famous for his cooking show Consuming Passions. This show aired on the ABC network in Australia and in 19 other countries.
Ian Parmenter had a long career in media, working in newspapers, magazines, TV, and radio for 50 years. He also wrote many cookbooks.
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Early Life and Learning to Cook
Ian Parmenter was born in London, England, after World War II ended. When he was nine, his family moved to Belgium. There, he learned to cook from a Belgian housekeeper. His very first dish was Belgian-style chips.
He went to a Montessori school in Belgium. Later, he attended King's School, Rochester in England. He became a journalist in Fleet Street, London, which is famous for its newspapers.
Moving to Australia and TV Career
In 1971, Ian Parmenter moved to Australia. He joined the ABC in Perth and became a TV producer in 1974. Even though he didn't have professional experience in foodservice, he loved cooking in his private life. This passion for food led him to create Consuming Passions.
He presented 450 short episodes of Consuming Passions. Each episode was about five minutes long. The show helped many people learn about cooking and enjoy food.
Life in Margaret River
In 1999, Ian Parmenter moved to Margaret River. This is a town in Western Australia. He had bought a cottage there not long after his cooking show first started.
Awards and Recognition
On 26 January 2011, Ian Parmenter received the Medal of the Order of Australia. This special award recognized his great work in the food and tourism industries. He was honored for being an event director, author, journalist, and broadcaster.
Ian Parmenter passed away in April 2024 at the age of 79.
Books by Ian Parmenter
Ian Parmenter wrote several books about cooking and food. Here are some of them:
- Cooking with Passion (ABC Books)
- Bon Appétit With Ian Parmenter (Gore & Osment Publications)
- Sheer Bottled Bliss (HarperCollins)
- All-Consuming Passions: Recipes Gathered from a Lifetime of Loving Food (HarperCollins)
