John Shields (chef) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Shields
Born	1951 May 5
Nationality	American
Occupation	chef

John Shields is a famous American chef and food writer. He is also known for hosting cooking shows on PBS, like Chesapeake Bay Cooking with John Shields and Coastal Cooking with John Shields.

About John Shields

John Shields was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1951. He first studied music at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He dreamed of becoming a rock star and played piano in bars.

From Music to Cooking

One day, a friend needed help in a kitchen. John stepped in and found his passion for cooking. This led him to become a chef and restaurant owner. He also became an author and a TV host.

In the 1980s, John moved to California. There, he joined a new movement in cooking. This movement focused on fresh, local ingredients. He became the head chef at a French restaurant. In 1983, he opened his own restaurant called Gertie's Chesapeake Bay Café. It was in a famous food area in Berkeley, California.

Returning to Baltimore

Later, in the late 1990s, John Shields moved back to Baltimore. He opened a new restaurant called Gertrude's. This restaurant is located at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Gertrude's is known for using food from local farms and waters. Many famous magazines and newspapers have praised Gertrude's. It has also won "Best of Baltimore" awards many times.

John Shields specializes in cooking food from American coastal areas. He especially loves the food from his home, the Chesapeake Bay region. He supports "Slow Food" which means enjoying food that is grown or made carefully. He also supports "local food" which means using ingredients from nearby farms. He works with groups that promote these ideas.

Television Shows

John Shields has hosted several popular cooking shows on PBS.

• Chesapeake Bay Cooking with John Shields (1998)
• Coastal Cooking with John Shields (2005)
• He has also appeared on the Food Network.

Books by John Shields

John Shields has written several cookbooks. These books share his recipes and love for Chesapeake Bay cooking.

• The Chesapeake Bay Cookbook (1990)
• The Chesapeake Bay Crab Cookbook (1992)
• Chesapeake Bay Cooking with John Shields (1998)
• Chesapeake Bay Cooking with John Shields, 25th anniversary edition (2015)
• The New Chesapeake Kitchen (2018)

External Links

• Official site: http://www.johnshields.com
• Travel & Leisure
• Edible DC, Summer 2016
• The New York Times, 36 Hours in Baltimore