Ken Hom facts for kids
Ken Hom in 2014
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| Born | May 3, 1949 Tucson, Arizona, US |
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| Cooking style | Chinese, East Meets West, Asian: Thai |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley University of Aix-en-Provence |
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Television show(s)
Ken Hom’s Chinese Cookery (1984), Hot Chefs (1992), Ken Hom’s Hot Wok (1996), Ken Hom’s Travels with a Wok (1998), Foolproof Chinese Cookery (2000), Take on the Takeaway (2007), Noodle Road (KBS) (2008)
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Ken Hom (born May 3, 1949) is a famous Chinese-American chef. He is also an author and a TV presenter for the BBC. Ken Hom is known for his amazing Asian and East/West cooking. He has received special awards from the British Empire for his work. These awards honor his great contributions to cooking.
Contents
Early Life and Cooking Start
Ken Hom was born in Tucson, Arizona. His parents were from Kaipingese. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois, with his mother. His father passed away when Ken was very young.
Ken started cooking at age eleven. He worked in his uncle's Chinese restaurant. This was his first taste of the kitchen. Later, he went to California to study art history. He attended the University of California, Berkeley.
To help pay for college, he taught cooking classes. First, he taught Italian cooking. Then, he began teaching Chinese cooking. In 1977, he became an instructor at the new San Francisco's California Culinary Academy.
Ken Hom's TV Cooking Shows
In 1982, the BBC looked for a chef for a Chinese cooking show. They chose Ken Hom after a worldwide search. His TV series was called Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery. A cookbook came out with the show.
Since then, he has been on many BBC TV shows. His show Noodle Road for KBS was a five-hour film. It explored the history of noodles. This show was sold in 23 countries. It also won a Peabody award in 2009.
In 2012, he hosted Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure with Ching He Huang. He also appears often on the BBC show Saturday Kitchen. Since 2023, Ken Hom has his own YouTube channel.
Helping Others: Ken Hom's Charity Work
Since 2008, Ken Hom has been an ambassador for Action Against Hunger. This charity helps families around the world. They work to feed children and build better lives.
In 2010, Ken Hom was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He received treatment in Japan. The treatment was successful. Now, he is an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK. He helps raise awareness about early detection and treatment of cancers.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Ken Hom has received many awards for his cooking and charity work.
- In 1990, he was added to the Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America. This recognized his important work in cooking.
- He became an honorary member of the 48 Group Club in 2002.
- In 2007, he became a founding patron of Oxford Gastronomica. This is a center for food, drink, and culture.
- He received an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University in 2007. This was for his success in the food world.
- His show "Noodle Road" won the Grand Prize at the ABU Awards in 2009. It also won Korea's Producer Award.
- In 2009, Queen Elizabeth II made him an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for his services to cooking.
- "Noodle Road" was nominated for best TV documentary in 2010. It also won a Peabody Award.
- In 2013, "Exploring China" won the Food Broadcast of the Year Award. This was from the Guild of Food Writers.
- In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II made him an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for his charity work, cooking, and education.
Books and Business
Ken Hom has written over 20 cookbooks. His books cover many types of Asian cooking. These include Cambodian, Malaysian, Thai, Singaporean, and Vietnamese food.
He has also worked as a food consultant for hotels and restaurants. He has even cooked for presidents, famous people, and royalty!
In 2009, he partnered with Tesco, a British supermarket. They launched a line of Ken Hom branded Chinese ready meals. Ken Hom now divides his time between France and Bangkok. He still travels a lot for his work.
Television Shows
- Ken Hom’s Chinese Cookery (1984)
- Hot Chefs (1992)
- Ken Hom’s Hot Wok (1996)
- Ken Hom’s Travels with a Hot Wok (1998)
- Foolproof Chinese Cookery (2000)
- Take on the Takeaway (2007)
- Noodle Road (KBS) (2008)
- Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure (with Ching He Huang) (2012)
Books by Ken Hom
- Ken Hom’s East Meets West Cuisine (1987)
- The Taste of China (1990)
- The Taste of Leicester (1991)
- Easy Family Dishes: A Memoir with Recipes (1998)
- Truffes (with Pierre-Jean Pébeyre) (2001)
- Ken Hom’s Quick Wok (2001)
- Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure (with Ching He Huang) (2012)
- Truffles (with Pierre-Jean Pébeyre) (2014)
