Ken Hom facts for kids
Ken Hom's image
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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, writer, and TV presenter. He is well-known for his amazing Asian and East/West cooking. Ken Hom has received special honors from the British Empire for his work in cooking. He was made an Officer (OBE) in 2009 and a Commander (CBE) in 2022.
Contents
Ken Hom's Early Life
Growing Up and Learning to Cook
Ken Hom was born in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. His parents were from Kaiping, China. When Ken was only eight months old, his father passed away. His mother, Ying Fong, raised him in Chicago, Illinois.
Ken started learning to cook at a young age. When he was eleven, he worked in his uncle's Chinese restaurant. This was where he first learned about cooking.
College and Teaching
Later, Ken moved to California to study History of Art. He attended the University of California, Berkeley. To help pay for college, he taught cooking lessons on weekends. He started by teaching Italian cooking.
Soon, he began teaching Chinese cooking classes. In 1977, he was asked to become an instructor. This was at the new San Francisco's California Culinary Academy.
Ken Hom's TV Career
Becoming a TV Star
In 1982, the BBC searched worldwide for a chef. They wanted someone to host a Chinese cooking show. Ken Hom was chosen after a two-year search. His first TV series was called Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery. A cookbook was also released with the show.
More TV Shows and Awards
Since then, Ken Hom has appeared in many BBC TV shows. One of his famous series was for KBS. It was called Noodle Road. This show was a five-hour documentary. It explored the history of noodles around the world. Noodle Road was sold in 23 countries. It also won a Peabody award in 2009.
In 2012, he co-hosted another BBC series. It was called Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure. He presented it with chef Ching He Huang. Ken Hom has also appeared many times on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen. Since 2023, he has his own YouTube channel. It is called 'Ken Hom'.
Helping Others
Supporting Charities
Since 2008, Ken Hom has been an ambassador for Action Against Hunger. This charity helps families in over 40 countries. 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 for early detection and treatment of cancers.
Awards and Special Honors
Ken Hom has received many awards and honors for his work:
- In 1990, he was included in the Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America. This was for his important achievements in cooking.
- He became an Honorary Chairperson in 1993. This was for The Institute for the Advancement of the Science & Art of Chinese Cuisine.
- 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 international food world.
- His show "Noodle Road" won the Grand Prize Winner Documentary at the ABU Awards in 2009.
- He was awarded an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009. Queen Elizabeth II gave him this honor for his services to cooking.
- "Noodle Road" was nominated for best TV documentary in 2010. This was at the New York Film Festival.
- He won a Peabody Award in 2010 for the "Noodle Road" TV series.
- In 2013, he won the Food Broadcast of the Year Award. This was for "Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure".
- In 2017, he became a Founding Patron of the Oxford Cultural Collective.
- In 2022, he was awarded an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Queen Elizabeth II gave him this honor for his services to charity, cooking, and education.
Honors in Ken Hom's Name
- There is an Annual Ken Hom Lecture series at Oxford Brookes University.
- Oxford Brookes University also has a Ken Hom Writer in Residence Fellowship.
- The Ken Hom Collection is housed at Oxford Brookes University.
Book Awards
Ken Hom's cookbooks have also won many awards:
- Ken Hom’s East Meets West Cuisine (1987) was shortlisted for an award.
- Easy Family Dishes: A Memoir with Recipes (1998) won the Andre Simon Memorial Book of Year.
- The Taste of China (1990) was also shortlisted for an award.
- Ken Hom’s Quick Wok (2001) was named Cookbook of the Year by Food and Wine magazine, USA.
- Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure (2012) won the 'Best in the World' award. This was for the Culinary Travel Category at the Gourmand International Awards 2013.
Ken Hom's Work and Life
Living Around the World
Since 1986, Ken Hom has had a home in Paris, France. In 1997, he moved permanently to a restored 13th-century tower. This home is in the Lot region of southwest France. Since 2003, he has also spent more time in Thailand.
Writing and Consulting
Ken Hom has written over 20 cookbooks. While he is best known for Chinese cooking, his books also cover other Asian cuisines. These include Cambodian, Malaysian, Thai, Singaporean, and Vietnamese cooking.
He has also worked as a consultant for hotels and restaurants. He has even cooked for presidents, famous people, and royalty. In 2009, he partnered with the supermarket chain Tesco. They launched a line of 32 Ken Hom branded Chinese ready meals.
Even though he is semi-retired, Ken Hom still travels a lot. He divides his time between France and Bangkok.
Books by Ken Hom
- Ken Hom’s East Meets West Cuisine (1987)
- The Taste of China (1990)
- Easy Family Dishes: A Memoir with Recipes (1998)
- Ken Hom’s Quick Wok (2001)
- Truffes (with Pierre-Jean Pébeyre) (2001)
- The Taste of Leicester (1991)
- Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure (with Ching He Huang) (2012)
- Truffles (with Pierre-Jean Pébeyre) (2014)
