Kevin Belton facts for kids

Kevin Belton is a famous American chef, TV host, author, and teacher. He was born around 1960. Kevin is known for his amazing New Orleans-style cooking. You might have seen him on PBS, where he hosts several cooking shows. He also teaches cooking classes in New Orleans. Before becoming a chef, Kevin was even a professional American football player!

About Kevin Belton

Kevin Belton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His family has a mix of backgrounds, including African, Native American, French, and English roots. His mother was a teacher whose family came from Martinique. His father's family was from Bordeaux, France.

Kevin grew up in the Uptown area of New Orleans. He went to Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary, Brother Martin High School, and Louisiana State University.

He played college football at Louisiana State University. His football career ended early due to injuries.

Kevin started cooking when he was very young, around six years old. He helped his mother and grandmother in the kitchen. The first dish he learned to make was scrambled eggs. His mother and grandmother taught him how to cook delicious Cajun and Creole dishes. He learned to cook on his own, becoming a self-taught chef.

Kevin's Career

Kevin Belton began his career at the New Orleans School of Cooking. He first managed the store there. Later, he started teaching cooking classes. He has been teaching at the school for more than 20 years.

Before he became a TV chef, Kevin loved watching cooking shows. He enjoyed watching chefs like Julia Child and Paul Prudhomme. In 1992, he helped out with a local PBS fundraiser. He read auction listings live on TV. This led to him hosting pledge breaks, and eventually, his own Saturday morning cooking show.

In 2016, Kevin's first big show, New Orleans Cooking with Kevin Belton, started on WYES-TV.

His second national TV show, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, began in 2018. This PBS series features many recipes. Some are from his mother and grandmother. Others are traditional local dishes. He also shares recipes that show the mix of cultures in New Orleans, like Greek, South American, and Vietnamese influences.

In 2019, Kevin won the "Best Social Media" award from the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters. His PBS show, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, also won the "Uniquely Louisiana Award". In April 2019, his show Kevin Belton's New Orleans Celebrations started on PBS. A cookbook with the same name was also released.

Today, Kevin is the Morning News Chef for WWL-TV. He also creates TV features about local food culture for the station. Since 2021, Kevin has hosted "Cookin' Louisiana" on WYES, a public TV station in Louisiana.

Kevin's Cooking Style

Kevin Belton is an expert in New Orleans cooking. His recipes are made to be simple and easy to follow. He wants to help people learn to cook New Orleans-style dishes without feeling scared. He doesn't use a special food stylist for his cookbooks or TV show. This means the food looks just like you would make it at home.

Kevin's Life Outside of Work

Kevin Belton lives in New Orleans with his wife, Monica Belton. He doesn't cook much at home. Some of his favorite places to get takeout food in New Orleans are Royal China, Venezia, and Central Grocery. He also loves to read, especially mystery novels.

Kevin's Health Journey

Kevin Belton decided to make some healthy changes in his life. He had been overweight and had some health concerns, like high blood pressure. He worked hard and lost over 130 pounds in two years.

Kevin shared that he exercised every day with his wife and their puppy, Cookie Monster. He also ate a low-carb diet and kept his meal portions small.

Books by Kevin Belton

• with Rhonda Findley. Kevin Belton’s Big Flavors of New Orleans. Layton: Gibbs Smith (2016). ISBN: 1423641574
• with Rhonda Findley. Kevin Belton's New Orleans Kitchen. Layton: Gibbs Smith (2018). ISBN: 1423648943
• with Rhonda Findley. Kevin Belton's New Orleans Celebrations. Layton: Gibbs Smith (2019). ISBN: 1423651553
• with Monica Belton. Kevin Belton's Cookin' Louisiana. Layton: Gibbs Smith (2021). ISBN: 1423658388