Kylie Kwong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kylie Kwong
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| 鄺凱莉 | |
Kwong at a book signing in March 2006
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| Born |
Kylie Jane Kwong
31 October 1969 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Chef, author, restaurateur, television presenter |
| Partner(s) | Nell |
| Children | 1 |
Kylie Jane Kwong is a famous Australian chef, author, and TV presenter. She was born on October 31, 1969. Kylie is well-known for her delicious Chinese-Australian food and her focus on using fresh, healthy ingredients. She has owned popular restaurants and shared her cooking skills through many TV shows and cookbooks.
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Early Life and Learning
Kylie Kwong grew up in Sydney, Australia. She went to Epping North School and Cheltenham Girls High School. As a third-generation Chinese Australian, Kylie learned to cook traditional Cantonese dishes from her mother. This early experience helped her understand the basics of Chinese cooking.
She also gained a lot of experience by working in famous restaurants. This is like an apprenticeship, where you learn a skill by working closely with experts. She worked at places like Rockpool and Wockpool, learning from top chefs.
Kylie's Career in Food
Kylie Kwong opened her first restaurant called Billy Kwong in Surry Hills, Sydney. The name 'Billy' came from her business partner, chef Bill Granger, when they first started the restaurant. Later, Kylie became the only owner of Billy Kwong.
In 2014, she moved the restaurant to a bigger spot in Potts Point. This new restaurant, Billy Kwong Potts Point, was co-owned with other business partners.
Focus on Healthy Food
Kylie made a big promise for her restaurant: to use only organic and biodynamic food. Organic means food grown without harmful chemicals. Biodynamic farming is a special way of growing food that focuses on the health of the soil and the environment.
She said, "We now use only organic and biodynamic fruit and vegetables, poultry, meat and noodles." This change happened in 2005. She wanted her work to show her beliefs, like helping people by offering healthy, good food.
Billy Kwong won an award in 2009 for being a leader in sustainability. This means they cared about the environment. For example, customers could donate money to support clean energy from a wind farm in China. The restaurant also only served filtered tap water, not bottled water, to reduce waste.
In 2011, Kylie worked with Oxfam Australia to create her own range of tableware. These items, like bowls and teacups, were made by hand by fair trade groups in Vietnam. This helped support skilled workers.
In 2019, Kylie decided to close Billy Kwong. She felt it was time for a change after many years.
New Roles and Projects
After closing her restaurant, Kylie became an Ambassador for food, culture, and community at South Eveleigh. This is a new area in Sydney with offices, shops, and places to eat. Her job was to help people connect with the area through food and cultural events.
In 2020, Kylie took part in the Biennale of Sydney, a big art event. She planned to explore how food can nourish people and communities. When COVID-19 restrictions happened, she changed her plan. Instead, she cooked and delivered meals to community and health leaders for two months. This project was called True Nourishment.
In May 2021, Kylie opened a new casual dining spot called Lucky Kwong. It was also in the South Eveleigh area. This restaurant was named after her son, who she and her wife sadly lost in 2012. Lucky Kwong focused on good quality, ethically sourced ingredients and healthy dishes. The restaurant closed in June 2024, as Kylie decided to retire from being a restaurant owner.
Television Shows and Cookbooks
Kylie Kwong has shared her cooking on many TV shows and in books.
- In 2003, her first TV series, Kylie Kwong: Cooking with Heart and Soul, came out on the ABC. Her first cookbook, Kylie Kwong: Recipes and Stories, was also published that year.
- A second TV series, Kylie Kwong: Simply Magic, was shown in 2006. A new book, Simple Chinese Cooking, was released at the same time. This book aimed to make Chinese cooking easy for everyone.
- A third series, linked to her book My China: Stories and Recipes from My Homeland, was shown in 2008.
Kylie has also appeared as a guest chef and judge on MasterChef Australia several times. She was on the show in 2012, 2014, and 2016. In 2019, she appeared on the TV show Anh's Brush with Fame.
Personal Life
Kylie Kwong is married to Australian artist Nell. They got married on March 17, 2019.
In 2023, Kylie was given a special award called Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This award recognized her important contributions to the food industry and to the community.
Kylie's Books
Kylie Kwong has written five cookbooks. They all share her love for cooking and explore different parts of Chinese culture and food.
- Kylie Kwong: Recipes And Stories - 2003
- Heart and Soul - 2003
- Simple Chinese Cooking - 2007
- My China: A Feast for All the Senses - 2007
- My China: Stories and Recipes from My Homeland - 2008
- She also wrote a story in the book Growing up Asian in Australia in 2008.
See Also
- Kwong Sue Duk, Kylie's great-grandfather.
