Maggie Beer facts for kids
Beer at the Australia Day citizenship ceremony at Commonwealth Park in Canberra
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| Born | Margaret Anne Ackerman 19 January 1945 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Spouse |
Colin Beer
(m. 1970) |
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Current restaurant(s)
Barossa Pheasant Farm Restaurant, Charlick's Feed Store
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Television show(s)
The Great Australian Bake Off, The Cook and the Chef
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Award(s) won
Australian Publishers Association's Illustrated Book of the Year
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Maggie Beer is a famous Australian chef, writer, and business owner. She was born Margaret Anne Ackerman on January 19, 1945. You might know her as a judge on The Great Australian Bake Off or from her guest appearances on MasterChef Australia.
Contents
Early Life and Food Passion
Maggie Beer was born in Sydney, Australia, in January 1945. Her family lived in the western suburbs of Sydney. Her dad's family had been gold miners in a place called Hill End.
Growing up, Maggie's parents faced some tough times with their finances. They became caterers to start fresh. Maggie says this experience taught her to work very hard. She left high school at age 14 to help her family. She had many different jobs, like working as a lift operator in New Zealand. She also worked as an assistant for a scientist in Libya. She came back to Sydney in 1968.
Maggie has always loved food, even from when she was a child. She remembers that "Food was vital; there was a real interest in food and its quality and an obsession with freshness. Cooking was just accepted, it was part of the norm." This early love for fresh, good food shaped her future.
Maggie's Amazing Career
Maggie Beer never went to a special cooking school to become a chef. But she has had a very successful career for almost 50 years! Her only paid cooking job before her own businesses was at a sailing school in Scotland. She said she used up all their food very quickly because she loves to cook generously.
Starting the Barossa Pheasant Farm
After moving to the Barossa Valley in South Australia, Maggie and her husband, Colin, opened a small shop called the Farm Shop in 1979. This shop soon became the Barossa Pheasant Farm Restaurant. The restaurant became famous for serving local pheasant and a special spread called Pheasant Farm Pate.
In 1991, the restaurant won a big award: the Remy Martin Cognac – Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year. Maggie and Colin ran this very popular restaurant until 1993. Later, Maggie also became a partner in another restaurant called Charlick's Feed Store in Adelaide city centre.
Gourmet Food Business
Maggie Beer also started a business in the Barossa Valley that makes many delicious gourmet foods. These include her famous Pheasant Farm Pate, quince paste, verjuice (a sour grape juice), and fancy ice creams. The Maggie Beer Farm Shop began in 1979 and grew into a large company.
TV Shows and Books
Maggie has been on many TV cooking shows. She co-hosted The Cook and the Chef on the ABC with Simon Bryant. She has also appeared many times as a guest judge and teacher on MasterChef Australia.
Maggie has written many books about food and cooking. She even wrote a book with another famous cook, Stephanie Alexander, called Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer's Tuscan Cook. This book was so popular that it was translated into five different languages!
In 2012, Maggie was on a TV show called Who Do You Think You Are?. This show helps people learn about their family history. Maggie discovered some interesting things about her ancestors.
In April 2015, Maggie Beer and Matt Moran became judges for the second season of The Great Australian Bake Off. This show aired on LifeStyle Food. She was a judge for four more seasons and even came back as a guest in season 7.
In 2023, Maggie started filming a new ABC TV series in Western Australia. This show will focus on making food and dining better for people living in aged care homes.
Awards and Recognition
Maggie Beer has received many awards for her amazing work:
- In 1997, she was named the Telstra South Australian Business Woman of the Year.
- On January 1, 2001, she received the Centenary Medal. This was for her great contributions to Australian society through cooking and writing.
- In 2008, her book Maggie's Harvest won the Australian Publishers Association's illustrated Book of the Year award.
- She was honored as "Senior Australian of the Year" in 2010.
- In 2012, Maggie was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This award recognized her service to tourism and hospitality as a cook, restaurant owner, and author. It also honored her work in promoting Australian food.
- In April 2016, the University of South Australia gave her an honorary doctorate. This was to celebrate her achievements in tourism and hospitality and her efforts to promote Australian food.
- In 2022, Maggie was promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was for her outstanding service to the tourism and hospitality industries, and for her work helping older people.
Personal Life
Maggie Beer married Colin Beer on January 17, 1970. They live in a lovely cottage home in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. They have two daughters. Sadly, her older daughter passed away in February 2020 at the age of 46.
Maggie's Books
Here are some of the books Maggie Beer has written:
- Cooking With Verjuice
- Stephanie Alexander and Maggie Beer's Tuscan Cookbook
- Maggie's Table
- Maggie's Harvest
- Maggie's Kitchen
- Maggie's Orchard
- Maggie's Christmas
- Maggie's Farm
- Maggie's Verjuice Cookbook
- Winter Harvest
- Maggie's Recipe For Life
See also
