Ken Hom 3725458 223945607 2008-07-06T17:14:48Z SmackBot 433328 Date the maintenance tags or general fixes {{Advert|date=July 2008}} {{ infobox chef | image = Ken Hom.jpg | caption = Portrait of Ken Hom | birthdate = {{birth date and age|1949|5|3|mf=y}} | birthplace = [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]], [[Arizona (state)|Arizona]], [[United States of America]] | education = [[University of California, Berkeley]] }} '''Ken Hom''' (born [[May 3]], [[1949]] in [[Tucson, Arizona]], [[United States]]) is a notable [[Chinese American]] [[chef]], cookery book writer and television show presenter. ==Biography== Hom was born in [[Tucson, Arizona]], and raised in [[Chicago, Illinois]], by his widowed mother, after his father died when Hom was eight months old.<ref name="The world beckons">{{cite news| last=Burros |first=M | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E7D9123DF934A25755C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2| title= The World Beckons, and One More Chinese Chef Leaves America| date=[[1998-06-17]]| publisher=New York Times| accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> He first learned cooking at age eleven when he worked in his uncle's Chinese restaurant.<ref name="How the wok ethic paid off">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2002/aug/03/features.jobsmoney1|title=How the wok ethic paid off|last=Anstead|first=Mark |date=[[2002-08-03]]|publisher=The Guardian (London)|accessdate=2008-07-03}}</ref> He went out to [[California]] to study History of Art from the [[University of California, Berkeley]]. During this time he was invited to teach Italian cooking lessons at weekends, which he did to supplement his college fees. He actually taught the participants how to make their own [[pasta]]. This led to him going on to teach Chinese cookery, and in 1977 he was invited to join [[San Francisco]]'s new [[California Culinary Academy]] as an instructor. In 1982, the [[BBC]] were looking to find a good Chinese presenter and chef to do a series on Chinese cookery following the success of [[Madhur Jaffrey]]'s Indian cookery series. Jaffrey had met Hom in New York and suggested that the BBC should audition him. The BBC then commissioned him to star in a new TV series on Chinese cooking named ''Ken Hom’s Chinese Cookery''. The success of this series and the companion book broke all records. It became one of the best-selling cookbooks ever published by BBC Books, selling well over 1.2 million copies. As of 2008, the book is still in print and will be celebrating it's 25th anniversary in 2009. Although Hom has had a base in Paris since 1986, in 1997 Ken moved permanently to Europe, settling in southwest France where he restored a 13th century tower in the Lot. In 2003, he made the decision to spend more time in his adopted homeland of Thailand. He has since written over 20 award winning cookbooks which include different oriental types of cookery, such as Singaporean, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Cambodian, Thai and, of course, Chinese dishes. Ken is one of the leading authorities worldwide on Chinese and oriental cuisine. Hom has consulted in many of the top hotels and restaurants all over the world and some of his former pupils have also opened leading restaurants all over the world. He has cooked for over 30 Heads of State including presidents, celebrities and royalty. There is also a range of Ken Hom cooking sauces, noodles and rice developed with Ken and Costa (part of Associated British Foods). These are available only in the UK. However, he now divides his time between Paris, Bangkok and is semi-retired. He still travels extensively worldwide. On the 12th September 2007 Ken Hom received an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University in recognition of his ‘outstanding success within the international food world’. Hom was a contestant on a special Chef's edition of [[The Weakest Link]], and while not winning, did quite well, surviving many elimination rounds. He continues to make radio and television appearances worldwide. == Television == * ''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) ==Bibliography== * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =Steiman, H.| title =Chinese Technique| publisher =Simon & Schuster| date =1981| location =New York| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0671253476 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Chinese Cookery | publisher =BBC Books| date =1984| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563211067 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's East meets West cuisine | publisher =Macmillan| date =1987| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =033345989X }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Vegetables & Pasta Book | publisher =BBC Books| date =1987| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563205393 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Asian Vegetarian Feast| publisher =Morrow| date =1988| location =New York| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0688077536 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Fragrant Harbor Taste : the new Chinese Cooking of Hong Kong| publisher =Simon and Schuster| date =1989| location =New York| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0671644696 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Quick and Easy Chinese Cookery| publisher =BBC Books| date =1989| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563206756 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =The Taste of China | publisher =Pavilion| date =1990| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =1851452478 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Chinese Recipes| publisher =Pavilion| date =1994| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =1857933885 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Chinese Kitchen | publisher =Pavilion| date =1994| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =1851459510 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Vegetarian Cookery | publisher =BBC Books| date =1995| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563369582 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom Cooks Chinese| publisher =BBC Books| date =1997| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563383496 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Hot Wok| publisher =BBC Books| date =1996| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563371005 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Asian Ingredients| publisher =Ten Speed| date =1996| location =Berkeley, Calif.| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0898157951 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom Travels With a Hot Wok| publisher =BBC Books| date =1997| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563383941 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom Cooks Noodles and Rice| publisher =BBC Books| date =1998| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563383496 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Easy Family Dishes: a memoir with recipes| publisher =BBC Books| date =1998| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563384395}} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom Cooks Thai| publisher =Headline| date =1999| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563384549 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Foolproof Chinese Cookery| publisher =BBC Books| date =2000| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563534192 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's New Chinese Cookery| publisher =BBC Books| date =2001| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =056355133X }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Quick Wok: the Fastest Food in the East| publisher =Headline| date =2001| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0747222231 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Simple Thai Cookery| publisher =BBC Books| date =2002| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563493283 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Foolproof Asian Cookery | publisher =BBC Books| date =2003| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563488697 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =My Favourite Chinese Recipes | publisher =BBC Books| date =2003| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563487267 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom's Top 100 Stir-fry Recipes| publisher =BBC Books| date =2004| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563521643 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =Roulier, M.| title =Wok & Co| publisher =Hachette | date =2004| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =184430177X }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Simple Chinese Cookery | publisher =BBC Books| date =2005| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0563521791 }} * {{cite book| last =Hom| first =K.| authorlink =| coauthors =Chan, W.| title =Fresh Chinese: over 80 healthy Chinese recipes | publisher =BBC Books| date =2005| location =London| pages =| url =| doi =| id = | isbn =0600611914 }} == References == {{Reflist}} {{refbegin|2}} *{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19981126/ai_n14198763|title=Education: Passed/Failed Ken Hom| last=| first=|date=[[1998-11-26]]|publisher=The Independent (London)|accessdate=2008-07-03}} *{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010929/ai_n14414603|title=Interview Ken Hom: Hot fusion| last=Kapoor|first=Sybil |date=[[2001-09-29]]|publisher=The Independent (London)|accessdate=2008-07-03}} * {{cite news| last =Gill| first =E| coauthors = | title =Age of enlightenment—Ken Hom|work=|pages=|language= | publisher=The Times| pages =| date =[[2004-06-17]]| url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article448208.ece| accessdate=2007-10-07}} * {{cite news| last =Davies| first =H| coauthors = | title =Hom and away|work=|pages=|language= | publisher=The Times| pages =| date =[[2006-12-03]]| url =http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/overseas/article654320.ece | accessdate=2007-10-07}} * {{cite news| last =Frith Powell | first =H| coauthors = | title =French dressing|work=|pages=|language= | publisher=The Times| pages =| date =[[2004-09-19]]| url =http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/overseas/article484813.ece | accessdate=2007-10-07}} * {{cite web| last =| first =| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Chef biogs: Ken Hom| work =Food| publisher =BBC| date =| url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/chef_biogs/g.shtml#ken_hom| format =HTML| doi =| accessdate =2007-10-07 }} * {{cite news| last =Fletcher| first =S| coauthors = | title =Desert island dish|work=|pages=|language= | publisher=The Guardian| pages =| date =[[2001-10-14]]| url =http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,1613487,00.html| accessdate=2007-10-07}} * {{cite news| last =Clark| first =A| coauthors = | title =Wok coup|work=|pages=|language= | publisher=The Guardian| pages =| date =[[2001-04-14]]| url =http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,473166,00.html| accessdate=2007-10-07}} * {{cite news| last =Crace| first =J| coauthors = | title =My inspiration|work=|pages=|language= | publisher=The Guardian| pages =| date =[[2000-11-26]]| url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianeducation/story/0,,373092,00.html| accessdate=2007-10-07}} * {{cite news| last =Millar| first =S| coauthors = | title =TV chef attacks Britain's mass-produced diet and urges conversion to 'nutritious' oriental food culture|work=|pages=|language= | publisher=The Guardian| pages =| date =[[1999-03-16]]| url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,315916,00.html| accessdate=2007-10-07}} * {{cite news| last =McCurrach | first =I| coauthors = | title =Tasting places: Ken Hom on the countries he savours most |work=|pages=|language= | publisher=The Independent on Sunday| pages =| date =[[2007-04-08]]| url =http://www.independent.co.uk/living/food_and_drink/features/article2433007.ece| accessdate=2007-10-07}} * {{cite web| last =| first =| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Ken Hom To Be Awarded With Honorary Doctorate | work =Food and Drink| publisher =Easier| date =2007-09-07| url =http://www.easier.com/view/Lifestyle/Food_and_Drink/Events/article-138249.html| format =HTML| doi =| accessdate =2007-10-07 }} * {{cite news| last =Sheldrick| first =G| coauthors = | title =Honorary survivor|work=|pages=|language= | publisher=Oxford Mail| pages =| date =[[2007-09-09]]| url =http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1675480.0.honorary_survivor.php| accessdate=2007-10-07}} * {{cite web| last =| first =| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =Past winners of the Andre Simon Memorial Fund Awards | work =Andre Simon Memorial Fund| publisher =Easier| date =2007-09-07| url =http://andresimon.co.uk/past.html| format =HTML| doi =| accessdate =2007-10-07 }} * {{cite news| last =Nacheva| first =V| coauthors = | title =Woking up funds for charities|work=|pages=|language= | publisher=Sofia News| pages =| date =[[2001-05-17]]| url =http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/woking-up-funds-for-charities/id_1834/catid_67| accessdate=2007-10-07}} {{refend}} ==External links== * [http://www.kenhomcooks.com/index.php Ken Hom cooks... website] {{DEFAULTSORT:Hom, Ken}} [[Category:1949 births]] [[Category:American chefs]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Chinese Americans]]