Ken Hom is a Chinese-American chef, television personality, and author. He is known for specializing in Asian cuisine. The celebrity chef is known on both sides of the Atlantic, so he has fans worldwide. Although he is one of the world’s most famous chefs, there are many Ken Hom facts that people do not know. So, what are some facts about Ken Hom you might find interesting? Here are some fun Ken Hom facts you might like to know.
Ken Hom Facts: His Early and Personal Life
Where Was Ken Home Born?
Ken Hom was born in Tuscon, Arizona, on the 3rd of May 1949. His parents were Taiwanese, and Hom’s father died when he was eight months old. Hom’s widowed mother raised him in Chicago, Illinois.
Did Hom Cook as a Child?
Ken Hom first began cooking at the age of eleven. His uncle owned a Chinese restaurant, and Hom would help out. However, it did not inspire him initially to pursue a career in cooking. Hom chose to study the History of Art at the University of California, Berkeley.
Is Ken Home Married?
One of the Ken Hom facts that his fans want to know is whether or not he has a wife. Ken Hom has never married, but he is in a long-term relationship. He has lived with the same woman for more than 40 years.
Does Ken Hom Have Children?
According to Wiki Net Worth, Ken Hom does not have any children. However, he does have a stepdaughter, Sandra. Hom and his partner chose not to marry, as they consider marriage an artificial constraint.
Where Does Ken Hom Live?
Although he is from the United States, Ken Hom is predominantly based in France. He has a property in Paris, and his main residence is a 13th-century tower in Lot, southwest France, where he has lived since 1997. Hom also has a home in Bangkok, Thailand.
Facts About Ken Hom: His Culinary Career
When Did Ken Home Begin Cooking Professionally?
While at university, Ken Hom taught Italian cooking lessons to pay his way through college. He then progressed to teaching Chinese cookery classes. In turn, that led to Hom being invited to become an instructor at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco in 1977.
Hom’s Culinary Style
Ken Hom is known as a specialist of Asian cuisine. Although he is best known for Chinese food, he also cooks Thai, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Singaporean, and Malaysian cuisines.
How Many Books Has Ken Hom Authored?
During his culinary career, Ken Hom has authored 20 cookbooks. His first cookery book, Chinese Technique, was published in 1981. His most recent cookbook, My Stir-Fried Life with James Steen, was published in 2016.
He Created a Range of Ready Meals
Hom entered an agreement with Tesco in 2009 to launch a ready-meal range. The range includes 32 branded Chinese meals. He has also worked as a consultant for restaurants and hotels. Furthermore, he has cooked for royalty, presidents, and celebrities.
His Career in the Media
He First Appeared on UK TV in 1982
In 1980, the BBC began a global search to find a chef to present a Chinese cooking series. Ken Hom auditioned in 1982 and landed the job. The series was called Ken Hom’s Chinese Cookery. BBC Books published a companion book for the series. The series led to Ken Hom appearing in several other BBC TV series. These included the 2012 cooking-travel series Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure. Hom presented the series with Ching-He Huang.
Hom is a Regular Guest on Saturday Kitchen
Ken Home has appeared in the series Saturday kitchen on multiple occasions. Matt Tebbutt currently presents the weekend cooking series. Former presenters include Gregg Wallace, James Martin, and Anthony Worrell Thompson. Many celebrity chefs have appeared in the series, including Angela Hartnett, Anna Haugh, Marcus Wareing, Yotam Ottolenghi, Andi Oliver, and Tom Kerridge.
Other Ken Hom Facts
He Suffered from Prostate Cancer
In 2010, chef Ken Hom discovered he had prostate cancer. Doctors in Japan treated his condition with proton radiation therapy. Fortunately, the treatment was successful.
Hom Has Won Multiple Awards
Throughout his career, Ken Hom has won multiple awards for his cooking, his books, and his television appearances. These include being appointed an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009 and then an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2022.
Hom Supports Several Charities
The celebrity chef supports several charities. He is an ambassador for Action Against Hunger. Since suffering from prostate cancer, he is also an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK.
We hope you enjoyed reading The Fruity Tart‘s facts about Ken Hom!