Kylie Kwong is one of the best-known Australian chefs, and she has become known to the public because of her restaurants, cookbooks, and television appearances. She is best known for her Billy Kwong restaurant and her self-titled television series. Although the Australian chef is globally renowned, there are still many facts about Kylie Kwong that people do not know. Here are some Kylie Kwong facts you might find interesting.
Kylie Kwong Facts: Her Personal Life
Although it is her career that has pushed the Australian chef into the limelight, the Kylie Kwong facts that most people want to know are about her personal life.
Where Was Kylie Kwong Born?
Kylie Kwong was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 31 October 1969. She is a third-generation Chinese-Australian.
Is Kylie Kwong Married?
Who is Kylie Kwong’s wife? Kylie Kwong is married to the artist Nell. The couple first met at an art exhibition in 2004 and began dating in 2006. Kwong proposed to Nell in 2015, although they did not get married until 2019 due to their busy schedules.
Does Kylie Kwong Have Children?
Kylie Kwong and her wife, Nell, had one son, Lucky Kwong. Their son was sadly stillborn in 2012. Kwong has named her most recent business venture after her son.
What is Kylie Kwong’s Net Worth?
One of the many facts about Kylie Kwong that people want to know is her wealth. According to Next Biography, Kylie Kwong’s net worth is approximately $5 million. She has made her money through her restaurants, cookbooks, and television appearances. Although she is wealthy, Kylie Kwong does not make it onto our list of the world’s wealthiest celebrity chefs, which includes chefs such as David Chang, Alan Wong, Gordon Ramsay, Ina Garten, Robert Irvine, Vikram Vij, and Thomas Keller.
Kylie Kwong’s Culinary Career
Kylie Kwong has made her name in the culinary world and is especially well known for Chinese food. Here are some facts about Kylie Kwong’s career as a chef you might find interesting.
Where Did Kylie Kwong Train as a Chef?
Kwong began cooking as a child, and her mother taught her the fundamentals of traditional Cantonese cooking. Her formal training began during her apprenticeship under the tuition of Neil Perry at Rockpool and Wockpool. The chef then continued her culinary education at Restaurant Manfredi.
When Did Kylie Kwong Open Her Restaurant?
Kylie Kwong opened her first restaurant, Billy Kwong, in 2000. The name is a combination of Kwong’s surname and her business partner Bill Granger’s first name, but Kwong later became the sole owner of the restaurant. Originally, the restaurant was in the Surry Hills suburb of Sydney, but it moved to larger premises in the Potts Point area in 2014. In 2019, Kwong decided to close the restaurant to change her life as she was turning 50.
What Is Kylie Kwong’s Culinary Style?
Kwong’s culinary ethos reflects her Buddhism, so her food is healthy, precious, and life-giving. She aims to create food that replenishes energy rather than depleting it. Kwong focuses on sustainable and locally sourced ingredients. She is best known for Cantonese and other regional Chinese dishes.
Is Kylie Kwong Still a Chef Now?
Yes, Kylie Kwong is still a chef. Her latest venture is Lucky Kwong, which is a cafeteria-style venue that opened in 2021 and is named after her late son. The restaurant’s focus is on nourishing and high-quality dishes that are made using ethically-sourced ingredients.
How Many Cookbooks Has Kylie Kwong Published?
One of the Kylie Kwong facts people want to know is how many cookbooks she has published. Kylie Kwong is the author of five cookbooks. She published her first book in 2003 and her most recent in 2008. So, what are Kylie Kwong’s cookbooks?
- Kylie Kwong: Recipes and Stories
- Heart and Soul
- Simple Chinese Cooking
- My China: A Feast for All the Sense
- My China: Stories and Recipes from My Homeland
Kylie Kwong also contributed a story to the 2008 book ‘Growing Up Asian in Australia.’
Facts about Kylie Kwong: Her Television Career
The reason that many people know of Kylie Kwong is because of her television appearances.
When Did Kylie Kwong First Appear on Television?
Kylie Kwong first appeared on television in 1996 when she appeared on an episode of ‘The Food Lovers’ Guide to Australia.’ She was in the episode ‘Classic Chinese Food.’
When Did Kylie Kwong’s Series Start?
Kylie Kwong’s TV series ‘Kylie Kwong: Heart and Soul’ was aired for eight episodes in 2003. Two years later, she was in three episodes of ‘Taste.’
What Other Television Series Has Kylie Kong Appeared n?
Kylie Kwong became famous to an international audience after appearing as a guest judge and mentor in several series of MasterChef Australia alongside judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan, and George Calombaris. She has also appeared in the celebrity and junior versions of the series. Other television series in which Kylie Kwong has appeared are ‘The Cook and the Chef,’ ‘Anh’s Brush with Fame,’ and ‘Gardening Australia.’
Other Kylie Kwong Facts
Coming Out to Her Father Almost Destroyed Their Relationship
According to Now to Love, coming out to her as a father was a difficult thing for Kylie Kwong. When she told her father she was dating a woman at the age of 19, her father gave her several days to clear her things out of the house and disowned her as his daughter. However, his love for his daughter won the day, and he took back his words. Kwong and her father went on to have a strong relationship until her father died in 2006.
She Had a Tableware Range
Kylie Kwong collaborated with Oxfam Australia to launch a tableware range that went on sale in Oxfam shops in 2011. The range included matching plates, a soup bowl, a rice bowl, soup spoons, a teacup, a coffee cup, and a teapot. The products were handcrafted by Mai Vietnamese Handcrafts, one of Oxfam’s Vietnamese produce partners.
Kwong is an Ambassador
Kylie Kwong became the Ambassador for Food, Culture, and Community for South Everleigh and the Ambassador for Wayside Chapel. She has used these positions to support local communities and to promote the people, places, and cultures behind the food we eat.
We hope you enjoyed reading The Fruity Tart‘s Kylie Kwong facts.