Ken Hom

Ken Hom was born in 1949 in Tucson, Arizona, where his Cantonese parents had emigrated. After losing his father when he was just eight months old, his mother moved to Chicago to be with relatives.  At age 11, Ken Hom began working in his uncle’s restaurant and at 19, he moved to California to study art and French history. To fund his studies, Hom started giving cooking lessons and discovered his passion for cooking, particularly Chinese cuisine. He initially taught classes at home before moving on to the California Culinary Academy.

In 1984, the BBC aired Hom’s first UK television series, Ken Hom’s Chinese Cookery, which also accompanied a book of the same name. The series played a key role in making Chinese cooking accessible to the UK audience. It became an instant success and was broadcast globally. The accompanying book sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. Hom presented a further six television series – Hot Chefs, Ken Hom’s Hot Wok, Ken Hom’s Foolproof Chinese Cookery, Travels with a Hot Wok and Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure, attracting millions of viewers.  He also presented a documentary on the origins of the noodle,  The Noodle Road.

In 2023, Ken Hom received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Guild of Food Writers for his outstanding contributions to the culinary world, having published over 40 books. He has also been honoured with an honorary OBE for his services to culinary arts. In 2022, he was awarded an honorary CBE for his contributions to charity, culinary arts, and education. Additionally, he is a Founding Patron of the Oxford Cultural Collective, which aims to promote a better understanding of food and drink.

Since 2008, Hom has been an ambassador for Action Against Hunger, the humanitarian charity which works in over 40 countries helping families to feed their children and build a sustainable life. Hom also tirelessly supports several other charities such as The Ronald McDonalds House Charity and Prostate Cancer UK.

Hom has worked as a consultant for hotels, restaurants and airlines and has cooked personally for presidents, prime ministers, celebrities and royalty. He resides in France and Thailand and speaks English, French & Cantonese fluently.