Ben O'Donoghue

Benjamin O'Donoghue (born 22 May 1970) is an Australian chef living in Brisbane.

Ben O'Donoghue
Born
Benjamin O'Donoghue

(1970-05-22) 22 May 1970
England, UK
Spouse(s)Dee O'Donoghue
Children3
Culinary career
Websitehttp://www.benodonoghue.com

Early years

O'Donoghue was five years old when his family moved from England to Port Hedland.[1] At the age of ten, his family moved to Perth. On finishing school O'Donoghue was employed at a restaurant at Rottnest Island for the summer as a kitchen hand.[2] As a result, he applied for and obtained an apprenticeship in a seafood restaurant in Nedlands called Jo Jo's. In his final year of high school at La Salle College in Midland he was head boy.

Career

After qualifying as a chef O'Donoghue was promoted to Sous Chef at Jessica's Seafood Restaurant in Perth. This was followed by stints as Chef de Partie at Goodfella's restaurant in the Newtown area of Sydney and at the Tribeca restaurant in Double Bay, Sydney, where he was subsequently promoted to Sous Chef. In 1993, the restaurant was awarded the' Best New Restaurant Award' by The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.

In 1996 O'Donoghue travelled to the United Kingdom where he worked at The River Café before moving to become Head Chef at the Monte's Club in Knightsbridge with Jamie Oliver.[3] He then worked as the Head Chef at the Atlantic Bar & Grill and also helping Oliver Peyton win the contract to open the National Dining Room at the National Gallery with his creative and seasonal menus. O'Donoghue has also worked with Oliver as a consultant food stylist as well as assisting him with various outside catering functions, including cooking for Tony Blair and the Italian Prime Minister.[3]

Television

O'Donoghue appeared in the series one of Jamie Oliver's The Naked Chef, before his first show of his own in Morocco for American Television,.[1] This was followed by an invitation to co-present a BBC2 ten part prime-time series The Best in April 2002, with an accompanying BBC book of the same name.

When he returned to Australia, he went straight into filming the 8-part food and travel series for the ABC called Surfing the Menu, with Curtis Stone with an accompanying ABC book in early 2003. This went on to film a total of 4 very successful series.

From 2007 onwards, O'Donoghue has appeared in The Best in Australia with fellow chef, Darren Simpson and Anna Gare on LifeStyle Food.[4] and 'Drive thru Australia', 'Tom & Ben's Singapore' and 'Aussie BBQ Hero's' Channel 7.

In June 2009 O'Donoghue took part in Masterchef Australia in a Celebrity Chef Challenge, where he was beaten by contestant Lucas Parsons, cooking a seared kangaroo loin with creamed corn.[5]

Publishing

O'Donoghue has released four cookbooks with Hardie Grant Books, Outdoor: Grill Your Way Round the World; Ben's Barbeque; At Home With Ben - a snapshot of his stellar cooking career and Ben's Barbecue Bible – a culmination of all things barbecuing. His fourth book, Ben's Meat Bible, was released in 2015. He has also has been a regular contributor to major food magazines including writing for Delicious for 10 years.

Restaurants

O'Donoghue is the owner of three Brisbane restaurants and retail fronts – Billykart Kitchen, Billykart West End and Billykart Bar.

Personal life

O'Donoghue currently lives in Australia with his wife, Dee, and their three children, Ruby, Herb and Cash.[6]

Bibliography
  • Outdoor : grill your way 'round the world – Hardie Grant Books (Prahran, Victoria) (2008) ISBN 978-1-74066-559-9
  • Surfing the menu : two chefs, one journey: a fresh-food adventure – ABC Books (Sydney, Australia) (2004) ISBN 0-7333-1301-9
  • Surfing the menu again: with more than eighty exciting fresh-food recipes – ABC Books (Sydney, Australia) (2005) ISBN 0-7333-1496-1

References
  1. Meagher, Margaret (June 2007). "Surfing the Menu". Jetstar Magazine. Jetstar. Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  2. "Kings of the kitchen". The Daily Telegraph. News Corporation. 31 May 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  3. "Ben O'Donoghue". ABC TV. Archived from the original on 16 September 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  4. Kelly, Jim (7 June 2007). "Anna combines two passions". The Sunday Times. News Corporation. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  5. "Episode 38: Lucas vs Ben O'Donoghue". Masterchef Australia. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  6. Powell, Megan (13 August 2009). "WA chef competes with the best". The West Australian. West Australian Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
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