Graham Elliot

{{Short description|American chef, restaurateur and TV personality (born 1977)}} {{Infobox chef <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox chef/doc --> | image = Graham Elliot at the Fort Irwin.jpg | name = Graham Elliot | caption = Elliot in 2014 | birth_name = Graham Elliot Bowles | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|1|4}} | birth_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S. | education = Johnson & Wales University | prevrests = {{plainlist| * Graham Elliot * G. E. B. (Graham Elliot Bistro) }} | television = {{Plainlist| *''MasterChef'' *''Junior MasterChef'' }} }} '''Graham Elliot Bowles''' (born January 4, 1977) is an American chef, restaurateur, and reality television personality. He first gained recognition in the restaurant business as a three-time nominee for the James Beard Award. In 2004, he was named to ''Food & Wine''{{'s}} "Best New Chefs" list and became the youngest chef in the United States to receive four stars from a major publication (''Chicago Tribune'', ''Chicago Sun-Times'').<ref name=ChicagoTribune>{{Cite web|author=Vettel, Phil|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/08/02/acid-trip/|title=Acid trip|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=August 2, 2012|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909222157/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-08-02/features/ct-dining-0802-graham-elliot-20120802_1_graham-elliot-andrew-brochu-bryce-caron|url-status=live}}</ref>

Among television viewers, he gained fame as a contestant on the programs ''Iron Chef'' and ''Top Chef Masters'', and as a judge on the first six seasons of the American ''MasterChef'' and its spinoff, ''MasterChef Junior''.

==Early life== Elliot was born on January 4, 1977, in Seattle, Washington.<ref name="ChiMag1">[http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2008/Front-Burner-Graham-Elliot-Bowles/ Front Burner: Graham Elliot Bowles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623151811/http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2008/Front-Burner-Graham-Elliot-Bowles/ |date=2011-06-23 }}, ''Chicago'', June 2008 (accessed June 24, 2011)</ref><ref name="Star Chefs">[http://www.starchefs.com/chefs/rising_stars/2005/chicago/html/bio_g_elliot.shtml Graham Elliot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413225059/http://www.starchefs.com/chefs/rising_stars/2005/chicago/html/bio_g_elliot.shtml |date=2010-04-13 }} at starchefs.com</ref> A self-described "Navy brat", Elliot has traveled the world and all fifty states,<ref name=FoodNetwork>{{Cite web|url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/hosts/graham-elliot/bio.html|title=Graham Elliot Bio|publisher=Food Network|access-date=March 25, 2016|archive-date=March 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321195347/http://www.foodnetwork.com/hosts/graham-elliot/bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref> sparking an intense interest in food and music, which led him to attend Johnson & Wales University.<ref name="Star Chefs"/>

==Career== In 2004, Elliot was named to ''Food & Wine''{{'s}} "Best New Chefs" list, and he became the youngest chef in the States to receive four stars from a major publication (''Chicago Tribune'', ''Chicago Sun-Times'') before the age of 30.<ref name=ChicagoTribune/>

At the age of 27, he was the youngest four-star chef to be named in any city, also earning himself a spot on ''Crain's Chicago Business'' list of "40 Under Forty", alongside President Barack Obama, for whom Elliot cooked on the President's 49th birthday.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/food/chefs/graham-elliot|title=Graham Elliot|work=PBS|access-date=2023-02-21|archive-date=2023-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221171859/https://www.pbs.org/food/chefs/graham-elliot/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2008, he opened his eponymous restaurant, the first French casual fine-dining restaurant in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef-masters/bio/graham-elliot-bowles|title=Bio: Graham Elliot Bowles|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819063144/http://www.bravotv.com/top-chef-masters/bio/graham-elliot-bowles |archive-date=August 19, 2010|access-date=January 2, 2020|publisher=BravoTV.com}}</ref>

In 2009, Elliot appeared on the TV show ''Top Chef Masters''. In the show, he cooked for The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a charity with which he became associated as a result of his nephew's need for a heart transplant.

Elliott was known by his full name until July 2010, when it was announced he was changing his name professionally, dropping the usage of Bowles.<ref>https://www.nbcchicago.com/local/graham-elliot-bowles-loses-the-last-name/1899654/</ref>

In 2010, the series ''MasterChef'' premiered, with Elliot as one of the three judges. In 2013, the series spun off a children's version of the program, ''MasterChef Junior'', on which Elliot also featured as a judge. He left the franchise in September 2015, following the completion of season 6 of the parent program.<ref>{{cite web|author=Pedersen, Erik|url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/graham-elliot-leaving-masterchef-franchise-1201669754/|title=Graham Elliot Leaving 'MasterChef' Franchise|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=December 18, 2015|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112002100/https://deadline.com/2015/12/graham-elliot-leaving-masterchef-franchise-1201669754/}}</ref>

In 2016, he became a judge on ''Top Chef''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/graham-elliot-joins-the-top-chef-season-14-judges-table|author=Laura Rosenfeld|date=June 5, 2016|title=Graham Elliot Joins the Top Chef Season 14 Judges' Table|work=BravoTV|access-date=February 21, 2023|archive-date=February 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221172513/https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/graham-elliot-joins-the-top-chef-season-14-judges-table|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and honors== Graham Elliot Restaurant received three stars from the ''Chicago Tribune'' and two stars in the 2013 ''Michelin Guide''.<ref>Vettel, Phil (November 13, 2012). [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/11/13/michelin-chicago-guide-2013-alinea-l2o-graham-elliot-grab-top-honors/ "Michelin Chicago Guide 2013: Alinea, L2O, Graham Elliot grab top honors"] . ''Chicago Tribune''. Retrieved January 2, 2020.</ref>

He has been nominated for a James Beard Award three times.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/gordon-ramsay-has-a-new-fox-show-masterchef/webnews/5063.html |title=Gordon Ramsay Has A New Fox Show |publisher=TV.com|date=November 6, 2009|access-date=June 21, 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624021952/http://www.tv.com/gordon-ramsay-has-a-new-fox-show-masterchef/webnews/5063.html |archive-date=June 24, 2010 }}</ref>

==Collaborations and marketing== In addition to being a judge and host of ''MasterChef'' and ''MasterChef Junior'' from 2010 to 2016, Graham has also been a judge on Food Network's ''Cooks vs. Cons,'' hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Russo, Maria|url=http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2016/02/cooks-vs-cons/|title=It's Anyone's Game in a Culinary Battle of Cooks vs. Cons|publisher=Food Network|date=February 2016|access-date=February 10, 2016|archive-date=February 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211094232/http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2016/02/cooks-vs-cons/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Food&Wine>{{Cite web|url=http://www.foodandwine.com/contributors/graham-elliot-bowles|title=Graham Elliot|website=Food & Wine|access-date=March 25, 2016|archive-date=March 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317084401/http://www.foodandwine.com/contributors/graham-elliot-bowles|url-status=live}}</ref> He also appeared as a special guest in ''MasterChef Canada'' Season 2, Episode 9, and ''MasterChef Italia'' Season 3, Episode 9.

He has worked as the Culinary Director at Lollapalooza, a three-day music festival in Chicago, every year since 2009, where he has cooked for both the public and the performers backstage.<ref name=FoodNetwork/>

In June 2012, he opened Graham Elliot Bistro in Chicago's West Loop. The bistro uses traditional techniques and ingredients to showcase its take on classic American cuisine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chicago.seriouseats.com/2012/06/graham-elliots-geb-opens-in-the-west-loop.html|title=Graham Elliot's G.E.B. Opens in the West Loop|publisher=seriouseats.com|year=2012|access-date=June 6, 2012|archive-date=October 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028022001/http://chicago.seriouseats.com/2012/06/graham-elliots-geb-opens-in-the-west-loop.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, Elliot was named Chef of the Year and inducted into the Chicago Chefs Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.thelocaltourist.com/news/tahensel/chicago-chefs-hall-fame-inducts-graham-elliot-and-jacquy-pfeiffer|title=Chicago Chefs Hall of Fame inducts Graham Elliot and Jacquy Pfeiffer {{!}} The Local Tourist|website=chicago.thelocaltourist.com|access-date=2016-03-25|archive-date=2016-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405114438/https://chicago.thelocaltourist.com/news/tahensel/chicago-chefs-hall-fame-inducts-graham-elliot-and-jacquy-pfeiffer|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel proclaimed September 19 "Graham Elliot Day" in the city of Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Bendersky, Ari|url=http://chicago.eater.com/2012/9/19/6544159/put-on-your-party-hat-its-graham-elliot-day-in-chicago|title=Put on Your Party Hat: It's Graham Elliot Day in Chicago|publisher=Eater|date=September 19, 2012|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=April 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405152210/http://chicago.eater.com/2012/9/19/6544159/put-on-your-party-hat-its-graham-elliot-day-in-chicago|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, Elliot appeared in an infomercial for the Gotham Steel Double Grill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3863374/otherworks|title=Other Works|work=IMDB|access-date=2023-02-21|archive-date=2023-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221172347/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3863374/otherworks|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life== Elliot resided in Morgan Park on the South Side of Chicago with his wife/business partner and their three children.

Elliot sings and plays guitar.<ref name=Food&Wine/> He also collects baseball cards.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffarnold/2019/08/07/chef-graham-elliots-search-for-ultimate-baseball-card-collection-is-never-ending/ "Chef Graham Elliot's Search For Ultimate Baseball Card Collection Is Never-Ending"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810235218/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffarnold/2019/08/07/chef-graham-elliots-search-for-ultimate-baseball-card-collection-is-never-ending/ |date=2021-08-10 }}. ''Forbes''. Retrieved August 10, 2021.</ref>

In 2013, Elliot underwent weight loss surgery and took up jogging, losing {{Convert|150|lb|kg}} and reducing his weight to {{Convert|250|lb|kg}}, explaining the decision as a response to becoming a father.<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/graham-elliot-weight-loss_n_4385371 "Graham Elliot Weight Loss: Chef Drops 128 Pounds In 4 Months"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801032126/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/graham-elliot-weight-loss_n_4385371 |date=2021-08-01 }}. ''HuffPost''. December 4, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/celebrity-chef-graham-elliot-on-weight-loss-i-couldnt-play-with-my-kid_n_5b57cc75e4b00e8c8eb76753 "Celebrity Chef Graham Elliot On Weight Loss: I 'Couldn't Play With My Kid'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801043706/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/celebrity-chef-graham-elliot-on-weight-loss-i-couldnt-play-with-my-kid_n_5b57cc75e4b00e8c8eb76753 |date=2021-08-01 }}. ''HuffPost''. Retrieved January 2, 2020.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{MasterChef (US TV series)}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliot, Graham}} Category:1977 births Category:Chefs from Chicago Category:American restaurateurs Category:American television chefs Category:Businesspeople from Seattle Category:Johnson & Wales University alumni Category:Living people Category:Judges in American reality television series Category:Chefs from Seattle