Some people know exactly what they want to do for a career as soon as they graduate high school, and they stick to their life plan and start their dream job in just a handful of years. And then, theres everyone else. Many of us go from job to job or major to major during college, while trying to figure out the right path for our future. But, guess what? Its okay! Even some of the most successful people start out on a journey that ends up shifting dramatically.
Take Alton Brown, for example. With his success in the food world and becoming a culinary personality on TV, youd think Brown spent his entire life learning the ins and outs of the kitchen. Not so much, as it turns out.
Brown, who famously combines cooking with science and humor, had a couple of very different visions for his life before he ended up in culinary school and a go-to for The Food Network. Had he pursued his earlier goals, he may be a businessman or a film industry veteran today. Browns journey to where he is now is actually very relatable and is an example of discovering new passions and pursuing them, only to discover more interests and seeing where they take you.
He wanted to make his own show, one that was more informative and compelling, but he lacked formal culinary training. In 1994 Brown and his wife, DeAnna Collins, moved to Vermont, where Brown enrolled in the New England Culinary Institute and studied with chef Jean-Patrick Matecat.
How his career in film led to culinary school
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Georgia, Alton Brown graduated high school and attended LaGrange College where he majored in business. After transferring to the University of Georgia in Athens, he began studying filmmaking, which led him to some pretty promising jobs, including working as a cinematographer and director for various commercials and even music videos. Most notably, he was a camera operator on the 1988 Spike Lee film, “School Daze.”
Though these were great gigs for anyone working in the film industry, at the same time, Brown was also a fan of cooking shows. However, he thought the content had a tired format and left much to be desired — spoken like someone with extensive experience behind the camera. Brown believed that, if he could make his own cooking show, it would be lively, fun to watch, and full of interesting tips. The one thing he didnt have to achieve this goal, however, was legit training at culinary school.
So, in his early 30s, Brown moved to Vermont and enrolled in the New England Culinary Institute. He told The Bitter Southerner, “Everybody thought I was insane because I had kind of established a career. But I knew I wasnt doing what I was supposed to be doing.”
The Real Reason Alton Brown Left The Food Network
FAQ
What type of chef is Alton Brown?
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Alton Brown
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Children
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1
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Culinary career
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Cooking style
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American Southern
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Television show(s) Good Eats Iron Chef America Feasting on Waves Feasting on Asphalt The Next Food Network Star Cutthroat Kitchen Iron Chef Gauntlet Worst Cooks in America Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend
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What degrees does Alton Brown have?
How did Alton Brown get his start in the restaurant industry?
Who is Alton Crawford Brown?
Alton Crawford Brown Jr. (born July 30, 1962) is an American television personality, food show presenter, food scientist, author, voice actor, and cinematographer.
Will Alton Brown’s ‘Good Eats’ Return to Food Network?
“Alton Brown’s ‘Good Eats’ Will Make a Triumphant Return: Get ready to be schooled in the kitchen”. Tasting Table. Retrieved April 10, 2017. ^ “Alton Brown’s Series Good Eats Is Finally Returning to the Food Network”. PEOPLE.com. June 5, 2019. ^ VanDerWeff, Emily Todd (September 2019).
Who is Alton Brown?
“Alton Brown, Showman of Food TV, Pulls Back the Curtain”. The New York Times. Retrieved November 18, 2019. ^ Melancon, Merritt (May 12, 2010). “Brown talks TV, food, R.E.M.” Online Athens. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2012. ^ “Alton Brown Biography”. biography.com. A&E Television Networks, LLC.
What TV show did Alton Brown appear on?
In October 2017, Brown was featured on the Food Network television show Chopped in a five-part series called “Alton Brown’s Challenge”. Brown voiced Yum Labouché in Big Hero 6: The Series. The character is a judge for an underground cooking competition.