Robert Irvine
Encyclopedia
Robert Irvine is a celebrity chef
who has appeared on a variety of Food Network
programs, including Dinner: Impossible
, Worst Cooks in America
, and Restaurant: Impossible
.
at the age of fifteen. Having completed culinary training, Robert served aboard Her Majesty's Royal Yacht Britannia. He has also been of service to the Naval Mess in the West Wing
of the White House
. Upon completion of his 10-year tour of duty, Irvine performed consultant work in Bali
, Jakarta
, and Ho Chi Minh City
before becoming Executive Chef aboard numerous cruise ships, culminating with the five-star MS Crystal Harmony.
Irvine has been Executive Chef for Donald Trump
’s Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort
and Caesars Atlantic City
. He has also been involved with the Children Uniting Nations charity that was founded by southern California socialite Daphna Ziman
. He was one of a team of celebrity chefs who participated in their fundraising dinner for the 77th Academy Awards in 2005 in addition to serving as Head Chef at their 78th Academy Awards dinner in 2006.
Irvine is currently president and founder of Irvine Thyme, LLC., and has introduced an Irvine-branded line of spices, oils and vinegars. His first cookbook, Mission: Cook!, written with Brian O'Reilly, was published by HarperCollins
Publishers in September 2007. Irvine also appeared in a December 2007 episode of Iron Chef America
with Tyler Florence
in a dessert battle (theme ingredient: sugar) against Paula Deen
and Cat Cora
in which the men lost. He is a member of the Council of Chefs, Cora's charity dedicated to helping hungry children.
Irvine was selected as one of the "25 Fittest Guys in America" by Men's Fitness magazine in 2007. He typically works in a black T-shirt
or chef's jacket
bearing the Irvine clan
badge with the motto: "sub sole, sub umbra, virens" (flourishing in both sunshine and shade).
He and business partner Randall Williams opened eat! restaurant in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
in 2008 and renamed it Robert Irvine's eat! in February 2009.
, had a degree in food and nutrition from the University of Leeds
, had worked on the wedding cake for Prince Charles and Princess Diana
and had worked as a White House
chef, claims Irvine also made in the opening segment of his Food Network show Dinner: Impossible. An article in the February 17, 2008, issue of the St. Petersburg Times
quoted sources who disputed most of Irvine's assertions. As a result, the Food Network pulled Irvine's biography from its website. Network spokesperson Lisa De Colle said they were "taking the necessary steps to ensure the accuracy of all representations of Robert." Beginning with the episode that aired 20 February 2008, the claims that Irvine had worked for three U.S. presidents
and the Royal Family
were removed from the opening sequence of Dinner: Impossible, though former White House executive chef Walter Scheib
confirmed in the article that Irvine had worked in the Navy Mess facility in the West Wing
of the White House
.
On February 29, 2008, the Food Network announced it would honor its contract with Irvine for a fourth season of thirteen episodes of Dinner: Impossible but was also looking for a replacement host for the series. On April 21, 2008, Food Network executives released a statement announcing they were expanding the Dinner: Impossible series to a one-hour format and replacing Irvine with recent Iron Chef America
addition Michael Symon
. The first Symon episode aired on July 20, 2008, but ran for thirty minutes.
In March 2008, Irvine's business partner and landlord issued a joint statement announcing the chef had abandoned his plan to open the restaurants. The reasons cited were "the timing is not exactly right" and Irvine "cannot commit to spending at least four days a week" at the restaurant as he had planned.
Food Network restored Irvine's biography to its website later in the spring of 2008. It reflected his service in the British Royal Navy, service on the Royal Yacht Britannia, and service in the Naval Mess in the West Wing of the White House. He also appeared in an episode of The Next Food Network Star
on June 8, 2008. In July 2008, Chef Irvine launched a blog and posted information about his service in the Royal Navy, with the British Royal Family, and with the White House Guest Chef program as an attempt to "set the record straight."
with a scheduled air date in March 2009. The first episode of Irvine's new season aired on April 8, 2009, and were one hour in length. Irvine continued as host of Dinner Impossible until it ceased production in 2010, following its eighth season.
Following the end of Dinner: Impossible, which continues in reruns, Irvine embarked on two new projects with Food Network. In late 2010, Food Network began advertising the second season of Worst Cooks in America
, featuring Irvine (replacing Chef Beau MacMillan) training a cadre of would-be cooks in competition with Chef Anne Burrell
. The show premiered on January 3, 2011. In advance of the show's premiere, Irvine teamed with Cat Cora to battle Burrell and Michael Symon in the special "Battle Deep Freeze" on Iron Chef America
.
Irvine also appears in the restaurant make-over show, Restaurant: Impossible
, which premiered on January 19, 2011. Described as a spin-off from Dinner: Impossible, Restaurant: Impossible challenges Irvine to make over a restaurant in two days with a budget of $10,000.
Irvine competed in Season 4 of The Next Iron Chef
, which premiered on October 30, 2011. He was the second chef eliminated from the competition after losing a peanut, secret-ingredient showdown against Chef Michael Chiarello
.
before buying another home in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he's lived since at least 2007. Irvine is currently planning to marry former WWE and current TNA Wrestling star Gail Kim
in the spring of 2012. The couple met on the set of Dinner: Impossible. He has two daughters, Annalise and Talia.
Celebrity chef
A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...
who has appeared on a variety of Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
programs, including Dinner: Impossible
Dinner: Impossible
Dinner: Impossible is an American television program broadcast by the Food Network. The first episode aired on January 24, 2007. Food Network began airing the eighth season on March 3, 2010....
, Worst Cooks in America
Worst Cooks in America
Worst Cooks in America is a reality show in which twelve of America’s worst cooks are put through culinary boot camp. The show's first season premiered on Food Network January 3, 2010, and was hosted by Chefs Anne Burrell and Beau MacMillan...
, and Restaurant: Impossible
Restaurant: Impossible
Restaurant: Impossible is an American reality television program aired by the Food Network. It is jointly produced by Marc Summers and Shooters TV and stars British chef and restaurateur Robert Irvine, and premiered on January 19, 2011...
.
Career
Irvine began his cooking career upon enlisting in the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at the age of fifteen. Having completed culinary training, Robert served aboard Her Majesty's Royal Yacht Britannia. He has also been of service to the Naval Mess in the West Wing
West Wing
The West Wing is the building housing the official offices of the President of the United States. It is the part of the White House Complex in which the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, the Situation Room, and the Roosevelt Room are located...
of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. Upon completion of his 10-year tour of duty, Irvine performed consultant work in Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, and Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
before becoming Executive Chef aboard numerous cruise ships, culminating with the five-star MS Crystal Harmony.
Irvine has been Executive Chef for Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
’s Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort
Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort
The Trump Taj Mahal is located at 1000 Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States, in the casino area along the shore. The casino is one of two owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts...
and Caesars Atlantic City
Caesars Atlantic City
Caesars Atlantic City is a luxury hotel, casino, and spa resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Like Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, it has an ancient Roman theme. Atlantic City's second casino, it opened in 1979 as the Caesars Boardwalk Regency. The . casino has over 3,400 slot machines, and is one of...
. He has also been involved with the Children Uniting Nations charity that was founded by southern California socialite Daphna Ziman
Richard Ziman
Richard Ziman is the founding Chairman and CEO of Arden Realty, Inc., the largest owner of commercial office real estate in Southern California.-Early life:...
. He was one of a team of celebrity chefs who participated in their fundraising dinner for the 77th Academy Awards in 2005 in addition to serving as Head Chef at their 78th Academy Awards dinner in 2006.
Irvine is currently president and founder of Irvine Thyme, LLC., and has introduced an Irvine-branded line of spices, oils and vinegars. His first cookbook, Mission: Cook!, written with Brian O'Reilly, was published by HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
Publishers in September 2007. Irvine also appeared in a December 2007 episode of Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
with Tyler Florence
Tyler Florence
Tyler Florence is a chef and television host of several Food Network shows. He graduated from the College of Culinary Arts at the Charleston, South Carolina campus of Johnson & Wales University in 1991...
in a dessert battle (theme ingredient: sugar) against Paula Deen
Paula Deen
Paula Deen American cook, cooking show host, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates...
and Cat Cora
Cat Cora
Catherine "Cat" Cora is a Greek-American professional chef best known for her featured role as an "Iron Chef" on the Food Network television show Iron Chef America.-Early life:...
in which the men lost. He is a member of the Council of Chefs, Cora's charity dedicated to helping hungry children.
Irvine was selected as one of the "25 Fittest Guys in America" by Men's Fitness magazine in 2007. He typically works in a black T-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
or chef's jacket
Chef's uniform
The traditional chef's uniform includes a toque , white double-breasted jacket, and checkered pants. It is a common uniform in the Western world....
bearing the Irvine clan
Clan Irvine
-Origins of the clan:As a surname Irvine is of territorial origins from one of two places of the same name. Firstly from Irving, an old parish in Dumfriesshire and from Irvine in Ayrshire....
badge with the motto: "sub sole, sub umbra, virens" (flourishing in both sunshine and shade).
He and business partner Randall Williams opened eat! restaurant in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a resort town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is north of Savannah, Georgia, and south of Charleston. The island gets its name from Captain William Hilton...
in 2008 and renamed it Robert Irvine's eat! in February 2009.
Controversy over culinary credits
In 2006, Irvine announced his intention to open two restaurants in St. Petersburg, Florida. Irvine had impressed financial backers with the claims he was a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, had a degree in food and nutrition from the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, had worked on the wedding cake for Prince Charles and Princess Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
and had worked as a White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
chef, claims Irvine also made in the opening segment of his Food Network show Dinner: Impossible. An article in the February 17, 2008, issue of the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
quoted sources who disputed most of Irvine's assertions. As a result, the Food Network pulled Irvine's biography from its website. Network spokesperson Lisa De Colle said they were "taking the necessary steps to ensure the accuracy of all representations of Robert." Beginning with the episode that aired 20 February 2008, the claims that Irvine had worked for three U.S. presidents
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and the Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
were removed from the opening sequence of Dinner: Impossible, though former White House executive chef Walter Scheib
Walter Scheib
Walter S. Scheib III was the White House executive chef from 1994 until 2005. Scheib is known for his creation of a distinctly American cuisine for the White House. He was responsible in this role for preparing everything from simple First Family dinners to very formal State Dinners...
confirmed in the article that Irvine had worked in the Navy Mess facility in the West Wing
West Wing
The West Wing is the building housing the official offices of the President of the United States. It is the part of the White House Complex in which the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, the Situation Room, and the Roosevelt Room are located...
of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
.
On February 29, 2008, the Food Network announced it would honor its contract with Irvine for a fourth season of thirteen episodes of Dinner: Impossible but was also looking for a replacement host for the series. On April 21, 2008, Food Network executives released a statement announcing they were expanding the Dinner: Impossible series to a one-hour format and replacing Irvine with recent Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
addition Michael Symon
Michael Symon
Michael D. Symon is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author. He is seen regularly on Food Network on shows such as Iron Chef America, Food Feuds, and The Best Thing I Ever Ate, as well as Cook Like an Iron Chef on the Cooking Channel...
. The first Symon episode aired on July 20, 2008, but ran for thirty minutes.
In March 2008, Irvine's business partner and landlord issued a joint statement announcing the chef had abandoned his plan to open the restaurants. The reasons cited were "the timing is not exactly right" and Irvine "cannot commit to spending at least four days a week" at the restaurant as he had planned.
Food Network restored Irvine's biography to its website later in the spring of 2008. It reflected his service in the British Royal Navy, service on the Royal Yacht Britannia, and service in the Naval Mess in the West Wing of the White House. He also appeared in an episode of The Next Food Network Star
The Next Food Network Star
The Next Food Network Star is a reality television series produced by and aired on the Food Network in the United States that awards the winner his or her own series on the Food Network...
on June 8, 2008. In July 2008, Chef Irvine launched a blog and posted information about his service in the Royal Navy, with the British Royal Family, and with the White House Guest Chef program as an attempt to "set the record straight."
Return to Food Network
On November 20, 2008, Food Network announced that they had rehired Irvine to host six episodes of Dinner: ImpossibleDinner: Impossible
Dinner: Impossible is an American television program broadcast by the Food Network. The first episode aired on January 24, 2007. Food Network began airing the eighth season on March 3, 2010....
with a scheduled air date in March 2009. The first episode of Irvine's new season aired on April 8, 2009, and were one hour in length. Irvine continued as host of Dinner Impossible until it ceased production in 2010, following its eighth season.
Following the end of Dinner: Impossible, which continues in reruns, Irvine embarked on two new projects with Food Network. In late 2010, Food Network began advertising the second season of Worst Cooks in America
Worst Cooks in America
Worst Cooks in America is a reality show in which twelve of America’s worst cooks are put through culinary boot camp. The show's first season premiered on Food Network January 3, 2010, and was hosted by Chefs Anne Burrell and Beau MacMillan...
, featuring Irvine (replacing Chef Beau MacMillan) training a cadre of would-be cooks in competition with Chef Anne Burrell
Anne Burrell
Anne W. Burrell is an American chef, TV personality, and instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She is the host of the Food Network show Secrets Of a Restaurant Chef and co-host of Worst Cooks in America, where she is currently undefeated thus far...
. The show premiered on January 3, 2011. In advance of the show's premiere, Irvine teamed with Cat Cora to battle Burrell and Michael Symon in the special "Battle Deep Freeze" on Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America
Iron Chef America: The Series is an American cooking show based on Fuji Television's Iron Chef, and is the second American adaptation of the series, following the failed Iron Chef USA. The show is produced by Food Network, which also carried a dubbed version of the original Iron Chef. Like the...
.
Irvine also appears in the restaurant make-over show, Restaurant: Impossible
Restaurant: Impossible
Restaurant: Impossible is an American reality television program aired by the Food Network. It is jointly produced by Marc Summers and Shooters TV and stars British chef and restaurateur Robert Irvine, and premiered on January 19, 2011...
, which premiered on January 19, 2011. Described as a spin-off from Dinner: Impossible, Restaurant: Impossible challenges Irvine to make over a restaurant in two days with a budget of $10,000.
Irvine competed in Season 4 of The Next Iron Chef
The Next Iron Chef
The Next Iron Chef, is a limited-run series on the Food Network now in its fourth season. Each season is a stand-alone competition to select a chef to be designated an Iron Chef, who will appear on the Food Network program Iron Chef America....
, which premiered on October 30, 2011. He was the second chef eliminated from the competition after losing a peanut, secret-ingredient showdown against Chef Michael Chiarello
Michael Chiarello
Michael Chiarello is an American celebrity chef specializing in Italian-influenced California cuisine. He hosts the cooking show, Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello, on the Food Network and hosts NapaStyle on the Fine Living Network...
.
Personal
Irvine lived with his first wife Karen in Absecon, New JerseyAbsecon, New Jersey
Absecon is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 8,411.What is now the City of Absecon was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 29, 1872, from portions of Egg Harbor...
before buying another home in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he's lived since at least 2007. Irvine is currently planning to marry former WWE and current TNA Wrestling star Gail Kim
Gail Kim
Gail Kim is a Canadian professional wrestler of Korean descent, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where she is the current TNA Women's Knockout Champion and one half of the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions with Madison Rayne...
in the spring of 2012. The couple met on the set of Dinner: Impossible. He has two daughters, Annalise and Talia.
Professional honors
- Ambassador of the Culinary Institute of America (awarded at commencement, December 2007)
- Chef Professional from La Toque Blanche International
- Chef’s Five-Star Diamond Award from American Academy of Hospitality SciencesAmerican Academy of Hospitality SciencesThe American Academy of Hospitality Sciences is an establishment of reviewers specializing in the reviewing of hotels, resorts, spas, airlines, cruise lines, automobiles, products, restaurants and chefs. It is most notably known for its reviews on the hotels, resorts, and travel industries. The...
1998–2003 - 2001 Culinary Excellence Award granted at Carnegie HallCarnegie HallCarnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
by the Culinary Institute of AmericaCulinary Institute of AmericaThe Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
and the American Tasting Institute - Trustee of the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences' Five-Star Diamond Award
- Member of the Malta Chefs Society (MCS)