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Penguin Group Canada to publish Chef Michael Smith

Toronto – June 11, 2010 – Penguin Group Canada will become the Canadian publisher of Chef Michael Smith, in a two book deal with world rights, the company announced today. Known as Canada’s cuisine ambassador (and Prince Edward Island’s official food ambassador), Smith is the host of Food Network Canada’s Chef at Home, Chef Abroad, Chef at Large and The Inn Chef. His shows are broadcast in more than 100 countries. He is the winner of the James Beard Award for Cooking Show Excellence and at 6’ 7” also carries the distinction of being one the world’s tallest chef!  Smith recently appeared on Iron Chef America and cooked for the athletes at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Chef Michael Smith on Penguin’s Canadian publishing program,” said Penguin Canada Vice President of Business Development Andrea Magyar. “Michael is one of Canada’s most beloved celebrity chefs with a huge following of devoted fans.”   

Penguin Canada will publish the first book entitled Chef Michael Smith’s Kitchen in fall 2011 and the second book in fall 2012.

Food Network Host Chef Michael Smith has been cooking professionally for over twenty years. An honour graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in New York, Chef Michael’s contagious love of food started his early career in restaurants from London to South America. In 1992 Chef Michael became the Executive Chef at Prince Edward Island’s The Inn at Bay Fortune. Soon Chef Michael’s focus on regional cooking and local ingredients had earned them a reputation as one of the top places to eat in Canada. Chef Michael invited television cameras into the inn’s country kitchen for his first hit television show, The Inn Chef, which premiered on the Life Network. Its popularity helped to launch Food Network Canada.

After opening a restaurant in Halifax, Chef Michael returned to Food Network Canada in 2001 in the show Chef at Large. It was followed by Chef at Home in 2004, which gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Chef Michael’s home kitchen and the way he cooks for family and friends. This show became wildly popular almost immediately and after 5 seasons and 130 shows, it remains the highest rated Canadian show on Food Network Canada. At the same time as shooting Chef at Home, came the adventure of a lifetime Chef Abroad, premiering on Food Network Canada in 2008, with Chef Michael traveling the world meeting fascinating people, and doing all things culinary, in unique and unusual places. Chef Michael’s various series are now show in over 150 countries around the world.

When he isn’t traveling doing media and speaking events, Chef Michael loves spending time at home on Prince Edward Island with his son Gabriel.

Michael Smith has authored four cookbooks to date and took the bronze medal at Cuisine Canada’s Cookbook Award in 1998. He is what his television producer and Brand Manager, Gretha Rose calls an invitational brand. His four television series, a handful of one-off specials, cookbooks, newspaper columns, journals and line of kitchen cookware are all about "what Michael and his Brand really stand for,” says Rose. “Knowing your ingredients and the people that work hard every day to grow, make and produce them.”

Andrea Magyar, who signed Smith to Penguin, is spearheading a new cookbook publishing program for the company and adds Smith to a roster that already includes celebrity chefs Mark McEwan and Marc Thuet. “The response to this program has been phenomenal,” said Magyar. “I am absolutely thrilled about the opportunity to work with Chef Michael Smith and to continue developing what I consider to be the A-list of leading Canadian and international chefs.” Her goal: to publish books with fabulous recipes, celebrity cache and gorgeous food photography, while keeping the recipes accessible to the home cook.   

Chef Michael Smith