I'm chef and author Art Smith. Food and family have always been an important part of my life; in fact, it's my mission to bring back meaning and symbolism to the word "table" and promote the importance of uniting families and friends through the sharing of a meal. One way I've approached this is through writing cookbooks, including the best-selling Back to the Table: The Reunion of Food and Family (Hyperion), a James Beard Award winner, and Kitchen Life: Real Food for Real Families -- Even Yours (Hyperion), where I show today's busy families an altogether new approach to everyday dining by learning to prepare simpler, more satisfying meals. My latest book is a companion to my first book titled Back to the Family: Food Tastes Better with Ones You Love (Thomas Nelson).
I'm a native of Jasper, Florida, where I learned the value of shared, home-cooked meals and old recipes passed down through generations on my family's farm. Those memories have been so influential in my life and are a big part of why I love working with and talking about food so much.
I've run my own restaurant and have cooked for families all over the globe, including politicians and celebrities. I began my career with two internships at The Greenbrier Resort and was then selected to attend the prestigious Walt Disney Magic Kingdom College Program in Florida. Following graduation, I took a position working at the Florida Governor's Mansion, where I worked as executive chef for Governor Bob Graham, now U.S. senator, and his wife Adele.
After traveling extensively through Europe and Africa as a family chef, I took a position as chef on the American European Express Train. Once settled in Chicago, I began a career in teaching and now serve as personal chef to Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham. I'm also a contributing editor to O, the Oprah Magazine and the Food section of Oprah.com.
My career and life experiences have inspired me to co-create a nonprofit organization, Common Threads, based on my passionate belief that families (whether a family by blood or a family of friends) all share an innate desire to care for each other, regardless of culture, race, or geographic location. My mission is to foster a familial environment where children learn to value each other and discover universal understanding and mutual acceptance. I also proudly serve on the board of directors of "Kids Café," a nutrition program for children in Minneapolis.
