Profile

Alan Coxon "The Food Archaeologist" has established a reputation as one of the world’s favourite TV chefs and presenters, with exceptional culinary talent and an unparalleled knowledge for the earliest origins of world cuisine. His dishes have the rare quality of being both stunning, yet easy to recreate at home.

With a fun, approachable and interactive style, Alan is recognised as a leader in his field, and a highly-respected player by both the world of TV media and by his peers in the food industry.

With three exciting cookbooks, a new range of historic vinaigres, the creation of the globally unique 15th century Ale-Gar , a new soon to be launched Historic range of  Crisps , along with numerous radio, magazine and live appearances also to his name, Alan has cemented his place among cookery’s broadcasting elite.

Media

TV appearances

With hundreds of worldwide TV credits to his name, Alan Coxon is one of the most experienced presenters in the industry.
Hear is a list of a few 

Two series of BBC2’s ‘Ever Wondered About Food’ averaged 1.3 million viewers and gave a fascinating insight into the historical and social science behind Britain’s favourite dishes.

‘Coxon’s Sporting Feast’ ( BBC Food/Worldwide /DSTV ) Alan worked with a few of the worlds sporting legends cooking with them in their own homes.
Alan looked at what made these sporting legends tick, and how food played an all important part to their physical fitness and success. 
Legends include Golfer Gary Player, Runner Zola Budd, Rugby ace Francois Piennar , 4 times world Champion Boxer Baby Jake, Cricketer  Alan Donald and Football legend Jomo Somo ( the series is being screened in over 80 countries around the world )

‘Coxon’s Royal Feast’ (BBC Food / DSTV / Worldwide) This unique series of 6 30 minute shows was  ground breaking in the fact that never before had Southern African Royalty and rulers been exposed to cooking on TV or allowing a film crew to film behind the scenes in the Royal homes.
Royalty such as His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelethini leader of the Zulu nation , The Xhosa Kings and Queens ,Kings Letsie III of Lesotho and the Ndebel royalty to name but a few , allowed Alan into their lives and offering a culinary and cultural journey beyond belief.

‘Head To Head’ (Sky, Channel 287) Alan joins forces with Celebrity Toyah Wilcox, Richard Orford and Paul Bloxham,to look at culture, global cuisine , lifestyles and property investment around the world , two pairs compete against one another to find which country is best all round ! as they go head to head .


UK Food Great Food Live and Great Food Bites , presented by Jeni Barnett.
Alan worked on the daily live series for over 4 years, as regular guest presenter and guest chef.
The one hour live shows gained a massive loyal following and a chance for Alan to perfect the art of  cooking and presenting Live. !

Gloria Hunniford Open House ( Channel 5 ) 
Alan worked on this live afternoon chat show for over 4 years as regular weekly guest chef , a series that allowed Alan to meet and cook with major celebrities from around the globe, from Sir Cliff Richard, to Donny Osmond.

Coxon`s Kitchen College ( Carlton Food Network ) Two series that placed Alan firmly on the global map.
A total 244 shows filmed as live to time in front of an audience .
A series that allowed Alan to express his deep found knowledge of food and ingredients , taking the viewer on an informative culinary journey.
A series of Coxon`s Christmas College also followed due to the positive viewer response and interest in Alan`s style and presentation.

The Mint ( ITV1) Alan co-presented 9 shows of this new format game show , a live show that aired nonstop for 4 hours, whilst there were no cooking sequences within the show it allowed Alan to venture into new presentation grounds and an opportunity to show his diversity and dexterity in television presentation.

From Portugal with Love (Carlton Food Network )  a series that Alan wrote, co-produced and presented, and which took Alan the length and breadth of Portugal , revealing its wonderful culinary heritage and stunning environmental diversity.

Touring South Africa ( Carlton Food Network ) A food and travel log, covering the diversity of Southern Africa and its cuisine.

Touring North West America , From Oregon to Vancouver, Alan investigates the diversity and influences of regional cuisine , from the foods of the Native American Indians to the dizzy heights of the Space needle restaurant in Seattle.

Surprise Chefs ( ITV Meridian ) 2 series co-presented with Lesley Waters , a regional TV show in which Alan stormed a general shopper then invited himself to cook whatever they carried within their shopping basket back at their home.

Other guest appearances include Kill it Cook it Eat it , Britain’s Favourite dishes, Aunties Bloomers, Alright on the night etc.. etc..   
 
Radio and Magazines

Heavily involved across the media spectrum, Alan Coxon regularly does features and interviews on the radio.
Alan had a regular weekly show as the food doctor for BBC Hereford and Worcester and has been involved with several Radio awareness Campaigns including UK wide Potato awareness and Divine Fair Trade Chocolate.
 
A favourite with lifestyle magazines, Alan writes monthly features for a variety of magazines . He has also been featured in numerous newspapers throughout the world.

Alan is a Member of International Writers Travel Alliance and Craft Guild of writers

Cookbooks

Alan’s three cookbooks, including the award-nominated ‘Ready In Minutes’, are a must-have for any kitchen.His Singles,Seperated and Divorced cookbook
and Three chefs in the Cape ( where he donated all the profits to the Red Cross children`s hospital in South Africa ) .

Culinary Experience

Alan has comprehensive experience in all areas of the catering industry, including the world’s top hotels and restaurants. 
 
5-star Loews Hotel, Monte Carlo, working within the 5  restaurants at this luxury hotel , including the Michelin star "Foie Gras" ,restaurant  regularly catering for the likes of Monaco`s Royalty, Princess Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier, Princess Antoinette, Franck Sinatra, Sammy Davis jr to name but a few.
Alan also worked in the banqueting section regularly catering for 1000 guests , the Garde Manger sections where he learnt the art of Fat sculpture , and one of his favourites the Provincial restaurant "Le Pistou" specialising in Mediterranean cuisine . 

In the UK Alan worked in several restaurants around Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, before a three year stint as Catering officer at County Hall also looking after the judges lodgings and visiting dignitaries 

Alan Opened his own restaurant "A Taste of Magic "working to Michelin standard , before selling up and opening Kevin Woodford/Robert and Susan Sangsters restaurant, "Woodfords" and "The Top Table restaurants  in the Isle of Man .

Head chef that opened the largest 4 star hotel in Europe " Newport Bay Hotel ", Paris, leading a brigade of 63 international  chefs catering for over 3000 people daily in the a la carte restaurants, room service division and banqueting operations , overseeing the entire culinary operation for this 1098 room hotel .

3 years as Hull college catering dept as lecturer delivering 706 1 & 2 before developing and writing the new NVQ structures. His passion and enthusiasm of cooking and food rapidly encouraged the younger generation to pick up the culinary gauntlet as Alan trained several that went on to work with the likes of Marco Pierre White, Anton Edelman , and Anton Mossiman .

Alan returned to the Industry as Executive chef of Baxter’s of Speyside , where he opened and implemented a variety of Culinary shows in a new purpose built culinary theatre.
He also took over the full catering operations within the visitor centre, re designing the food service operations and tripling the turnover within the year.
Alan also opened the fine dining operation within the operation implementing a variety of entertaining culinary events .


Winner of 5 International gold Medals for Fat Carving.
Winner of the Catering and Hospitality Innovation award of the year 2008
Winner of the Midlands Business Innovation Award 2009
Gold Award for Catering and Hospitality "Winner of Winners" 2008 
Finalist for the HEFF diamond award 2009
Finalist for Development Chef of the year 2009  
Winner of the world’s best potato recipe of the year .
Finalist for the Midlands business person of the year award 2010
Finalist for the Midlands exporter of the year award 2010

Alan is a member of the Academy of Culinary Arts
Association Culinaire Francaise
Member of the Craft Guild of Chefs
Holder of the Palmes Culinaire
Master chef of Great Britain
Member of the HCIMA
Member of the Guild of Food Writers
Member of the Guild of Fine Foods
Member of the Heart of England Fine foods
Member of the Foods from Britain

Alan is made an honorary Colonel of the state of Kentucky

Co-corporate and private events including A taste of Normandy at the French Embassy.
Live Demonstrations and shows include Gourmet Food Festival Cape Town , Birmingham NEC BBC Food Festival, Hampton Court Food festival, Grampian Food Festival Aberdeen, to name but a few.

Promotional activities include the Potato Council touring England Scotland and Wales.
Fair Trade Chocolate National Radio campaign,
National Radio launch of Lurpack individual butter Portions.

Alan has cooked for  HRH Prince Charles, former Prime Minister John Major, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly and a host of royalty, dignitaries and celebrities all over the world.