Kevin Belton

Biography Belton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana around 1960. He is of African, Native American, French, and English heritage. His mother was a school teacher It is from his mother and grandmother that he learned how to cook cajun and Creole.

Career

Belton started managing the store at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Eventually, he started teaching classes. He has taught at the school for over 20 years.

Prior to becoming a television chef, Belton regularly watched cooking television shows, including shows by Julia Child, Paul Prudhomme and Justin Wilson.

Belton's second national television program, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, launched in 2018. The PBS series showcases recipes including those created by his mother and grandmother, local traditional dishes, and dishes that represent the melting pot culture of the New Orleans area, including those that meld Greek, South American and Vietnamese.

In 2019, Belton was awarded the "Best Social Media" award by the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters. The Association also awarded his PBS show Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen the "Uniquely Louisiana Award". In April 2019, his show Kevin Belton's New Orleans Celebrations debuted on PBS and an accompanying cookbook was published.

Belton currently serves as the Morning News Chef for WWL-TV, also presenting television features for the station about local food culture.

The chef said he exercised every day with his wife and puppy Cookie Monster in a tweet. He also ate a low-carb diet. Kevin Belton also ate small meal portions.

Works by Kevin Belton with Rhonda Findley. Kevin Belton’s Big Flavors of New Orleans. Layton: Gibbs Smith (2016). with Rhonda Findley. Kevin Belton's New Orleans Kitchen. Layton: Gibbs Smith (2018). with Rhonda Findley. Kevin Belton's New Orleans Celebrations. Layton: Gibbs Smith (2019). with Monica Belton. Kevin Belton's Cookin' Louisiana. Layton: Gibbs Smith (2021).