Curtis Aikens
Keynote Speaker: Celebrity Chef & Culinary Television Pioneer; Founding Chef of Food Network; Author of Eight Cookbooks
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Curtis Aikens Biography
Chef Curtis Aikens is recognized as one of the original celebrity chefs in the United States, known for educating and entertaining food enthusiasts since the late 1980s. As a former host and founding chef of Food Network, Aikens contributed to the development of culinary television from its inception. After attending Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Aikens moved to California, where he worked at a grocery store in the San Francisco Bay Area and established his first produce company, Peaches. He later relocated to New York to lead the produce departments at Dom's Wholesale Market and at Balducci's, serving clients such as the United Nations Cafeteria, the Plaza Hotel, and the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. He also founded Aikens Family Produce, Inc., a wholesale and retail supplier with clients including the Rockdale County School System, the TV series "In the Heat of the Night," and the feature film "Glory."
Aikens has hosted several Food Network programs, including "Pick of the Day," "From My Garden," "Meals Without Meat," and "Food in a Flash." He has also appeared on ABC, serving as a regular cast member on "Good Morning America," and has been featured on major networks such as CNN, NBC, and CBS. His television appearances include "Entertainment Tonight," "Live with Regis and Katie Lee," and Hallmark's "Home and Family." Mentored by culinary figures such as Julia Child, Chef Paul Prudhomme, and Edna Lewis, Aikens is among the few chefs featured in Julia Child's kitchen at the Smithsonian. He has made live appearances internationally, including serving as guest chef at the White House for three presidents from both major political parties.
Aikens' personal journey with literacy is a significant aspect of his story. Raised in rural Georgia, he struggled with reading throughout his early education and was accepted into college on a football scholarship while unable to read. He learned to read at age 26 through Literacy Volunteers of America and the Marin County Free Library. With improved literacy skills, Aikens earned a master's degree in education, built a career as a chef and television personality, and authored multiple cookbooks. He donates a portion of the royalties from his books to literacy programs nationwide.
Aikens is the author of books including "Curtis Aikens' Guide to the Harvest" and "Curtis Cooks with Heart and Soul," and has published eight cookbooks. He has received invitations to the White House from four First Ladies, representing Georgia in Mrs. Obama's Kids and Chefs program. In addition to his culinary work, Aikens advocates for literacy and diabetes prevention, focusing on healthy eating and wellness. He leads a garden and culinary program for the Marin County Cooperation Team in Sausalito and Marin City.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Curtis Aikens and other top speakers and celebrities.
Curtis Aikens Videos
How do I book Curtis Aikens to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Curtis Aikens for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Curtis Aikens, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Curtis Aikens or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Curtis Aikens for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Curtis Aikens, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Curtis Aikens are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Curtis Aikens, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Curtis Aikens speak about?
Curtis Aikens is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Celebrity Chef, Literacy, Hospitality, Black Heritage, Christian, Non-Fiction Authors, Diabetes, Host & Emcee, Author, Health & Wellness, Nutrition, Education, Celebrity and Faith & Religion.
Where does Curtis Aikens travel from?
Curtis Aikens generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Curtis Aikens?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Curtis Aikens for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book Curtis Aikens for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Curtis Aikens or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Curtis Aikens is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business, Celebrity Chef and Literacy. The estimated speaking fee range to book Curtis Aikens for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Curtis Aikens generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Art Smith, Vivian Howard and Hill Harper. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Curtis Aikens for an upcoming event.
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How do I book Curtis Aikens to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Curtis Aikens for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Curtis Aikens, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Curtis Aikens or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Curtis Aikens for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Curtis Aikens, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Curtis Aikens are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Curtis Aikens, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Curtis Aikens speak about?
Curtis Aikens is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Celebrity Chef, Literacy, Hospitality, Black Heritage, Christian, Non-Fiction Authors, Diabetes, Host & Emcee, Author, Health & Wellness, Nutrition, Education, Celebrity and Faith & Religion. -
Where does Curtis Aikens travel from?
Curtis Aikens generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Curtis Aikens?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Curtis Aikens for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book Curtis Aikens for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Curtis Aikens or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
