What Alton Brown Did Before Becoming Famous

Celebrity chef Alton Brown is known for many things, like being a part of several well-known shows like "Iron Chef America" and "Cutthroat Kitchen." He's also recognized as the man who created the show, "Good Eats" that gave a viewers a chance to witness an interesting combination of science, food, and humor. Brown admits that even at a young age that he was determined to succeed. 

He gave his fans a little background information in the book, "Good Eats: The Early Years." He wrote in his novel, "One day, back in the summer of 1992, I decided I wanted to make a television food show. I wasn't going to let the fact that I was little more than a hobbyist cook get in the way." Brown accomplished his goal and became a sensation for his unique approach and intriguing persona. However, Brown didn't initially expect to get into the food business when he was younger.

Brown's early years weren't always easy for the television host. He told The Bitter Southerner in an interview that he lost his dad when he was 10 years old and ended up shuffling between different schools, eventually being subjected to bad "public education that was available at the time." He also revealed that he graduated high school at 16, which was not a good thing for him. "I was way too young, so I wasted a couple of years," he admitted. 

The chef later spent some time at LaGrange College, which inspired him to pursue theater and filmmaking at the University of Georgia. He then went onto work in Atlanta making television commercials. However, while watching cooking shows at the time, he noticed they really lacked substance and wanted to help change that. "I wanted to make a show that was funny and visually engaging," he told the outlet. "It's got enough science to teach people what's really going on and give them recipes. That was the mission." This realization ultimately gave him the courage to give up his gig and study the culinary arts.