Jason Roberts, iCook™ Culinary Specialist

International celebrity chef Jason Roberts could easily be mistaken for a carefree college student instead of the world-renowned executive chef, author and television personality that he is.

His brilliant smile and 'down-under' accent captivate people on all continents, while his health-conscious culinary skills – currently on display in his new cookbook Graze and via his Australian television show – tantalize taste buds everywhere.

Finding inspiration in his Nana's kitchen as a child, Jason 'Jase' Roberts boldly declared, 'Nana, I want to be a cook!' Role models weren't in short supply, with Nana and grandfather making their living as caterers and his other grandmother running a restaurant. A New Zealand native, Jason the child experienced nothing but praise from teachers and other adults for his excellent cooking and presentation skills in home economics classes.

'I have wanted to cook for as long as I can remember,' says Jason. 'It's something I do to indulge my imagination, be creative, and feed my artistic passion. To me, cooking is the most consistent of life's joys and is immeasurably rewarding – instantly and constantly.'

Apprenticeships at top Sydney restaurants won him the title of Apprentice of the Year from the East Sydney Technical Institute in 1993. Gaining the post of Executive Chef at the renowned Bistro Moncur, Jason was featured in a newspaper article on Sydney's 'new breed of chefs'. This caught the attention of Australia's Channel Nine, where Jason became the host of the new cooking program Fresh.

In January 2003, Jason was introduced to 14 million Americans on the ABC TV program Good Morning America, where he's since become a regular guest. Jason's passion for fast, healthy eating and fresh produce has led him to create a cookbook, Graze: Lots of Little Meals Fast (MacMillan, 2003), which taps into the growing trend towards eating smaller, more frequent meals by offering healthy small-portion recipes and alternative cooking methods to save time and effort. 'It's all about little meals,' says Jason. 'Graze – have small meals more often! It's better for your weight and your heart, and keeps your energy and glycogen levels up.' Good advice from the man whose skills with simple ingredients and a few pieces of iCook cookware can win over your stomach while his charm (and emphasis on good health) win over your heart.