Jo Seagar | |
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Born | 1955 (age 68–69) Christchurch, New Zealand[1] |
Education | Le Cordon Bleu |
Subject | Cooking and food |
Joanna Mary Seagar MNZM (born 1955), generally known as Jo Seagar, is a New Zealand writer, TV personality and celebrity cook.
Seagar lives in the small town of Oxford in North Canterbury, with her husband Ross.[2] She initially trained as a nurse, and attended Le Cordon Bleu cookery school in London while working at the Royal Free Hospital.[3] Back in New Zealand, Seagar opened Harley's Restaurant in Auckland with fellow nurse Helen Brabazon.[3] Seagar ran "Seagars at Oxford" cooking school, café and kitchenware store for about ten years, but it closed in 2015. Seager cited the decrease in tourism following the Canterbury earthquakes as the reason for its closure.[2][4][5] The company's collapse left thousands of dollars unpaid to employees and creditors.[6][7]
Seagar was the first food writer for North & South, has written for New Zealand Woman's Weekly and Cuisine magazine, and writes a regular column for the Australian Women's Weekly.[3][8]
Seagar is patron and ambassador for Hospice, and raises money for the charity through cooking classes.[2] In the 2015 New Year Honours, Seagar was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community.[9]