Meet Thaao Penghlis
Most know Actor Thaao Penghlis from his roles in daytime soap operas, guest appearances on nighttime series, or even from feature films like the late 1980s remake of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. But most don’t know, he’s a self-trained chef, a bit of a philosopher, and the consummate host. He’s culled stories from his acting career and interactions with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and rolled them into a brand-new cookbook, called Seducing Celebrities One Meal at a Time (Bricktown Publishing, April 2024).
Growing up in Australia
Born in Sydney, he traces his Greek roots to Kastellorizo. His parents immigrated to Australia in the 1930s. He also has traced his great-grandparents back to Constantinople and has cousins that grew up in Alexandria, Egypt. His mother never spoke English, so he and his three siblings attended Greek school and many Greek events. “First generation Greeks in Australia were not embraced in those years. We were so different,” he said. “Even the cuisine. When the Greeks learned English and joined the workforce, things became to change.”
He went to the movies to “escape” everything Greek and dreamed of America. “I struggled to find a mentor.” Ironically, when he came to the US, he found one—he happened to be Greek. He studied under Milton Katselis and became his assistant. “I tried to move away from the Greek but came back to it on my own terms.” Though his family didn’t initially support his aspirations as an actor, he was determined to find his path. “I couldn’t go home a loser. So I studied hard and worked hard.”
Acting
His breakout role was in ‘Days of Our Lives’. He said that when he went home to visit his parents, he presented them with a check. “My father was shocked. It was a wonderful moment. He said he’d never held that kind of money in his hands before. And sending them to Europe six times. That to me was truly a mark of my success.”
Writing
He’s traveled throughout the world, learning about different cultures, about people and their cuisine. All of this, along with his Greek heritage have shaped him.
“When I lost my parents four days apart in 1995, it was the most shocking and difficult experience I ever had,” he shared. He said he worked hard to be a success to help them. And after losing them, he didn’t do much for three years and had to reinvent himself. “Then someone said, ‘Why don’t you write a book and share all your journeys and adventures. That’s when I wrote Places: The Journey of My Days, My Lives (Padaro Press, 2014). I realized I could write.”
Over the years, he’s also published short stories in several magazines.
Seducing Celebrities
A publisher called and asked about his cooking—and legendary dinner parties with celebrities. Then Penghlis traveled to Cuba. While at a restaurant, the title came to him. “Pictures of celebrities hung on the wall. And I started to think. Food is a thing to seduce people. People come to your table and embrace what you’ve prepared. Enjoy the aromas, the ambience, wonderful conversation.” Seducing Celebrities One Meal at a Time, originally published in 2015, but was recently re-released.
He learned to cook watching his mother, and Italian friends in New York. Then he explored and created his own recipes. There are 75 recipes in the book. When he cooks, he often improvises, based on what ingredients he has in the house.
“Greek food is the healthiest food you can eat. Plus, Greeks are the most passionate people in Europe. Food is the magic of the universe…the great seductress. Food is a celebration, an expression. It’s a way to make people feel loved.”
The book is a collection of stories of his conversations with many Hollywood celebrities. Some he has cooked for, while others he only dreamed of welcoming to his table. He reveals the meal he would have prepared for them.
“With all the celebrities that crossed my path, I asked myself; How would I embrace and seduce them with food?” he said. “Through my imagination and experiences, I have put together recipes that would resonate with these wonderful talents.”
It’s also a silent movement encouraging people to go back to basics. We all rush and consume unhealthy fast food and don’t take the time to cook at home. Recall those meals in Greece that are several-hour long events with laughter, storytelling, and enjoying the company of family and friends.
“You know what’s in the food. And you take the time to enjoy a meal and each other. It’s an experience.”
Podcast
During his aforementioned reinvention period, he spent much time studying at the Gennadius Library in Athens and traveled to explore the history of Greece. “I realized I was a part of that history. There’s something about sitting in a quiet church and thinking about what came before.”
This led to his fascinating podcast, “Thaao Penghlis' The Lost Treasures”, which he writes and records. The episodes explore the Iliad and the Odyssey through the life of German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. “It led me to the magnificent sites in Athens, Mycenae, and Troy where Schliemann’s extraordinary finds changed the course of history and smashed the myths of ancient Greek heroes.” More episodes are on the way.
Words of wisdom
Penghlis said he “loves his Greek heritage”, but like many young people, “didn’t think about it much in those years.” But he encourages younger generations to embrace it; to explore and learn and visit other places. “Save up and take your journeys. While you’re here make the most of it. Don’t shortchange yourself. Learn how to understand rather than judge. That will come with maturity. Find who you are and why you came into this lifetime and how you develop it through experiences; the obstacles that present themselves and how you overcome them. Life is about becoming. And then one day you’ve become and then get a real understanding about what kind of soul you brought in.”
Seducing Celebrities One Meal at a Time is available wherever books are sold. Follow Thaao Penghlis on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
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