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Willi Koeppen (b. 22 June 1929–disappeared 28 February 1976) was a German Australian chef who is credited as being Australia's first celebrity chef,[1][2] hosting the cooking program The Chef Presents on Channel Seven in Melbourne between 1957 and 1959 and owning the Cuckoo restaurant in Olinda, Victoria, within the Dandenong Ranges. Koeppen disappeared under mysterious circumstances in February 1976, with his ultimate fate remaining unknown.[3]
Willi Koeppen | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 22, 1929 |
| Disappeared | February 29, 1976 Olinda, Victoria, Australia |
| Status | Missing |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | Celebrity chef, mysterious disappearance |
Early life
editWilli Koeppen was born in Berlin, Germany, on 22 June 1929.[4] He began his culinary career with an apprenticeship at the prestigious Hotel Adlon, and continued following his emigration to Australia in the 1950s when he became the executive chef at the Chevron Hotel in Melbourne.[3] Koeppen married his wife, Karin Lantzsch, on 30 April 1957.[4]
Around the time of their marriage, Koeppen and his wife purchased a café on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in the town of Olinda, Victoria, located within the Dandenong Ranges. The couple converted the establishment into the Cuckoo, a Bavarian-themed smorgasbord-style restaurant. The Cuckoo's success made Koeppen a prominent figure in the Melbourne area, leading to Koeppen presenting The Chef Presents, a five-minute cooking program, on the local Channel Seven station between 1957 and 1959. Koeppen also presented a radio program on Melbourne station 3XY.[4]
References
edit- ^ Richardson, David (2022). "Could car hold the key to one of Australia's most baffling mysteries?". Nine News. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ Bayley, Andrew (18 August 2012). "Whatever happened to Willi Koeppen?". Television.AU. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ a b Mills, Tammy (13 July 2018). "The Cuckoo affair: What happened to Willi Koeppen?". The Age. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Wright, Tyler (25 February 2023). "National spotlight back on missing Cuckoo founder". Retrieved 25 August 2024.
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