Interests

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Culinary Pursuits

Karl at friend Bob's cooking class

Anyone who was a regular viewer of Here & Now during Karl’s CBC days, a current viewer of Rogers TV’s One Chef One Critic or a reader of Karl’s Dining Out column and features in the Food and Drink section of The Telegram Weekend will be well aware of his interest in food and cooking. His passion may have a genetic connection, since at one point his father, grandfather and uncle all worked as cooks. As he says, "My first love was broadcasting, but if I had chosen another career, cooking would have won hands down!"

At the age of nine he remembers being taught by his grandmother, Eliza Wells, how to make an apple pie. The family apartment above his Dad's grocery store would be filled with the wonderful aroma of hot pastry and baked apple when Eliza and Karl took charge of the kitchen. He remembers, on one occasion, peeling and slicing dozens of apples to fill his grandmother's pie shells that lined a kitchen counter . "That day," says Karl, "every relative and neighbour in the area was able to taste our creations."

CBC's Jim Brown, Karl, and Steve Watson judge potato salads

Dining in style. A black tie lunch!

Over the years Karl has developed his cooking talent on his own, and through courses, some with chef friends like Bob Arniel. When his schedule permits, he enjoys cooking for dinner guests. He has also demonstrated his skills on cooking shows, contributed recipes to cook books and magazines, and judged at cooking contests.

Karl's latest interest in this area is the subject of wine, because, like many, he believes good food and great wine are natural companions. These days much of his spare time is spent reading about wine.

Animals

Karl Wells has been an animal lover for many years. From a young age his pets have included an iguana, frogs, newts, tropical fish, turtles, parakeets, a parrot, cats, and dogs. And although he hasn't owned one, he loves horses as well. Some of the most memorable moments on Karl's Community involved Karl with animals, everything from milking cows to wrestling snakes. And, long before Fear Factor, Karl allowed all sorts of insects to crawl over him when he would visit with staff from the Newfoundland Insectarium.

Karl and his pal, Caesar

Horse lover Karl takes equestrian lesson

He also likes to do what he can to help animals in need. Over the years through many appearances with the St. John's Humane Services Shelter and the SPCA, Karl has helped find homes for dozens of cats and dogs.

With greyhound and greyhound advocate, Patt Cowan

Health and Fitness

In 1998 Karl became more interested in his own health and fitness. That year he did an interview with a world champion power lifter named Irene King. As part of the broadcast he attempted to lift a bar of about 100 pounds. Despite making a few attempts, the bar would not budge. It was at that moment, with the dead weight on his sore chest, that Karl decided to get fit and stay fit.

Hiking rugged Newfoundland coast with Larry Kelly

Since then he has been exercising regularly with the help of trainers. He was even able to bench press 200 pounds, a long way from the 100 pounds he had so much trouble with a few years ago.

In addition to weight training, Karl uses an indoor rower at least three times a week. During the warmer months of the year, he likes walking and hiking for cardiovascular fitness.

His weight has always been a concern since he comes from a family that loves food. That's why he is careful about what he eats, and favours quality over quantity. There are times, however, like Christmas and holidays, when 'quantity' is definitely forgotten. But, generally, he keeps his weight within a safe range. Karl does not believe in diets. He believes in eating smaller portions of very good and nutritious food.

Public Events and Causes

At CBC Christmas Carol with Diane Humber, Jim Brown, and mother, Elizabeth

Quite often Karl involves himself in various activities outside his normal workday. These are events and causes in which he has a strong personal interest. Every year he supports the Community Food Sharing Association; and for several years has volunteered to be one of the readers of A Christmas Carol, held in support of the association.

Also, for the past several years, Karl has been a host of the Janeway Hospital Foundation's Children's Miracle Network Telethon. He will continue to play a role in that broadcast in the years to come.

Karl has been master of ceremonies for the St. John's Coronation Street Pingfest, a convention of fans of the long-running show. He has also hosted an event featuring his extended interview with Jenny McAlpine – Corrie’s Fiz Brown. Karl is an avid viewer of the British soap.

On-air with Children's Miracle Network Telethon

Literacy, and getting kids interested in reading is important to Karl as well. That's why he participates in the popular Read for Kids program. It involves various personalities getting together several times a year to do public readings for children.

Karl also visits schools to talk about careers in the media.

To find out more about things that interest Karl, please visit the Links section, and all of the other sections of Karl Wells.com...