This
is the first of series about food and those who prepare it.
I watch countless cooking shows on Public Television and the
Food Network; therefore I am fascinated when I discover interesting
facts concerning the famous cooks and popular chefs that are featured
in these shows. One of the programs that I enjoy viewing is "The Best Thing
I Ever Ate" which is hosted by famous chefs, professional cooks, and
individuals who enjoy extraordinary cuisine. Rather than this show
being about their cooking skills, it reveals their favorite foods and
highlights the places to find and eat those delightful dishes.
Because I enjoy discovering interesting facts about the lives
of the rich and famous in the culinary circles, I believe that the
readers will enjoy hearing the little quips I uncovered about the people
who generally own cafes or restaurants, and make a living by cooking
and catering. They tend to be quite interesting characters with definite ideas
about their personal likes and dislikes when the subject pertains to food.
Although most people believe that Julia Childs was probably
the first American chef to demonstrate cooking on television, actually the
first televised cooking show in the United States was hosted by a personality
that those who follow these shows will recognize. James Beard,
best known as the author of at least twenty cookbooks and for the
yearly award given to outstanding persons in the culinary industry that
bears his name, actually hosted the first televised cooking show in
America called "I Love to Eat."
The first ever televised universal cooking show was broadcast
in 1946 to the viewers in the United Kingdom by the British Broadcasting Corporation
featuring Philip Harben in ten minute long episodes. Although
he was not a well know personality, the present day professional cooks and
chefs in the United States have attained ovie-star status in many
households. James Beard loved the herb tarragon and used it extensively in
his recipes, and he was so fond of raw
onions that he regularly dined on onion sandwiches.
James Beard (1903-1985) was known as a giant of a man; as an
adult he stood 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed over 300 pounds; his
large frame began because it is reported that he weighed fourteen pounds at birth.
He taught at the James Beard Cooking School in New York City and Seaside,
Oregon, and traveled extensively while lecturing and appearing on
television. "The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose
mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making
America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for
everyone. "
I could not find a food that was disliked by James Beard,
ironically, he
was the author of the best seller; "The Man Who Ate Too Much." He is also
credited with inventing and presenting a charcuterie board countless years
before it became popular for holidays and special events.
James Beard suffered an embarrassing situation at college
that caused him
to be expelled; but in 1976 the college granted him an honorary degree.
More to follow.
