The Great Cooks Books - AuthorHouse UK

AuthorHouse UK reviews acknowledge celebrity chef, author and TV star’s, Gordon Ramsey’s birthday today. So best wishes to Gordon and we thought we would take the opportunity to reflect on TV chefs and authors of the past and present.  

Philip Harben and Marguerite Patten are credited with being the first UK celebrity chefs, presenting the first television cookery programme on the BBC in 1947. Both went on to be longtime TV chefs, with Philip authoring over 20 cookery books, whilst Marguerite has sold 17 million copies of her 170 books, and continues to contribute to TV and radio food programmes to the present day.

Johnnie and Fanny

Then there was the great hilarious couple Fanny and Johnnie Cradock. Whilst Fanny cooking prowess cannot be questioned, they as a couple on their TV shows brought entertainment as well as culinary skills to the fore, Fanny in ball gown and waspish comments and  bumbling Johnnie with his trademark monocle and handlebar moustache. Credited with introducing the Prawn Cocktail and many other new tastes to the British palate, it is the interplay between the two that is remembered.

Delia versus Floyd

The 70's saw two giants of the cookery world first hit the heights of TV stardom; and what opposites they were. Delia Smith demonstrates   attention to method and detail, whilst Keith Floyd just sloshed it in the pan; usually taking a slurp of wine at the same time.

Delia has been on TV virtually since and hit the heights again in 1998 when she added 10% to UK egg sales with her television series, Delia's How to Cook (1998). The “Delia Effect” phenomenon was last seen in 2008 after her new book How to Cheat at Cooking was published. This has become a commonly used phrase to describe a run on a previously poor-selling product because of her recommendation. She has sold more books than any other chef- over 21 million and counting.

Floyd on the other hand introduced us Brits to a variety of new dishes from around the globe; presenting his shows from France, Spain, Italy, India, Australia and the US, cooking on location in his unique chaotic style. Keith unfortunately passed away in 2009, however his legacy can be seen by the words of some of his contemporaries.

 Anthony Worrall Thompson said of him: "I think all of us modern TV chefs owe a living to him. He kind of spawned us all."

 Marco Pierre White told BBC radio Floyd "inspired a nation".

The Temperamental Naked Chef

The 90's until the present day have seen a host of TV celebrity chefs and cookery shows. From Rick Stein with his pet terrier to The Two Fat Ladies to The Two Hairy Bikers to Heston Blumenthal and his cooking science. With apologies to them; and those I haven’t mentioned, the two that stand out are The Naked Chef, Essex boy Jamie Oliver with his hatful of TV shows, campaigns to improve the eating habits of us all especially the kids; and No.1 bestselling books along the way, and birthday boy Gordon with his unique blend of culinary brilliance (13 Michelin Stars) and raging foul-mouthed temper, whilst he has enthralled us on the screen, he has still published 21 books.

AuthorHouse UKreviews would like to thank them all for the entertainment and culinary education they have provided; and for the great cooking literary legacy.