Marion Cunningham
One of my favorite chefs, Marion Cunningham, who began her culinary career in her early 50's, and went on to receive international acclaim, died July 11 at the age of 90. She rewrote The Fannie Farmer Cookbook, and also wrote The Fannie Farmer Baking Book, along with The Breakfast Book, Lost Recipes, and numerous other cookbooks.
According to Knopf Editor Judith Jones, Marion "epitomized good American food". She was a home cook, who loved eating together as a family, iceberg lettuce and waffles. She at one time was the menu and recipe consultant to the Bridge Creek Restaurant (Berkeley), and The Breakfast Book is filled with many of those breakfast recipes-one of my favorites is "Heavenly Hots"-sour cream pancakes that are light, and easy, and have everyone asking for more.
Marion was down-to-earth, as she didn't view cooking as a lofty activity, but rather as something everyone could learn to do well. I had the pleasure of hearing her speak once at a local library ten or more years ago, and found her to be delightful. On how to open a coconut: "Throw it on a cement pavement. That's how monkeys do it, and they are professionals."
Thank you Marion, for inspiring me, and for your legacy of the importance of good cooking, and eating together as a family.
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