Marguerite Patten
Encyclopedia
Hilda Elsie Marguerite Patten, CBE
(born 4 November 1915, in Bath), née Brown, is an English
home economist
, food writer
and broadcaster.
, Hertfordshire
. When she was 13 it fell to her to cook for her mother and younger brother and sister when her father died and her mother had to return to work as a teacher. After leaving school and taking a cooking course Marguerite was employed as a home economist at the Eastern Electricity Board. She then worked as an actress in repertory theatre for 9 months and for Frigidaire
promoting the benefits of the refrigerator
as a senior home economist.
She has been an influence on other well-known cooks such as Nigel Slater
.
she worked for the Ministry of Food suggesting nourishing and inventive recipes using the rationed food that was available. She broadcast her ideas and advice to the nation on a BBC
radio programme called the Kitchen Front. When the war ended she demonstrated kitchen appliances for Harrods
.
s', presenting her first television cookery programme on the BBC in 1947. She has sold 17 million copies of her 170 books, and continues to contribute to TV and radio food programmes to the present day.
Her approach to cookery instruction included teaching essential knowledge and skills needed in the kitchen. Her advice and books were instrumental in improving the quality of British cookery in the post-war years, when rationing meant that more exotic dishes were impossible to prepare.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 4 November 1915, in Bath), née Brown, is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
home economist
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
, food writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and broadcaster.
Early life and career
She was born in Bath and grew up in BarnetBarnet
High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, North London, England. It is a suburban development built around a twelfth-century settlement and is located north north-west of Charing Cross. Its name is often abbreviated to Barnet, which is also the name of the London...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. When she was 13 it fell to her to cook for her mother and younger brother and sister when her father died and her mother had to return to work as a teacher. After leaving school and taking a cooking course Marguerite was employed as a home economist at the Eastern Electricity Board. She then worked as an actress in repertory theatre for 9 months and for Frigidaire
Frigidaire
Frigidaire is a brand of consumer and commercial appliances. Frigidaire was founded as the Guardian Frigerator Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and developed the first self-contained refrigerator in 1916. In 1918, William C...
promoting the benefits of the refrigerator
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is a common household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room...
as a senior home economist.
She has been an influence on other well-known cooks such as Nigel Slater
Nigel Slater
Nigel Slater is an English food writer, journalist and broadcaster. He has written a column for The Observer Magazine for over a decade and is the principal writer for the Observer Food Monthly supplement. Prior to this, Slater was food writer for Marie Claire for five years...
.
Second World War
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she worked for the Ministry of Food suggesting nourishing and inventive recipes using the rationed food that was available. She broadcast her ideas and advice to the nation on a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio programme called the Kitchen Front. When the war ended she demonstrated kitchen appliances for Harrods
Harrods
Harrods is an upmarket department store located in Brompton Road in Brompton, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. The Harrods brand also applies to other enterprises undertaken by the Harrods group of companies including Harrods Bank, Harrods Estates, Harrods Aviation and Air...
.
Television
She was one of the earliest 'celebrity chefCelebrity chef
A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...
s', presenting her first television cookery programme on the BBC in 1947. She has sold 17 million copies of her 170 books, and continues to contribute to TV and radio food programmes to the present day.
Her approach to cookery instruction included teaching essential knowledge and skills needed in the kitchen. Her advice and books were instrumental in improving the quality of British cookery in the post-war years, when rationing meant that more exotic dishes were impossible to prepare.
Honours
She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1991 for "services to the art of cookery" and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours. In 2007, she received the Woman of the Year award, Lifetime Achievement Award.External links
- Biography at Celebrity Chefs UK
- Marguerite Patten on BBC Radio 4 (includes sound clip)
- Practically Edible biography