Philip Harben
Encyclopedia
Philip Hubert Kendal Jerrold Harben (17 October 1906 – 27 April 1970) was an English cook, recognised as the first TV celebrity chef
.
His mother, Mary Jerrold
, was an actress famous as the murderous Martha Brewster in the first stage presentation of Arsenic and Old Lace
as well as many screen roles. His father, Hubert Harben
, was a noted stage actor. His sister, Joan Harben, played Miss Mona Lott in the BBC Radio series ITMA. He learned at the side of his parents' cook, and "could scramble eggs and make mayonnaise long before I could read Thucydides or solve a quadratic equation".
His first occupation was as a commercial photographer, then was engaged to run the kitchen of the Isobar restaurant in the Isokon building
in Hampstead
, London from 1937 to 1940, when he enlisted in the Royal Air Force
, but an eye injury put paid to his flying career and he was assigned to the catering corps.
He compered a BBC
wireless cooking programme from 1942, then a BBC TV programmes "Cookery" from 1946 to 1951, followed by "Cookery Lesson" (with co-presenter Marguerite Patten
) and "What's Cooking" from 1956. His emphasis was always on method and principles rather than recipes, but he could be remarkably dogmatic - "The Pot to the Kettle not the Kettle to the Pot!".
Philip Harben can be credited with the first TV 'moment' when on live television he cracked an egg which was so bad he had to abandon the recipe while he and the studio crew broke into helpless laughter.
He had a regular column in the British Woman's Own
magazine in the 1950s.
In 1958 he helped found the Harbenware kitchen utensils company which in 2009 was still operating under the same ownership.
Celebrity 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...
.
His mother, Mary Jerrold
Mary Jerrold
Mary Jerrold was a British actress. She was married to actor Hubert Harben and mother of celebrity chef Philip Harben.-Selected filmography:* The Great Defender * Jack of All Trades * Return to Yesterday...
, was an actress famous as the murderous Martha Brewster in the first stage presentation of Arsenic and Old Lace
Arsenic and Old Lace (play)
Arsenic and Old Lace is a play by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939. It has become best known through the film adaptation starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra. The play was directed by Bretaigne Windust, and opened on January 10, 1941. On September 25, 1943, the...
as well as many screen roles. His father, Hubert Harben
Hubert Harben
Hubert Harben was a British film actor. He was married to the actress Mary Jerrold and father of celebrity chef Philip Harben.-Selected filmography:* Every Mother's Son * Tell England * Fires of Fate...
, was a noted stage actor. His sister, Joan Harben, played Miss Mona Lott in the BBC Radio series ITMA. He learned at the side of his parents' cook, and "could scramble eggs and make mayonnaise long before I could read Thucydides or solve a quadratic equation".
His first occupation was as a commercial photographer, then was engaged to run the kitchen of the Isobar restaurant in the Isokon building
Isokon building
The Isokon building in Lawn Road, Hampstead, London is a concrete block of 34 flats designed by architect Wells Coates for Molly and Jack Pritchard. They were built between 1933 and 1934 as an experiment in communal living. Most of the flats had very small kitchens as there was a large communal...
in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London from 1937 to 1940, when he enlisted in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, but an eye injury put paid to his flying career and he was assigned to the catering corps.
He compered 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...
wireless cooking programme from 1942, then a BBC TV programmes "Cookery" from 1946 to 1951, followed by "Cookery Lesson" (with co-presenter Marguerite Patten
Marguerite Patten
Hilda Elsie Marguerite Patten, CBE , née Brown, is an English home economist, food writer and broadcaster.- Early life and career :...
) and "What's Cooking" from 1956. His emphasis was always on method and principles rather than recipes, but he could be remarkably dogmatic - "The Pot to the Kettle not the Kettle to the Pot!".
Philip Harben can be credited with the first TV 'moment' when on live television he cracked an egg which was so bad he had to abandon the recipe while he and the studio crew broke into helpless laughter.
He had a regular column in the British Woman's Own
Woman's Own
Woman's Own is a British lifestyle magazine aimed at women.Woman's Own was first published in 1932. It is one of the UK's most famous women's magazines and is published by IPC Media....
magazine in the 1950s.
In 1958 he helped found the Harbenware kitchen utensils company which in 2009 was still operating under the same ownership.
Publications
- The Way to Cook, John Lane, The Bodley Head, London 1945
- Cooking Quickly, John Lane, The Bodley Head, London 1946
- Entertaining at Home (with Katharine Harben), Bodley Head, London 1951
- Television Cooking Book Oldhams Press, London 1951
- The Pocket Book of Modern Cooking, News of the World, 1951
- The Young Cook, Peter Nevill, London 1952
- Cooking with Harben (ed. Katharine Harben), Herbert Jenkins, 1953
- Traditional Dishes of Britain, Bodley Head, London 1953
- Philip Harben's Cookery Encyclopedia, Odhams, London 1955
- The Teen-age Cook, Arco 1957
- Best Dishes from Europe, Arco, London 1958
- Best Quick Supper Dishes, Arco, London 1958
- Best Party Dishes 1958
- Cooking, Penguin, 1960
- Philip Harben's Book of the Frying Pan, Bodley Head, London 1960
- Imperial Frying with Philip Harben, Bodley Head, London 1961
- The Grammar of Cookery, Penguin, 1965
- The Way I Cook, Frewin, London 1965
- The Tools of Cookery, Hodder Paperbacks, London 1968 ISBN 0340044101
- Cooking Quickly, Clifton Books, Brighton 1969 ISBN 0901255017
- Philip Harben's Count Down Cookery, Dent, London 1971 ISBN 0460039652
Sources
- http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/pages/philipharben
- http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/adults/other/cookery.htm