An Evening With Two Fat Ladies

It was just about this time of year, Fall, of 1996, that two fat ladies named Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson,  happened on the British culinary scene and through their love of lard and all things fresh, became an overnight sensation.  Wright and Paterson, who were indeed two fat ladies became Two Fat Ladies who rode into the opening scene of every segment of their British cookery show on a Triumph Thunderbird, Wright riding sidecar alongside a goggled and leather helmeted Paterson. Their odd personae, disdain for vegetarianism,  and lack of professional culinary skills did not hurt the popularity of the show which ran for three and a half seasons, until cut short by the death of Jennifer Paterson.  But although there were only twenty-two episodes (ten of which I have not yet seen), the popularity of their show lives on. 

I was first introduced to these larger than life talents when I happened on their show being aired on one of the cooking channels last year.  Having a fondness for tradition, and all things natural and from another time, I never missed one and in fact, felt cheated and sad when they came to an end.  Where in today’s sanitized, polished, television cooking shows can you see so much butter and lard, anchovies, garlic, unpasteurized raw egg products, sweet vermouth, game and fish, large, calorie rich meals with unusual ingredients, made by two fat ladies wielding wooden kitchen spoons, taking time outs for a cigarette break, and a celebratory cocktail and smoke at the end of every show?  

And although the duo had disdain for vegetarianism, non-fat, lo-cal and lo-sodium, their ingredients were unprocessed and came from farms and roadside markets, local fresh turned butter, as well as vegetables and fruits picked from the fields and orchards, and in many episodes, fish and game, caught or shot by Wright or Patterson on camera.  My heroes!  My hat comes off to the originators, producers and to the two fat ladies themselves for their wit, stamina, originality, and most of all, their ability to see the trees in spite of the forest. 

    Tonight, I will watch the other ten!

Eat Smart, America!

Buon Appetito e Buona Salute, Chef AngelaB.