wazzzy
2007-10-30 01:49:14 UTC
http://www.centredaily.com/news/state/story/246786.html
Friedman Paul Erhardt, the German-born cook known as "Chef Tell" who
was one of America's pioneering television chefs, has died. He was 63.
Erhardt died of heart failure on Friday at his home in Upper Black
Eddy, in Bucks County.
The mustachioed Erhardt was a fixture on the Philadelphia dining scene
in the 1970s and 80s when he owned restaurants in Chestnut Hill,
Wayne, Ottsville, and Upper Black Eddy. He also built a reputation as
a culinary educator, cookbook author, and spokesman for major cookware
and food product lines.
But it was Erhardt's jolly personality, thick German accent and wit
that helped pave his way into television, where he became a fixture,
from appearances on local TV to national shows such as "Regis and
Kathie Lee" and comedy skits on "Saturday Night Live." He was also
said to be the inspiration for the Swedish chef on "The Muppet Show."
"Tell was able to incorporate humor and the entertainment factor into
his cooking," Victoria Lang, who regularly produced Erhardt's segments
for "Regis and Kathie Lee," told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Born in Stuttgart, the son of a newspaper owner, Erhardt earned the
nickname "Tell" after playing William Tell in a school play. He
trained in restaurants and hotels throughout Europe.
Advertisement
He made his first appearance on a local Philadelphia TV show "Dialing
for Dollars" in 1974. That was followed by a 90-second cooking spot on
a nationally syndicated show, that blossomed into appearances on
"Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," specials for QVC and a PBS
program, "In the Kitchen With Chef Tell."
"He was the first of the great showman chefs," former Inquirer
restaurant critic Elaine Tait said. "Up until his era, chefs stayed in
the kitchen."
For the last 2 1/2 years, Erhardt taught at the Restaurant School at
Walnut Hill College.
A diabetic, Erhardt just completed a new book about cooking for
diabetics based on his own experience of working himself off insulin
naturally by changing his recipes.
A memorial service is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 5, which would have
been Erhardt's 64th birthday, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in
Ferndale.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Bunny; a son, Torsten Erhardt;
daughter-in-law, Angelica, and grandson, Max, who live in Germany.
Friedman Paul Erhardt, the German-born cook known as "Chef Tell" who
was one of America's pioneering television chefs, has died. He was 63.
Erhardt died of heart failure on Friday at his home in Upper Black
Eddy, in Bucks County.
The mustachioed Erhardt was a fixture on the Philadelphia dining scene
in the 1970s and 80s when he owned restaurants in Chestnut Hill,
Wayne, Ottsville, and Upper Black Eddy. He also built a reputation as
a culinary educator, cookbook author, and spokesman for major cookware
and food product lines.
But it was Erhardt's jolly personality, thick German accent and wit
that helped pave his way into television, where he became a fixture,
from appearances on local TV to national shows such as "Regis and
Kathie Lee" and comedy skits on "Saturday Night Live." He was also
said to be the inspiration for the Swedish chef on "The Muppet Show."
"Tell was able to incorporate humor and the entertainment factor into
his cooking," Victoria Lang, who regularly produced Erhardt's segments
for "Regis and Kathie Lee," told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Born in Stuttgart, the son of a newspaper owner, Erhardt earned the
nickname "Tell" after playing William Tell in a school play. He
trained in restaurants and hotels throughout Europe.
Advertisement
He made his first appearance on a local Philadelphia TV show "Dialing
for Dollars" in 1974. That was followed by a 90-second cooking spot on
a nationally syndicated show, that blossomed into appearances on
"Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," specials for QVC and a PBS
program, "In the Kitchen With Chef Tell."
"He was the first of the great showman chefs," former Inquirer
restaurant critic Elaine Tait said. "Up until his era, chefs stayed in
the kitchen."
For the last 2 1/2 years, Erhardt taught at the Restaurant School at
Walnut Hill College.
A diabetic, Erhardt just completed a new book about cooking for
diabetics based on his own experience of working himself off insulin
naturally by changing his recipes.
A memorial service is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 5, which would have
been Erhardt's 64th birthday, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in
Ferndale.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Bunny; a son, Torsten Erhardt;
daughter-in-law, Angelica, and grandson, Max, who live in Germany.