A WONDERFUL FAT LADY

by

Ray E. Spencer

On August 10, 1999, Jennifer Paterson, one of the stars of “Two Fat Ladies,” a Food Network production, died at a hospital in London, after being treated for lung cancer.

I spent over twenty years in the Hotel and Restaurant Industry. One of the activities that I had used (still do) to relax at the end of a hard, lengthy day, was to watch shows about cooking and wine--sometimes adding a nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay to enhance the unwinding.

I first got interested in these types of programs as far back as 1969 after observing “The Galloping Gourmet” starring the very funny Graham Kerr. And after many years of experience with such broadcasts, I find that Jennifer Paterson and her portly partner, Clarissa Dickson Wright, presented the wonders of British home cooking with humor, spontaneity, and a nice sneer at the pompousness that many British are famous for.

My wife, Bonnie, and I regard the “Two Fat Ladies” and “Emeril Live” starring Bam! Emeril Lagasse, the two most entertaining broadcasts on the Food Network--a marvelous channel. If I was forced to choose a number one between the pair, Jennifer and Clarissa’s presentation would win. Coupled with the amazing knowledge and presence projected, the trips through the majestic towns and countrysides of England on the Triumph Thunderbird, with Jennifer driving (usually) and Clarissa squeezed tightly in the side car, were like mini-travel logs about the joys of visiting and/or living in the Cheerio! Empire.

Some of the recipes prepared like “Lobster with Mayonnaise,” “Sausage Soup,” and “Yorkshire Gingerbread” made you want to reach into the “Telly” (that’s British for Television, if you didn’t know), grab a portion, and stuff it into your pie hole. Some of the combinations, using the freshest and highest quality ingredients available, were more creative than the creations of a fiction writer.

According to the research I completed from the Food Network’s website (www.foodtv.com), Jennifer and Clarissa both have written legions of juicy words on the subjects of “Food and Beverage.” Also, each one’s voice has been heard on BBC radio: Jennifer on BBC Radio 4’s, “Questions of Taste,” and Clarissa on BBC Radio 4’s, “Curious Cooks.”

With years of experience under their expansive belts, the pair departed invaluable information on how to prepare and eat tasty and unique combos of food, while showing a zest for life. They obviously felt that not being afraid of food or drink was a huge part of living.

This writer will miss terribly what Jennifer brought to the show--I do hope that the channel will keep “Two Fat Ladies” as a part of their lineup of marvelous programs about the wonderful world of “Food and Drink.” I feel this would be a great homage to a fallen chef.

According to the tribute to Jennifer Paterson aired on the Food Network, Sunday, August 15, the two cooking co-hosts didn’t meet until beginning their show...but, their on-screen chemistry would lead one to believe that they had been friends and colleagues for decades. They were a joy to watch. And, seeing the duo cruising around London and other parts of the United Kingdom bundled up and wearing the motorcycle helmets was priceless.

Jennifer, especially, seemed to be relishing in what her calling was in life. Another thing I admired about them was that they weren’t just cooking and baking for the sake of presenting a program--their sumptuous sustenances were prepared for parties of people like the Benedictine Nuns, the Barristers (lawyers), and Motorbike lovers.

One lasting image I will keep of Jennifer is the time she waltzed cuddling her “foodstuffs du jour” across the kitchen of the day while changing places with Clarissa. A moment anything but stuffy.

My guess is that when Jennifer drives up to the Pearly Gates, she’ll present Saint Peter with a cocktail-party plate of “Devils on Horseback”; then, say something like, “Sorry ole chap, just kidding,” and pull from behind her the actual gift of “Angels on Horseback.”

This writer did not know Jennifer Paterson personally; but, the warmth, humor, and character that she exuded will be greatly missed....My wife and I raise a wine glass to A Wonderful Fat Lady. God Bless.

Ray E. Spencer is the author of “Tender Nightmare” (anovel available soon on www.iuniverse.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com) and “The Stolen Manuscript: The Dictionary Murders” (novel and screenplay). He is presently working on a screenplay of “Tender Nightmare.”

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