On July 11, American cooking legend, Marion Cunningham died. She was 90. Elegant, down-to-earth, a lover of life, people, iceberg lettuce, waffles, desserts and the family table, Marion helped transform American home cooking. Hand-picked by James Beard to revise the Fannie Farmer cookbooks, Marion began her career at 50.
An elegant woman, long skirt, silver pony tail, big laugh, wicked twinkle in her blue eyes. Marion drove a fast Jag and swam daily into her 80s. She was funny and wise and everyone in the food world sought her advice and opinion. The Kitchen Sisters were lucky to know Marion, to eat her waffles, brainstorm the Hidden Kitchens series with her, and to sit down with her to do an oral history. We have been weaving some of that tape into an audiobook we are producing, 40 Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of Gathering by Alice Waters and Friends, for Audible.com. There is a chapter devoted to Marion. In her honor, we share some of her story with you now.
