PHILADELPHIA (AP) — 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.
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.”
4 comments:
Wow. "Chef Tell is 86ed"?? It's hard to think of a more disrespectful way to remember a hard-working, dedicated professional than with those four words. Blog or no blog- let's show Chef Tell the respect he's earned.
Chef Tell was one of the original TV chefs and a Philly legend. The real deal, no hype, just a great man, a great teacher. He deserves more respect for his passing than saying he was "86'd". Whatever than means. I'm assuming you mean he was "deep 6'd". Either way, just plain rude. Hmm...maybe we should change your name to Eric Rude???
I still use one of his TV recipes. It is a simple dinner salad that we call roast beef salad. It is a tossed salad, with romaine, cukes, peppers, celery, carrot, radishes, and tomatoes, with chunks of leftover roast beef and a mild cheese, like Havarti or Monterey Jack. The key to the salad's difference is that it is dressed with (you won't believe this) ketchup. Nothing else--no oil, no herbs. Don't knock it until you have tried it. It should be served very cold. It is delish.
I had the great opportunity to meet Chef Tell in Philly. What a generous man. He also had a fabulous restaurant in Grand Cayman for a while.
And I agree - really, to say anyone was 86ed or deep 6'd shows a tremendous lack of character. I'm sure glad Eric Rude won't be writing my obit!
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