Budget-conscious cooking and culinary history
Jeff Smith
1939–2004 · United States
Jeff Smith was born in Seattle in 1939 and was a United Methodist minister and college chaplain before his cooking classes led to public television. He was an enthusiastic, unpretentious teacher who believed good food should not be expensive.
The Frugal Gourmet (1984) and its sequels sold widely, and his show ran for years, ranging from American staples to Chinese, Greek, and Roman cooking. He was curious about food history and happy to explain it to a general audience.
His later years were clouded by allegations, and he died in 2004. His influence on accessible, thrifty home cooking outlasted the controversy.
Nick-philly · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dishes
Roast chicken with lemon, garlic, and oregano, cooked with potatoes that soak up the pan juices.
Spaghetti tossed with bacon, egg, and Parmesan off the heat so the sauce turns creamy, not scrambled.
Cold rice stir-fried with egg, vegetables, and soy sauce, a thrifty way to use up leftovers.
Attended
Home cooking in a small kitchen · 1989 · New York, New York
A new American dinner in Washington · 1990 · Washington, D.C.