Alma Lach facts for kids

Alma Lach (born Alma Elizabeth Satorius, June 8, 1914 – October 21, 2013) was a famous American chef, cookbook author, and food expert. She helped many people learn about cooking through her books, TV shows, and cooking school.

Alma Lach's Journey to Becoming a Chef

Alma Elizabeth Satorius was born on June 8, 1914, in Petersburg, Illinois. In 1939, she started studying home economics at the University of Chicago. This is where she met her husband, a historian named Donald F. Lach.

In 1949, her husband received a special scholarship called the Fulbright Scholarship. This allowed him to study in Paris, France. While there, Alma Lach began attending the famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. She earned their highest award, the Grand Diplôme, in 1956. Even before finishing her studies, she wrote cookbooks for kids! These included A Child’s First Cook Book in 1950 and two books featuring the fun Campbell's Kids.

Alma Lach first appeared on TV in 1955. She created and hosted a children's cooking show called Let's Cook. This show aired on WTTW in Chicago and later on WGN. From 1957 to 1964, she was the food editor for the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper. She wrote a regular column there called Good Food.

She also appeared on other TV shows, like Over Easy with Hugh Downs and The Lee Phillip Show. She was even on different versions of The Today show. Alma Lach had her own company, Alma Lach Kitchens, Inc. Through this company, she worked as a consultant for many restaurants in Chicago, including The Berghoff. She also helped Flying Food Fare, which made meals for Midway Airlines.

In the 1970s, she opened the Alma Lach Cooking School on Rush Street in Chicago. In 1975, she was hired by Rich Melman, who founded Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. She helped his company as a food consultant.

Alma Lach passed away in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 21, 2013. She was 99 years old.

Special Awards and Honors

Because Alma Lach earned the Grand Diplôme from Le Cordon Bleu, the French government gave her a special honor. She became a member of the Légion d’Honneur. This is one of France's highest awards!

In 1958, she won first prize in the Pillsbury Creative Recipe Contest. She won for her work as a food editor at the Chicago Sun-Times. Her prize was a beautiful mink stole! In 1962, she became a full member of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. In 1964, she also joined the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. These are both special groups that celebrate food and cooking.

Books and TV Shows

Books

• A Child’s First Cook Book (1950). .
• The Campbell Kids at Home (1954). .
• The Campbell Kids Have a Party (1954). .
• Let’s Cook (1956).
• Cooking à la Cordon Bleu (1970). .
• Hows and Whys of French Cooking (1974). ISBN: 0226467406.

Television series

• Let’s Cook (1955).