Helen Corbitt facts for kids

Helen Corbitt (1906–1978) was a famous American chef and cookbook author. She was born in New York but spent almost 40 years in Texas. Helen became known for creating amazing gourmet food. She used new and exciting flavor combinations and serving temperatures. She traveled a lot to find new ideas for her cooking. Helen was also one of the first to say that using the freshest ingredients was very important.

Helen Corbitt's Career

Helen moved to Austin, Texas in 1931. Before that, she worked as a dietitian at a hospital in New York City. In Austin, she became an instructor and managed the tearoom at the University of Texas at Austin.

Later, she worked at the Houston Country Club. She also ran the tearoom at Joske's department store in Houston. Helen even started her own catering business. The Driskill Hotel then asked her to come back to Austin.

The Neiman Marcus Kitchen Computer was offered in 1969 with some of Helen Corbitt's recipes.

In 1955, Helen joined Neiman-Marcus. This was a very fancy department store. She became their Director of Food Services. Some of her recipes are still on the store's menu today. Her famous Poppy Seed Dressing is one of them.

In 1969, Neiman-Marcus advertised the Neiman Marcus Kitchen Computer. This was the first computer ever sold to regular people. You could also buy collections of Helen's recipes to use with the computer. Helen left Neiman-Marcus in late 1969. She then focused on writing, teaching, and giving advice about food.

Helen Corbitt's Legacy

Helen Corbitt wrote many cookbooks. She was the first woman to receive the Golden Plate Award. This is a very important award in the food business. In 1969, she received the Outstanding Service Award. The Texas Restaurant Association gave it to her. They honored her for her great contributions to the food service industry.

In 1975, the Chicago Tribune newspaper wrote about Helen. They called her "the Balenciaga of food." This meant she was like a top fashion designer, but for food. They also said she was "the best cook in Texas." In 1999, Texas Monthly magazine called Helen the "Tastemaker of the Century." In 2009, the Los Angeles Times described her. They said she was "the Julia Child-esque cooking celebrity with a Texas twang." This meant she was a famous chef like Julia Child, but with a Texas style.