Jeff Smith (chef) facts for kids
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Smith in 1990.
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| Born | January 22, 1939 Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
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| Died | July 7, 2004 (aged 65) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Cooking style | Gourmet |
| Education | Cooking |
| Spouse | Patricia "Patty" Smith (1966–2004) |
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Previous restaurant(s)
Chaplain's Pantry (1972-1983)
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Television show(s)
Cooking Fish Creatively (1973–1977)
The Frugal Gourmet (1984-1997) |
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Jeffrey L. Smith (born January 22, 1939 – died July 7, 2004) was a famous American chef and author. He wrote many cookbooks and hosted a popular TV cooking show called The Frugal Gourmet. This show helped many people learn how to cook tasty meals without spending too much money.
Early Life
Jeff Smith was born in Tacoma, Washington, on January 22, 1939. He went to the University of Puget Sound and graduated in 1962. Later, in 1965, he graduated from Drew University in New Jersey. There, he became a minister in the United Methodist Church.
After his studies, Smith worked as a chaplain at the University of Puget Sound from 1966 to 1972. In 1966, he married Patricia "Patty" Smith. They had two sons, Channing and Jason. It was Patty who came up with his famous nickname, "Frugal Gourmet." In 1972, he left the university to open his own place. It was called the Chaplain's Pantry Restaurant and Gourmet Shop. This shop in Tacoma sold deli foods and kitchen supplies. Smith also taught cooking classes there to the public.
Career in Cooking
Jeff Smith started his TV career in 1973 at KTPS (now KBTC) in Tacoma. His first show was called Cooking Fish Creatively. It aired from 1973 to 1977. Later, the show was renamed The Frugal Gourmet.
In 1983, Smith moved his show to WTTW in Chicago. From there, The Frugal Gourmet became a national TV show in 1984. In 1991, the show moved again to KQED in San Francisco. The show was very successful, running for 11 seasons with 261 episodes. Jeff Smith retired from television in 1997 when PBS stopped airing The Frugal Gourmet.
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Throughout his career, Smith wrote many popular cookbooks. Some of his well-known books include Recipes from the Frugal Gourmet (1977) and The Frugal Gourmet (1984). He also wrote The Frugal Gourmet Cooks With Wine (1986) and The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American (1987). Other books explored different cultures, like The Frugal Gourmet Cooks Three Ancient Cuisines (1989). He even wrote a book for families, The Frugal Gourmet Whole Family Cookbook (1992).
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Many people admired Jeff Smith. Kathy Casey, a food writer for The Seattle Times, was a long-time friend. She said he was very knowledgeable about food and different cultures. She also mentioned that he was generous. He often donated money and time to help others. He even helped new people get started in the food industry.
Later Life
Jeff Smith passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 7, 2004. He was 65 years old and died from heart disease. He was survived by his wife, Patricia "Patty" Smith, and his sons, Channing and Jason. He also had daughters-in-law, Yuki and Lisa.
