Coping with Christmas

Fanny Cradock was a British restaurant critic, television chef and writer, who has attained the status of culinary icon for her trademark style and unforgettable quips (‘This won’t break you!’). She came to public prominence in the postwar years, aiming to inspire housewives to find joy and ease in cooking. During a career that spanned over three decades, she appeared in 24 television series and was the author of over 20 books, which sold in enormous numbers. She took pride in elevating British cuisine to Escoffier standards, and famously gave every dish a French name. She frequently appeared alongside her husband, Johnnie. Though she died in 1994, her witticisms and wisdom live on.