Celebrity chef whose numerous cookbooks and television appearances gave rise to American-style gourmet cooking.
He became interested in cooking at an early age. In fact, he visited the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition as a toddler and, years later, remembered the event's featured shredded wheat biscuits.
He and his friend capitalized on the cocktail party trend by establishing their own catering company, Hors d'Oeuvre, Inc.
He was born in Portland, Oregon to a boarding house proprietor mother and a customs house clerk father.
He was an inspiration to such influential chefs as Julia Child.
