Before Guy Fieri had frosted tips. Before Gordon Ramsay threw his first Beef Wellington. There was Chef Tell.
Today we raise our whisks to Friedman Paul Erhardt, better known as Chef Tell. Born on this day in 1943, Tell—nicknamed as such due to playing William Tell in a school production—made his television debut on the Philadelphia-based game show “Dialing for Dollars” (I know my Philly peeps remember that one). Working as chef at the Marriott Hotel on City Line Avenue at the time, Tell parlayed the appearance into a cooking segment on the syndicated “PM Magazine” and “In the Kitchen with Chef Tell” on PBS, among others.
Famous for his thick accent, catchphrases and “very quick” recipes, Tell is rumored to be the inspiration for the Swedish Chef of Muppet fame, though the creators deny it. Erhardt passed away on October 26, 2007, days short of his 64th birthday.
Happy birthday, Chef Tell! Your legacy lives on in every flamboyant flourish, celebrity chef, and dramatic garnish.
Check out Chef Tell at work in this video. — Dan Taylor
Dan Taylor is the editor/publisher of The Hungover Gourmet. He grew up watching Chef Tell on local and syndicated shows, and frequently drove by his restaurant in Upper Black Eddy, PA.
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