Betty MacDonald, Olympics and a famous kitchen

 



Betty MacDonald's sister Alison Bard Burnett



Betty MacDonald's mother Sydney with grandchild Alison Beck

Betty and Don MacDonald in Hollywood



Betty MacDonald fan club fans, 

what about some excellent cinnamon rolls from the Burbanks' kitchen?

You don't know what I'm talking about?

No problem you can find the delightful story and recipe below. 

The recipe is outstanding and our family and friends are crazy about them. 

We are going to publish new Betty MacDonald essays on Betty MacDonald's gardens and nature in Washington State.

Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter August will be very interesting because we'll share new outstanding Betty MacDonald fan club research results.
   
You shouldn't miss our International Betty MacDonald fan club events  because you can make the most wonderful friends there.
 
Last day of Olmypics in Rio.

We had a great time  and lots of fun in Rio.

Betty MacDonald fan club Olmypics 2016 event is very successful because many new Betty MacDonald  fans joined us.

The fans from Sweden are a bit sad but we agree with Linde:

Linde Lund shared FOX Soccer's photo.

Congratulations Germany! The better team is the winner.

www.bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/

FOX Soccer

Germany win their first Olympic gold in women’s soccer, defeating Sweden 2-1 in the Rio 2016 final.

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We can't wait to see Lisa's new projects.

If you have any info regarding Betty MacDonald's favourite recipes, let us know, please.

There are several letters by Betty MacDonald and her sister Mary Bard Jensen mentioning their favourite recipes. 

Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard Jensen wanted to publish a cookbook.

Do you know the title?

If so send a mail please and maybe you'll be the winner of several new Betty MacDonald fan club items.

Lisa and Betty MacDonald fan club cooking research team are working on a new item 'Betty MacDonald and her favourite recipes'.
 
They will be able to  use several letters in Betty MacDonald fan club letter collection.

Betty MacDonald fans asked their favourite writer many questions regarding her cooking and recipes.

There had been many excellent cooks in the Bard family, for example Betty MacDonald's mother Sydney Bard. 

Betty MacDonald's husband Donald Chauncey MacDonald tried to be a good cook too.

Can you remember his favourite recipe?

If so send us mail and you can win the new Betty MacDonald fan club item 'Betty MacDonald and her favourite recipes'.

               Deadline: August 31, 2016
 
Good luck!

Join our current Betty MacDonald fan club contest, please. 

If you know the persons in our photo send us a mail. 

Deadline: August 31, 2016

You can win very interesting Betty MacDonald fan club items. 

Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter August  includes the updated Betty MacDonald fan club essays ' Betty MacDonald in Hollywood' and  ' Betty MacDonald and Dorita Hess '. 

There is also an article about Betty MacDonald fan club letter collection.


We got very important info regarding the original 'The Egg and I' and the way Betty MacDonald described her first husband Robert Eugene Heskett and their neighbours.

We are still working on Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter August with many new research results regarding this subject and many other very interesting stories. 

Many greetings from International Betty MacDonald fan club Olympics 2016 meeting in Rio.

Betty MacDonald fan club fans from 5 continents have a great time there.

More info are coming soon.

Many Betty MacDonald fan club fans from all over the world are so delighted that their beloved Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli is back. 

They enjoy the new very funny and exciting Mr. Tigerli adventure very much.


Thanks a million dearest Letizia Mancino, Mary Holmes and Mr. Tigerli for sharing the new golden Mr. Tigerli treasure! 

We adore you so much!

Betty MacDonald fan club fans who are devoted Mr. Tigerli fans won't have any difficulties to answer the new Betty MacDonald fan club contest question.

If you can answer this question you might be our winner of new Betty MacDonald fan club Mr. Tigerli contest.

Maybe Mr. Tigerli is going to take part at the next ESC and is singing a duet with a very beautiful lady. 

Who is the very beautiful lady?

Deadline: August 31, 2016



That's my favourite quote by Betty MacDonald. 



We got so many mails.

Thank you so much for sending your favourite Betty MacDonald quote.

We look forward to read your No 1 and there are so many wonderful ones by beloved Betty MacDonald. 


Many greetings to our Betty MacDonald fan club fans at Betty MacDonald fan club Olympics 2016 event in Rio.

They are going to share their experiences in Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter August.



We are working on a new Betty MacDonald biography and documentary with many brilliant colour photos.

If you'd like to share your colour photos of Betty MacDonald and her family we can offer you several new Betty MacDonald fan club items as a special Betty MacDonald fan club gift.

Thank you so much in advance for your support.


Thank you so much for sending us the most wonderful quotes by Betty MacDonald. 

There are many more great ones which are not mentioned in the list.

We are delighted.

Send us your favourite Betty MacDonald quote, please.

You can find some of Betty MacDonald's most popular quotes below.

In case you can't find your favourite Betty MacDonald quote in it, send us yours, please.

Deadline:  August 31, 2016

Don't miss it, please. 

You can win several new Betty MacDonald fan club items.  

Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund posted on Facebook about a possible Betty MacDonald fan club meeting on Betty MacDonald's magical Vashon Island.

( see info at the end of this posting )

August will be a very exciting month for many Betty MacDonald fan club fans from all over the world.



We are going to present Betty MacDonald fan club book cover winner. 

Betty MacDonald fan club letter research team got some very interesting letters and documents some days ago.



If you'd like to share some of your letters by Betty MacDonald, Mary Bard Jensen and other family members join our Betty MacDonald fan club letter research team, please. 


Betty MacDonald fan club letter research team got some very important letters by Betty MacDonald, Mary Bard Jensen and other family members.

Betty MacDonald, her sister Mary Bard Jensen and the other family members wrote very witty and interesting letters.

We are going to present some of best ones at Betty MacDonald fan club Olympics 2016 event entitled ' The pen and I '. 

We got several new outstanding letters from Betty MacDonald fan club fans whose relatives had been in contact with Betty MacDonald and other family members.  

Thank you so much for your outstanding support.



Betty MacDonald fan club event team is very happy to hear from you and they got some really great ideas for the next International event. 

Thanks a lot!

It would be great to meet Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli in Rio.

Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli  and our 'Italian Betty MacDonald' - Betty MacDonald fan club honor member author and artist Letizia Mancino belong to the most popular Betty MacDonald fan club teams in our history.

Letizia Mancino's  magical Betty MacDonald Gallery  is a special gift for our Betty MacDonald fan club fans.  

Greta is going to share new info on her latest Betty MacDonald fan club project ' Betty MacDonald on Vashon Island '. 

We are looking for signed or dedicated first editions in great condition with dust jackets by Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard Jensen for our fans.

Betty MacDonald Memorial Award Winner Wolfgang Hampel  and Betty MacDonald fan club research team are working on an updated Betty MacDonald biography and new Betty MacDonald documentary.

Dearest new Betty MacDonald fan club fans you'll receive a very important message by Betty MacDonald fan club event team.

This message includes a very nice Betty MacDonald fan club surprise and many info on our current Betty MacDonald fan club projects.

Join one of our Betty MacDonald fan club research teams, please. 

Thanks a million in advance for your outstanding support.

Enjoy a new breakfast at the bookstore with Brad and Nick, please.

Wolfgang Hampel and his famous guests had lots of fun and joy at Vita Magica July 2016.

Betty MacDonald fan club honor member Thomas Bödigheimer did a great job.

His voice and music are outstanding! 

Thank you so much dearest Thomas! 

Don't miss fascinating Vita Magica program August - December 2016, please. 

Vita Magica was celebrating its 1st anniversary.   

Jamie-Lee with Ghost got over 8 million views and more than 68.000 people like the song.

This is our Betty MacDonald fan club ESC 2016 TOP 5 according to Betty MacDonald fan club ESC fans in 40 countries. 

Betty MacDonald's very beautiful Vashon Island would be an ideal place for an International Betty MacDonald fan club event.

Enjoy a sunny Sunday,

Mats

cinnamon rolls from the burbanks' kitchen

Darsie obediently got up, took the sugar bowl and went out to the kitchen. After a long long time he came back to the breakfast table with a plate of cinnamon rolls.

"What are these for?" his father said. "And where is the sugar?"

"Sugar?" said Darsie. "What about sugar?"

"I told you to fill the sugar bowl," said Mrs. Burbank.

"Oh," said Darsie, "I thought you said, 'Get the cinnamon roll.'"

from Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic by Betty MacDonald

The Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series is full to the brim with references to classic American foods like sugar cookies, root beer floats, and peanut butter sandwiches. I read all of the books (multiple times) as I was growing up, and true to my foodie tendencies, I was often distracted by the foods described at the characters' mealtimes, parties, or garden club meetings.

Written in the 1940's and 1950's, it's no surprise that these classics pop up through all the books. This was a time of economic abundance and the growing popularity of pre-packaged foods. The most vogue recipes were the ones that included brand names. So it was a time when a lot of American classics were born.

And it doesn't get much more classic (or delicious) than cinnamon rolls.

My rolls are stuffed with plenty of cinnamon and pecans, so they are reminiscent of pecan spinwheels. Made completely with whole wheat flour, I was afraid these would be a bit too heavy or chewy. But while they're not as cake-y as their white flour counterparts, the texture is actually really lovely, like a soft bread.

Um, also? Vegan.

I couldn't bring myself to make them without real icing and a candied center though, so you'll find that these call for brown and powdered sugar. But compared to a typical recipe, they require only about half of what's usually used. And if you'd like to make it even healthier, you could substitute palm sugar for the brown sugar, and try this date syrup as icing.

I'm pretty sold on this version though. Even J, who is notorious for his rejection of sweet snacks, couldn't keep his paws off of these.

Cinnamon Pecan Rolls

Ingredients:

For the dough...
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 packet active yeast
2 tbsp, + 1 tsp brown sugar
3 cups white whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
6 tbsp unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature

For the filling...
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp, + 2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp oil
1/2 cup pecans

For the icing...
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
small amount of almond milk

1. Heat the milk in the microwave until 100-110 degrees (about 1 min). Sprinkle 1 tsp of the brown sugar and the yeast over the milk. Stir, then set aside to proof for 5-10 minutes.

2. In the meantime, combine the 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Form a well in the mixture, then pour in the yeast and applesauce. Stir until holding together, then add the rest of the flour a couple of tablespoons at a time. When stirring is no longer possible, begin kneading the dough, adding more flour until you have a ball without stickiness. I needed the full 3 cups of flour...you might even need a bit more.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about a 12" by 18" rectangle, about 1/4" thick. Combine the four filling ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well blended. Spread evenly over the dough, leaving about 1" empty on a long edge. From the opposite edge, roll the dough up, then pinch to seal. You will have a long tube of dough.

4. Cut the ends off, then cut the dough into 12 pieces. Grease a baking dish and carefully place the pieces in it, with the cinnamon spirals facing up. Cover with a warm dishtowel and place in a warm place to rise, about 45-60 minutes.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes. Allow rolls to cool for at least 10 minutes before icing.

6. To the powdered sugar, add a very small amount of almond milk (less than 1 tsp). Stir until well combined, and add more milk as needed, until desired consistency. Stir in the vanilla, then drizzle over the cinnamon rolls.

15 comments:

1. 
   tonykullaFriday, July 20, 2012

   These from scratch cinnamon rolls look tasty. How much better are these than the Pillsbury tube cinnamon rolls that account for 99% of my "baking?"
   
   Oh, and as much as I like breakfast, "Fantasy Friday" is a bit of a stretch for cinnamon buns. :)

   Reply
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   ClairMonday, July 23, 2012
   =) Yes, agreed. But how else would I get Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle into the mix?!
   Reply
2. 
   roothFriday, July 20, 2012

   Ooey gooey, looks awesome. Thanks for reminding me of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. I loved her and her upside down house as a child

   Reply
3. 
   nancy @ adore to adornFriday, July 20, 2012

   how good are these looking to me right now!? I can almost smell them.....!!
   xo,
   nancy

   Reply
4. 
   tessFriday, July 20, 2012

   first of all, these will be the first thing i bake in our new oven.
   second of all, it has been forever since i've seen your space (i always get/read your email updates) and i LOVE your new design!
   third of all, your photography is awesome.
   fourth of all, i am so proud of you.
   fifth of all, i love you.
   
   xox. t.

   Reply
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   ClairMonday, July 23, 2012
   Love YOU!
   Reply
5. 
   Cullen, Oliver and Topher tooSaturday, July 21, 2012

   CLAIR!!! MISS PIGGLE WIGGLE BOOKS WERE MY FAVORITE!!! Oh it makes me SO HAPPY that someone else knows about them. NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THEM! My Mom read them to me growing up and now she has become a bit of a "Miss Piggle Wiggle" herself. (She's a retired elementary school teacher turned nanny). Such a treat. Thanks!

   Reply
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   ClairMonday, July 23, 2012
   =))) Your happy makes me so happy! I'm definitely on the same page as you. I have all of them on my bookshelf to this day, and I read them so.many.times.
   Reply
6. 
   StephanieSunday, July 22, 2012

   YOWSERS! Those look incredible!! As always, I love your healthier take on things. Another great recipe, thanks Clair! Great work.

   Reply
7. 
   AbbieBabbleSunday, July 22, 2012

   MISS PIGGLE WIGGLE! I always got distracted by the descriptions of food in those books, too- it all sounded so good!
   
   Now I'm definitely going to have to make these cinnamon rolls.

   Reply
8. 
   MelanieMonday, July 23, 2012

   DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOL. Holy guacamole that picture of the inside goo! Heavenly heavenly HEAVEN. I'm going to file this one away under "healthified versions of my MOST FAVORITE THINGS".

   Reply
9. 
   Sarah MorganMonday, July 23, 2012

   Um, those look seriously amazing. Your recipes always make me so hungry, especially when they look so gooey and delicious! :)

   Reply
10. 
    MackenzieThursday, July 26, 2012

    clair, can we PLEASE! have baking parties next year? i got a children's book cookbook (with recipes from all kinds of british children's books!) and i'd love for you to teach me your ways. :)

    Reply
11. 
    ella@lifeologiaThursday, July 26, 2012

    Umm... You know cinnamon rolls have been calling my name the last few weeks.... and since I haven't had one in almost 3 years - I think I should just have a cinnamon roll - and it it too! ;)
    These look super yummy ;) xoxo

    Reply
12. 
    Betty MacDonald Fan Club Friday, October 12, 2012

    Oh I like it so much...........
    
    Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful recipes.
    
    There are so many Betty MacDonald and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle fan club fans all over the world.
    
    Did you know that Mrs. Burbank in Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's magic is Betty MacDonald's very witty sister Alison Bard Burnett?
    
    Alison Bard Burnett's son Darsie is a Betty MacDonald fan club honor member.
    
    Thank you so much.
    
    
    Linde Lund

    ReplyDelete

Betty MacDonald Quotes

       

• 
  There’s nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Book, Cozy, Pieces

  save quote report
• The coffee was so strong it snarled as it lurched out of the pot.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Strong, Coffee, Pot

  save quote report
• I am neither Christian enough nor charitable enough to like anybody just because he is alive and breathing. I want people to interest or amuse me. I want them fascinating and witty or so dul as to be different. I want them either intellectually stimulating or wonderfully corny; perfectly charming or hundred percent stinker. I like my chosen companions to be distinguishable from the undulating masses and I don't care how.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Christian, Witty, Breathing

  save quote report
• Her magic formula for dealing with children is ignoring all faults and accenting tiny virtues. She says, "Instead of telling Tommy day in and day out that he is the naughtiest boy in the United States of America, which could very well be true, take an aspirin and comment on his neatly tied shoes. Almost anybody would rather be known for expert shoe-tying than for kicking the cat." She always tells whiners how charming they are--bullies how brave--bad sports how good--sneaks how honest!
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Sports, Children, Cat

  save quote report
• In the country Sunday is the day on which you do exactly as much work as you do on other days but feel guilty all the time you are doing it because Sunday is a day of rest.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Country, Sunday, Guilty

  save quote report
• I'll do it because I want to but not because you tell me to!
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Want

  save quote report
• In the country, weather is as important as food and sometimes means the difference between life and death.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Country, Mean, Weather

  save quote report
• Our little room was morbidly quiet and sorrow was heaped in my corner like dirty snow.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Dirty, Snow, Sorrow

  save quote report
• a grudge will soon rot the pocket you carry it in.
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Bitterness, Pockets, Resentment

  save quote report
• Gammy used to say, 'Too much scrubbing takes the life right out of things.'
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Too Much, Used

  save quote report
• Dare we face the question of just how much of the darkness around us is of our own making?
  

  Betty MacDonald

  Darkness, Faces, Trouble

  save quote report

 

Don't miss this very special book, please.

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Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) - The Egg and I 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - Memim ( English )

Vashon Island - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - Monica Sone - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( French ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - Wikipedia ( English)

Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

Betty MacDonald fan club items 

Betty MacDonald fan club items  - comments

Betty MacDonald fan club - The Stove and I  

Betty MacDonald fan club groups 

Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund    

 

Rita Knobel Ulrich - Islam in Germany - a very interesting ZDF  ( 2nd German Television ) documentary with English subtitles 

Linde Lund shared Pictures of Heidelberg's photo.

22 hrs ·

Dear Aashish Bernd Rudi Friedrich Pascale Heiderose Nunzia Pieter Michail Waseem Ursula Thomas Tatjana Theresia Franziska Nicole Ernst Wolf, Michael Sabine Winfried Schwab Immo Sascha Karl Angela Ulrich Wellhöfer Perkeo Thomas Barth Kirsten Birthe Andre Horst Dawid Dr. Karl A. Lamers Europäischer Hof Heidelberg and all our other friends don't miss Vita Magica on Tuesday 28 th, 2016 please. The subject is magical Heidelberg with Rudi Lerche and other surprising guests. http://wolfvitamagica.blogspot.de/…/vita-magica-juni-2016-m…

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Dawid Brueckner It´s a beautiful reconstruction. Thank you Linde .

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Bernd Kunze we will be there, one year vita magica, congratulations Wolfgang Hampel and Rita Kocher.

Linde Lund Dearst Rita Kocher und Wolfgang Hampel Congratulations!!!! Happy Birthday Vita Magica and all the best for the future! All our love and best wishes from Linde, Astrid and Lund family

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Thomas Bödigheimer i am there Linde

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Rita Knobel Ulrich - Islam in Germany - a very interesting ZDF  ( 2nd German Television ) documentary with English subtitles.  

 



 

Mr. Tigerli in China

Copyright 2016 by Letizia Mancino
translation by Mary Holmes
All rights reserved  

Yes Betty, either or it seems he wanted to fly only with Singapore Airways.

Boeing or Airbus, it’s just the same isn’t it? Aren’t they both just fat birds with 500 passengers?

Yes, but Singapore Airlines has the most beautiful airhostesses: delicate, fine, graceful…  Mr. Tigerli had looked forward to the flight so much!

So the little man was disappointed?

You just can’t imagine how disappointed he was.

 But thank God one of the hostesses was a pretty Chinese girl. Mr. Tigerli purred loudly but she didn’t hear him because the purring of the Airbus 380 was even louder.

The poor cat!

You’ve said it Betty. Mr. Tigerli was in a very bad mood and asked me for a loud speaker.

I’m sure you can get one in 1^st Class.

“”Russian Girl” had even heard you over the roar of the Niagara Falls” I said to Mr. Tigerli. “You are a very unfaithful cat. You wanted to get to know Asiatic girls. That’s how it is when one leaves one’s first love”.

And what did he say to that?

“Men are hunters” was his answer.

Yes, my dear cat, a mouse hunter. And what else did he say?

Not another word. He behaved as if he hadn’t heard me.

The Airbus is very loud.

I told him shortly “Don’t trouble yourself about “Chinese Girl”. There will be enough even prettier girls in China. Wait till we land in Guilin”.

Did he understand you?

Naturally Mr. Tigerli understood me immediately. Yes, sweetheart, don’t worry. They will find you something sweet to eat.

And he?

He was so happy.

No problem going through the immigration control?

Naturally!  Lots of problems. How could I explain to customs that the cat had come as a tourist to China to buy shoes?

Fur in exchange for shoes…

Don’t be so cynical Betty!

Cat meat in exchange for shoes?

I said to the officials. He isn’t a cat, he is Casanova.

“Erotica Felina”

He came through the pass control with no trouble!

Is this Mr. Tigerli?

     
          

Linde Lund

August 1 at 12:57 pm

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Betty MacDonald's Vashon Island is a paradise.

info to: Sandra Lorinda Traci Petr Dana Jana Michaela Rebekah Swiss Charrd Tru John Darsie Darsie Toby Jeanine Carol Justin Lila Daniel Mo Nika Steve Neal Jitka Jitka Tami Pete Laurie Maia Nancy Kelly Pam Mary Jan and all our other friends

www.bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/

Finding Island Time: Vashon from Seattle

Take an illustrated day trip through Washington state’s largest city with artist Candace Rose Rardon.

gadventures.com

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Linda White yes,if my health allows.I have a few problems but is something I have always wanted to do,especially as I reread her books.

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Linde Lund Dear Linda I'll keep you posted.

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Bella Dillon · Friends with Darsie Beck

I still read Mrs Piggle Wiggle books to this day. I love her farm on vashon.

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Linda White replied · 1 Reply

Lila Taylor Good morning...Linde Lund

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Dana Kennedy, a former correspondent for ABC News, Fox News and MSNBC, who also writes for the The New York Times, the Financial Times, the International Herald Tribune, Time magazine and People, among others, is based in Europe.

02.01.16 4:10 PM ET

Why Did the World’s Greatest Chef Just Kill Himself?

By all appearances, Benoît Violier, at 44, was on top of his profession and on top of the world. And then he pulled the trigger.

NICE, France — Why kill yourself with a shotgun one month after you’re voted the best chef in the world?

That’s the mystery that’s taken hold around the famed Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville in the picturesque Swiss village of Cressier, where 44-year-old chef Benoît Violier apparently committed suicide at home on Sunday.

He loved hunting and published just last year a book on cooking “feathered game.” (The prestigious daily Le Monde waxed ecstatic over his snow partridge in a wine reduction with tiny Roscoff onions.) The gun that he appears to have used to kill himself reportedly was one of those he used for game. 

Swiss police have opened an investigation into the case.

Violier’s restaurant was named the best out of 1,000 restaurants in 48 countries in December by France’s La Liste. Such was the prestige surrounding the award, it was presented at the French foreign ministry.

The chef was in the prime of his life. Handsome, charismatic, said to be calmer in temperament than most world-class cooks, he was married to a beautiful woman, Brigitte, who left her job in cosmetics to work at his side at their highly sought after, three-star restaurant near Lausanne that was normally booked up four months in advance. The couple had a 12-year-old son and an equally photogenic dog, Mac Queen.

So why did the French-born Violier, who achieved what most would consider the pinnacle of professional and personal success in this world, apparently take a gun and shoot himself on Sunday, blowing to bits a self-made universe that was the envy of all who knew him?

So far, no one has any idea. ”Late in the afternoon, police went to Cressier where they discovered at his home the body of Mr. Benoît Violier,” Swiss police said in a cryptic statement.

Violier, who obtained Swiss citizenship two years ago, had been expected in Paris on Monday for the unveiling of the latest Michelin guide where, as expected, his restaurant retained its three stars, or, as the French call them, its three macarons.
Even when he talked about his childhood, Violier gave no hint of unhappiness. In an interview with the Swiss website Illustre in September 2015, Violiet described his idyllic upbringing near the seaside city of La Rochelle in France, and how his mother encouraged her kids to stay away from the TV and enjoy nature. Violiet didn't even take his first train ride until he was 17.
“To this day, when I have free time, I walk in the forest with my springer spaniel Mac Queen,” Violier said.
“Sometimes I would tell my mother that Sharon Stone or the king of Spain would come to my restaurant. She didn’t exactly understand who they were but she was very proud.”

“I go to sleep with cooking, I wake up to cooking,” Violier said during an interview with the Swiss TV network RTS in December 2014. But he also said that customers were surprised at how calm his kitchen was and he attributed part of that to modern chefs not using or drinking as much alcohol as they had in the past.

The only hints that all was not well in Violier’s seemingly perfect world were the mentions he made more than once last year about losing his biological father as well as his mentor, Philippe Rochat, who was the second of only three chefs at l’Hôtel de Ville de Crissier. Violier had taken over running the restaurant from Rochat in 2012.

Rochat died after reportedly “fainting” while riding a bicycle on July 8, 2015. Violier said he had, in effect, lost “two fathers” in 2015. (In an odd twist, Rochat’s wife, Franziska Rochat-Moser, a world-class runner who won the New York City marathon in 1997, had died at the age of 35 during an avalanche in the Swiss Alps while skiing in 2002.)

On Monday, Twitter was awash in heartbroken tweets by some of the world’s most famous chefs. Paul Bocuse, Pierre Gagnaire, Jean Francois Piege were just a few who remembered Violier’s talent and charm. “A great chef, a great man, a gigantic talent,” Bocuse tweeted. Three-star chef Marc Veyrat tweeted that he was “destroyed” by the news of Violier’s death, saying the “planet has been orphaned by this exceptional chef.”

But some of the most poignant sentiments came from recent customers, so thrilled to have just met their hero and flabbergasted to hear of his sudden, inexplicable death.

“We were just there for a birthday lunch on Friday,” Ursula Kappeler, owner of the Swiss-based Sense of Delight epicurean service, told The Daily Beast on Monday, “We met him and his wife. They were both such a lovely couple. You could not see a thing wrong. They seemed on top of the world. Maybe there was pressure on him but he was just named the best chef. He seemed in very good shape physically. We are still so in shock.”

Littli Kewkacha of the Japanese dessert cafe Kyo Roll En in Bangkok was one of many chefs and foodies who traversed the globe for a dinner at the Restaurant de l’Hôtel de Ville Cressier and said the memory of his visit still thrills him.

“Benoît really took time and effort to invite me into his kitchen because he knew I came all the way from Bangkok and was a keen foodie,” Kewkacha told The Daily Beast. “He spent almost an hour explaining the history, the philosophy of his cooking, even with his limited English. I remember the day I went, his young sous-chef just won a cooking award and he was genuinely happy and celebrating the success of his team. The mood inside the grand kitchen was jovial and warm. He really struck me as a family man, who loved, and was loved by, everyone around him.”

World's best chef who committed suicide was 'the victim of a £1million wine scam' 

• Benoit Violier, 44, ran the Michelin-starred Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville
• Found dead in his home last week and laid to rest in France on Saturday
• It is claimed his restaurant suffered losses up to £1.37m due to the scam
• Company allegedly sold wine costing up to £27k then failed to deliver it

By Alexandra Williams for MailOnline

Published: 16:22 GMT, 7 February 2016 | Updated: 22:55 GMT, 7 February 2016 

 

The 'world's best chef', who was found dead in his home last week, was the victim of a huge wine scam that put him in considerable financial trouble, according to reports.

Benoit Violier, 44, whose Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville was awarded three Michelin stars, committed suicide last Sunday, leaving no note.

But it is now claimed he was in significant financial trouble, despite the apparent success of his restaurant in Crissier, near Lausanne in Switzerland.

According to reports, the renowned chef fell victim to a scheme where rare wines priced from £14,000 up to £27,500 were sold to restaurants - but never delivered. 

Benoit Violier, 44, whose Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville was awarded three Michelin stars, committed suicide last Sunday. The chef is pictured here posing with his trophy for the best restaurant of the World in December 2015

Benoit Violier and his wife Brigitte, who found her husband's body at their home following a call from a concerned friend. It has been claimed he fell victim to a scam allegedly masterminded by Swiss wine comany Private Finance Partners

Swiss financial magazine Bilan claims he was the victim of a vast scam allegedly masterminded by Private Finance Partners, a Swiss wine company based in Sion.

In 2015, the company trading in rare wines sold expensive bottles that fetched thousands of pounds to a number of restaurants, including Violier's, but allegedly failed to deliver them. 

The same bottles, priced between £14,000 and £27,500, were allegedly sold three or four times to various unsuspecting buyers.

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According to Bilan, Violier's restaurant suffered losses due to the scam of between £554,700 and £1.37 million. 

Private Finance Partners was declared bankrupt on November 30 last year. 

The magazine claimed that one of the brokers, who remained anonymous in the article, was taken into custody in October.

It said: 'The last months of the famous chef were quite troubled.' 

It has been reported the talented chef was the victim of a huge wine scam that put him in considerable financial trouble

Violier (pictured with his wife Brigitte) had been due to fly to Paris for a Michelin Guide awards ceremony, however concerns were raised when his friend arrived to collect him and there was no answer

Violier was laid to rest on Saturday in France. A service was also held on Friday in Lausanne, Switzerland, where 1500 people attended.

He was buried in Montils, a town in the region of Charente-Maritime in France, where he was born and where his mother and one of his six siblings still live.

Violier's death came just weeks after his Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville was crowned the best of 1,000 top eateries across 48 countries ranked by France's La Liste.

The ranking was seen as the French foreign ministry's answer to the Britain-based World's 50 Best Restaurants. Some saw it as launched out of pique after not a single French eatery reached the top ten of the UK-based table.

Violier said at the time: 'It's wonderful, it's exceptional for us. This ranking will only motivate our team more.'

The renowned chef was laid to rest on Saturday in France and some 1500 peope attended a service held on Friday in Lausanne, Switzerland (pictured)

Known as a keen hunter, the Gallic chef was famed for his game dishes, including ibex or chamois.

Opened nearly 40 years ago, the restaurant offers menus starting at £134.

Louis Villeneuve, his maître d'hôtel, who has been in his post for four decades, was one of the last people to see Violier.

It was 11pm on Saturday night when the restaurant was closing for the usual two-day period of Sunday and Monday.

His final words to Villeneuve, as he said goodbye, were: 'See you Tuesday.'

On Sunday, Violier's wife and son Romain, 12, left the apartment at noon for lunch with friends.

Violier was due to fly to Paris later in the day for a Michelin Guide awards ceremony.

When his friend arrived to collect him there was no answer at the door or on his phone.

He called Brigitte who immediately made her way home. The pair then made the grim discovery.

Some 1500 mourners gathered to pay tribute to Violier during his funeral ceremony at the Cathedral of Lausanne in western Switzerland on February 5

The married father-of-one was found dead with a hunting rifle by his side at his home on Sunday. He leaves his wife Brigitte and their 12-year-old son Romain

Tributes and floral wreaths filled the cathedral. Switzerland's best-known chefs, including Frédy Girardet, whose family started the Hôtel de Ville, and Anton Mosimann, were in attendance at the cathedral

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3436086/World-s-best-chef-committed-suicide-victim-1million-wine-scam.html#ixzz4HmND9Z00
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