Rediscovering Two Fat Ladies Cooking Fun

Two Fat Ladies

In the residential neighborhoods of London, it's common for residents to place books outside their homes, sometimes even entire boxes of them. This means someone has done a little spring cleaning and is offering passersby the chance to take what they like.

I always take a moment to check out what’s available, and the other day, I stumbled upon a diamond!

It was a 1996 cookbook, the same age as me, titled Two Fat Ladies. Not just any cookbook—it was tied to a cooking show on BBC.

The show features two amusing, plump British ladies riding around the island on a motorbike with a sidecar, preparing meals in various locations for large groups of people: at a hotel, an army base, a brewery, and a girls' school.

I watched a few episodes and read about it, and they had a really unique and unconventional positioning for their time. “We’re not chefs; we’re cooks!” they declared. “Forget fine dining; we adore cream (long live scones), lard, and fatty meat!”

The show is a treasure trove of traditional British humor. They flirt with young fishermen, giggle at Mexican food, and poke fun at vegetarians: “Blah blah blah, I just had bacon.” Here’s a bit of their dialogue:

• I love the black drippings!
• That's what your lungs look like, Jennifer.

Jennifer passed away from lung cancer in 1999.

Listening to them can sometimes be a challenge; it's hard to catch everything they say.

I made a montage of some clips, including their crazy opening sequence. If you’re curious, here’s the most popular episode on YouTube if you want to dive in.

I’ll be bringing this book to my older sister—she loves to cook! 🍳