Marian & Russell Morash
2020
K. Dun Gifford “Local Hero” Award
Once a year, at the annual Readable Feast culinary book festival, Oldways is pleased to sponsor the K. Dun Gifford Award. This Award, named for Oldways’ founder K. Dun Gifford, is given to a New Englander who through some medium of food (author, writer, educator, chef, grower, producer, activist, nutritionist) has positively affected our local foodways.”
This year’s recipients have made a big impact on our local, national and international foodways. Russ and Marian Morash are pioneers in so many ways – through television, gardening, restaurants and cookbooks. You’d have to have been living on the moon not to have felt the impact of their work.
Russ was the creator of the Julia Child’s cooking show, The French Chef. He also created other ground-breaking show: This Old House, The New Yankee Workshop, and The Victory Garden. Marian became The Victory Garden chef and authored a number of classic cookbooks, notably, The Victory Garden Cookbook. Marian was also the original chef at Nantucket’s Straight Wharf restaurant, leading a kitchen staff of all women, something that was unheard of in the 70s.
They are legends. Russ can be called the father of today’s reality and Do-It-Yourself TV. Marian introduced us to the simple pleasures of the garden and the sea, making cooking approachable and fun.
We celebrate them individually and together. Thank you, Russ and Marian from all of us. And, Dun loved every minute he spent with you.