James Barber (23 March 1923 – 29 November 2007) was an English-born Canadian cookbook author and host of ''

The Urban Peasant ''The Urban Peasant'' was a Canadian cooking show starring James Barber. The show was broadcast on CBC Television and was filmed at the CBC Regional Broadcast Centre at CBUT in Vancouver, British Columbia. The show also aired in the United Sta ...

'', a CBC

cooking show A cooking show, cookery show, or cooking program (also spelled cooking programme in British English) is a television genre that presents food preparation, often in a restaurant kitchen or on a studio set, or at the host's personal home. Typ ...

. Barber worked as an engineer before becoming a food critic for ''

The Province ''The Province'' is a daily newspaper published in tabloid format in British Columbia by Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network, alongside the '' Vancouver Sun'' broadsheet newspaper. Together, they are British Columbia's on ...

''. He immigrated to Canada in 1952. His lifelong interest in food and writing and his increased knowledge in these areas naturally led him to become a cookbook author. Following his retirement, he spent his remaining years on his farm in

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

Cowichan Valley The Cowichan Valley is a region around the Cowichan River, Cowichan Bay and Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. There is some debate as to the origin of the name Cowichan, which many believe to be an anglicized form ...

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...

. An energetic and passionate man with a large personality, Barber strove to empower others to do things for themselves. Barber was married twice and fathered five children; 3 sons and 2 daughters. Perhaps fittingly, Barber died peacefully on 29 November 2007, at his farm of natural causes while sitting at the dining room table reading a cookbook with a pot of chicken soup simmering on the stove. He was 84 years old and is survived by his wife and five children.

TV appearances

*''The Fry Pan Man'', host *''

The Dini Petty Show ''The Dini Petty Show'' was a Canadian daytime television talk show, which aired on stations affiliated with the Baton Broadcasting System from 1989 to 1999. It originated from the BBS flagship station, Toronto's CFTO-TV. Hosted by Dini Petty, ...

'', frequent appearances *''

'', host

Newspapers and magazines

*''

National Post The ''National Post'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet newspaper available in several cities in central and western Canada. The paper is the flagship publication of Postmedia Network and is published Mondays through Saturdays, with ...

'', occasionally *''Pacific Yachting'' *''

Vancouver Magazine ''Vancouver Magazine'' is an English-language lifestyle magazine focused on Vancouver, British Columbia and the Lower Mainland. ''Vancouver Magazine'' describes its mission as informing, guiding and entertaining residents of a "dynamic, internat ...

'' *''

The Vancouver Sun The ''Vancouver Sun'', also known as the ''Sun'', is a daily broadsheet newspaper based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The newspaper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. Published si ...

Books

*''Ginger Tea Makes Friends (Illustrated)'' (1971 McClelland and Stewart ) *''Fear of Frying'' (1978 Douglas & McIntyre ) *''Ginger Tea Makes Friends'' (1982 Madrona Publishing ) *''Flash in the Pan'' (1982 Douglas & McIntyre Ltd ) *''James Barber Mushrooms Are Marvellous'' (1984 Douglas & McIntyre Ltd.; First edition ) *''James Barber's Personal Guide to the Best Eating in Vancouver'' (1985 North Country Book Express ) *''James Barber's Immodest but Honest Good Eating Cookbook'' (1986 Solstice Press ) *''Urban Peasant'' (1991 Raincoast Book Dist Ltd ) *''Urban Peasant Quick & Simple Cookbook'' (1993 Urban Peasant Productions ) *''The Urban Peasant: Recipes from the Popular Television Cooking Series'' (1994 Hasting House Publishing ) *''Peasant's Choice'' (1994 Urban Peasant Productions ) *''Peasant's Choice: More of the Best from the Urban Peasant Recipes from the Popular Television Cooking Series'' (1995 Hasting House Publishing ) *''Peasant's Alphabet: More of the best from the Urban Peasant'' (1997 Urban Peasant Productions ) *''Cooking for Two: The Urban Peasant'' (1999 Macmillan Press ) *''Ginger Tea Makes Friends'' (2000 Raincoast Book Dist Ltd ) *''Flash in the Pan'' (2000 Raincoast Book Dist Ltd ) *''Fear of Frying'' (2000 Raincoast Book Dist Ltd ) *''Chef's Salad: Greens, Vegetables, Pasta, Bean, Seafood, Potato'' (2003 ) James Barber (foreword) *''One-Pot Wonders: James Barber Recipes for Land and Sea'' (2006 Harbor )

References

External links

*
Official Twitter PageOfficial Facebook Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barber, James 1923 births 2007 deaths Canadian television chefs British emigrants to Canada Writers from Vancouver Canadian food writers Canadian male non-fiction writers Canadian cookbook writers People from Dover, Kent British cookbook writers