Herman van Ham

Herman van Ham
Herman van Ham
Born	16 April 1931; Nijehaske, The Netherlands
Died	2 August 2012 (aged 81); Wellerlooi, The Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Occupation	Chef
Employer	Hostellerie De Hamert
Known for	Michelin star
Successor	Bertus Liefting
Partner	Riek Schoester
Children	1 son, 3 daughters

Herman van Ham (16 April 1931 – 2 August 2012) was a Dutch head chef. He worked in the Michelin starred Hostellerie De Hamert, in Wellerlooi, the Netherlands, when it earned his stars in the period 1963-1989.

In 1952, Van Ham started working at De Hamert as an assistant. Soon after that he took over as head chef and stayed till his retirement in 1988.^[4]

Herman van Ham specialized in asparagus to such an extent that he had several nicknames related to this. He was named as De Ongekroonde Koning van de Asperge (Eng.:The uncrowned king of Asparagus),^[5] Asperge Paus (Eng.:Asparagus Pope)^[6] and Mister Asperge (Eng.: Mister Asparagus).^[7] One of his famous asparagus dishes was the "Cocktail Prins Alexander", a combination of chicken, asparagus and oranges, created in 1967 in celebration of the birth of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange.^[8]^[9]

After his retirement, Van Ham started collecting asparagus dishes. His collection went on display in Keramiekcentrum Tiendschuur Tegelen in 2012 under the name "Het keramische bedje voor de asperge." (Eng.: The ceramic bed for the asparagus.)^[10] Earlier, in 2008, his collection was on display in Aspergemuseum De Locht^[11]

Herman van Ham died on 2 August 2012, after an illness.^[12]

Awards

Michelin star 1963–1988^[13]
Prix d'Escoffier de l'Alliance Gastronomique Néerlandaise/Alliance-Escoffier Prijs: 1988^[14]
Chevalier de Confrérie de l'asperge de Limbourgondie^[15]
Eremedaille in goud Oranje Nassau^[16]
Chevalier de Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.^[17]

Books

Het aspergesboek : heerlijke gerechten met de koningin der groenten; Wiel Basten and Herman van Ham, M & P, 1989^[18]
Het aspergeboek; Herman van Ham and Wiel Basten, Van Dishoeck, 2005^[19]
Het aspergekookboek; Herman van Ham and Wiel Basten, Van Reemst, 1998^[20]

References

^ (in Dutch) Rouwkaart
^ "Herman van Ham overleden". Dagblad de Limburger (in Dutch). 4 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ Huygens, Stan (6 May 1989). "Een heerlijke spijs voor lekkerbekken". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ Leonards, Rik (6 August 2012). "Herman van Ham overleden". Misset Horeca (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ "Hollandse asperges produkt koude grond". Limburgsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 17 April 1991. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ Klompenhouwer, Huub (12 May 1990). "Asperges sporen absoluut niet met onze zuinige volksaard". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ "'Aspergepionier' Herman van Ham overleden". Horeca Entree (in Dutch). 6 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ Leonards, Rik (6 August 2012). "Herman van Ham overleden". Misset Horeca (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ "Herman van Ham overleden". Dagblad de Limburger (in Dutch). 4 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ (in Dutch) Het keramische bedje voor de asperge.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ (in Dutch) Aspergeschalen
^ "Limburgse aspergekok Van Ham overleden". Dagblad De Limburger (in Dutch). 6 August 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ "Kasteel Wittem en De Hamert leveren Michelin-ster in". Limburgsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 23 February 1990. Retrieved 6 August 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Chef-kok van 'de Hamert' onderscheiden". Limburgsch Dagblad (in Dutch). 12 November 1986. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ (in Dutch) Herman van (de) Ham(ert) Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Interview with Herman van Ham. Better source requested.
^ (in Dutch) Rouwkaart
^ Huygens, Stan (29 December 1992). "Smullen op Curaçao". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^ Worldcat - Het aspergesboek : heerlijke gerechten met de koningin der groenten
^ Worldcat - Het Aspergeboek
^ Worldcat - Het aspergekookboek