Simone Ortega
Encyclopedia
Simone Ortega Klein better known simply as Simone Ortega, was a bestselling Spanish
culinary author. Born in Barcelona
to a family originally from Alsace
in France
, she published her first and bestselling book 1080 recetas de cocina
(republished in English as 1080 Recipes) in 1972
. She was married to publisher José Ortega Spottorno
, son of famous philosopher José Ortega y Gasset
and founder of the Spanish daily newspaper El País, until his death in 2002.
Her bestselling book, 1080 recetas de cocina (1080 Recipes) has sold over 3,5 million copies in Spain since it was first published, and as of 2007 it was on its 48th updated edition there. In 1987 she was awarded the Spanish Special Prize of Gastronomy, following this up in 2006 with the Spain Food Awards Special Prize. In awarding the latter prize, the jury spoke of an entire lifetime dedicated to advising and teaching consumers about good cooking and good cuisine, with special emphasis on the qualilty of national products. 2006 also saw the French government bestow the Order of Arts and Letters on Ortega at a special ceremony in Madrid
, at which Ortega commented that ""More than anything else, cuisine is what has brought France and Spain closer together".
Aside from writing cookbook
s, Ortega had a regular column in ¡Hola!
, and was a frequent guest of various radio programmes. Her most recent books were written in collaboration with her daughter, Inés Ortega Klein, who has followed in the footsteps of her mother to become something of a celebrity chef
and cookbook author.
and the other for the United States
, to reflect the ease with which customers in each country can get hold of certain products.
As only one of her books has been translated into English, the translations given here for her other books are for information only.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
culinary author. Born in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
to a family originally from Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, she published her first and bestselling book 1080 recetas de cocina
1080 recetas de cocina
1080 recetas de cocina is a 1972 Spanish cookbook written by Spanish food writer Simone Ortega and published by Alianza Editorial; it has since been updated and maintained by Ortega and her daughter Inés...
(republished in English as 1080 Recipes) in 1972
1972 in literature
The year 1972 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Fiction:*Richard Adams - Watership Down*Jorge Amado - Teresa Batista Cansada da Guerra *Martin Amis - The Rachel Papers...
. She was married to publisher José Ortega Spottorno
José Ortega Spottorno
José Ortega Spottorno was a Spanish journalist and publisher. Born in Madrid to famous philosopher José Ortega y Gasset and Rosa Spottorno Topete, José Ortega Spottorno was the founder of affordable paperback publishing firm Alianza Editorial and the Spanish daily newspaper El País, which quickly...
, son of famous philosopher José Ortega y Gasset
José Ortega y Gasset
José Ortega y Gasset was a Spanish liberal philosopher and essayist working during the first half of the 20th century while Spain oscillated between monarchy, republicanism and dictatorship. He was, along with Nietzsche, a proponent of the idea of perspectivism.-Biography:José Ortega y Gasset was...
and founder of the Spanish daily newspaper El País, until his death in 2002.
Her bestselling book, 1080 recetas de cocina (1080 Recipes) has sold over 3,5 million copies in Spain since it was first published, and as of 2007 it was on its 48th updated edition there. In 1987 she was awarded the Spanish Special Prize of Gastronomy, following this up in 2006 with the Spain Food Awards Special Prize. In awarding the latter prize, the jury spoke of an entire lifetime dedicated to advising and teaching consumers about good cooking and good cuisine, with special emphasis on the qualilty of national products. 2006 also saw the French government bestow the Order of Arts and Letters on Ortega at a special ceremony in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, at which Ortega commented that ""More than anything else, cuisine is what has brought France and Spain closer together".
Aside from writing cookbook
Cookbook
A cookbook is a kitchen reference that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions...
s, Ortega had a regular column in ¡Hola!
¡Hola!
¡Hola! is a weekly Spanish-language magazine specializing in celebrity news, published in Spain and 13 other countries. It also has local editions in Brazil, Canada, Greece, Mexico, Peru, Britain, Russia and Argentina. It is the second most popular magazine in Spain, after the Pronto, the most sold...
, and was a frequent guest of various radio programmes. Her most recent books were written in collaboration with her daughter, Inés Ortega Klein, who has followed in the footsteps of her mother to become something of a celebrity chef
Celebrity chef
A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...
and cookbook author.
Publications
Only 1080 Recipes has been translated into English. In collaboration with her daughter, Ortega has recently released two separate English language editions of 1080 Recipes: one for the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the other for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, to reflect the ease with which customers in each country can get hold of certain products.
As only one of her books has been translated into English, the translations given here for her other books are for information only.
- "1080 recetas de cocina" published in 19721972 in literatureThe year 1972 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Fiction:*Richard Adams - Watership Down*Jorge Amado - Teresa Batista Cansada da Guerra *Martin Amis - The Rachel Papers...
(English: 1080 Recipes) - "Nuevas recetas de cocina" (19841984 in literatureThe year 1984 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The book Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is widely read....
) (New Recipes) - "Quesos españoles" (19871987 in literatureThe year 1987 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Tom Wolfe was paid $5 million for the film rights to his novel, The Bonfire of the Vanities, the most ever earned by an author, at the time.-Fiction:...
) (Cheeses of Spain) - "La cocina de Madrid" (1987) (The Madrid Kitchen)
- "El libro de los potajes, las sopas, las cremas y los gazpachos" (19881988 in literatureThe year 1988 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Margaret Atwood - Cat's Eye*J.G. Ballard - Memories of the Space Age*Iain M...
) (The Book of Stews, Soups, Creams and Gazpachos) - "Las mejores recetas de Simone Ortega" (19901990 in literatureThe year 1990 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*J. K. Rowling gets the idea for Harry Potter while on a train ride from Manchester to London. She says "I was staring out the window, and the idea for Harry just came. He appeared in my mind's eye, very fully formed...
) (The Best Recipes of Simone Ortega) - "El Libro de Los Platos de Cuchara" (20042004 in literatureThe year 2004 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Canada Reads selects Guy Vanderhaeghe's The Last Crossing to be read across the nation....
) (The Book of Dishes Eaten with a Spoon: Stews, Soups, Creams and Gazpachos) (in collaboration with her daughter)