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.
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), Asperge Paus (Eng.:Asparagus Pope) and Mister Asperge (Eng.: Mister Asparagus). 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.
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.) Het keramische bedje voor de asperge. Earlier, in 2008, his collection was on display in Aspergemuseum De Locht Aspergeschalen
Herman van Ham died on 2 August 2012, after an illness.
Awards Michelin star 1963–1988 Prix d'Escoffier de l'Alliance Gastronomique Néerlandaise/Alliance-Escoffier Prijs: 1988 Chevalier de Confrérie de l'asperge de Limbourgondie Herman van (de) Ham(ert) Interview with Herman van Ham. Better source requested. Eremedaille in goud Oranje Nassau Rouwkaart Chevalier de Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.
Books Het aspergesboek : heerlijke gerechten met de koningin der groenten; Wiel Basten and Herman van Ham, M & P, 1989Worldcat - Het aspergesboek : heerlijke gerechten met de koningin der groenten Het aspergeboek; Herman van Ham and Wiel Basten, Van Dishoeck, 2005Worldcat - Het Aspergeboek Het aspergekookboek; Herman van Ham and Wiel Basten, Van Reemst, 1998Worldcat - Het aspergekookboek
References