Fictional:
"Mama" in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. No money, no government support, and
she made sure her kids were fed. My kind of woman, she knew what was
important.

TV/Real(?): Tony Bourdain, hands down. The man is a trained cook who isn't
afraid to eat damn near anything.

Real and close to Home: FBS, trained in technical school and then by Uncle
Sam in the good ol' USN. He can cook anything........filet mignon to
seagull.

-ginny