Famous foodies: Nellie Melba

Dame Nellie Melba is probably remembered as much for the food she inspired as her extraordinary vocal range. Born into a musical family in Victoria, Australia in 1861, the young Helen Porter Mitchell became the most famous diva of her time, reigning over the Covent Garden opera scene for 37 years. She adopted her stage name, Nellie Melba, as a tribute to Melbourne, Australia and was made a Dame in 1918. This Rubenesque singer's love of food and her continual struggle to lose weight eventually led to the creation of Melba toast. Auguste Escoffier, the legendary cook at the Savoy Hotel in London, originally concocted this light snack of crisp, dried bread to feed the singer when she was ill in 1897. He also created Melba sauce for her (a sweet purée of raspberries and redcurrant), as well as Peach Melba and Melba Garniture (chicken, truffles and mushrooms stuffed into tomatoes with velouté). She died in 1931 at the age of 69.