INTERVIEWER: We are here today with K. C. DenDooven, publisher of "The Story Behind the Scenery" series of books on America's National Parks. K. C., I wanted to ask you some questions about your father. I understand he came from Belgium and I have heard that he came to America as a 6-day bicycle racer. Is that true?

K. C. DenDooven: Yes, my father was a chef. He actually worked for the King of Belgium. He always said that he was fired from that job when he took the King's Mercedes out for a run -- without permission. <laughter> . . . that's something you don't do.

INTERVIEWER: A chef? Do you cook?

K. C. DenDooven: I can't boil water but Dad trained with Escoffier -- Auguste Escoffier in Paris, France in the late 1800 -- 1890 or there about. In fact, an interesting story -- you know that Escoffier is thought by some to be the world's most famous chef. He ran a school in Paris and my father went to Paris to train with him.

The opera singer, Nellie Melba -- she was a famous opera singer from Australia and one night and was inspired to create a dessert just for her. She loved ice cream, but she was afraid ice cream would hurt her singing -- hurt her vocal cords. Escoffier invented "Pêche Melba" where ice cream was only one ingredient and would soften into a cool cream and not risk hurting her vocal cords so much. Dad says he prepared it and Escoffier served it at a dinner she was hosting. She has many foods named after her -- Melba Toast and Peach Melba. Dad never forgot ice cream on fruit-- with sauce.

So, my father always said that he "prepared" the first Peach Melba. Notice I say that he didn't invent it. Escoffier invented it but my father was his apprentice. . Escoffier took a peach, split it in two and put cream and then a sauce on top.

Now, years later, my father "invented" banana split. He was hired by American Fruit Company to develop dishes that they could use to promote the use of bananas. My father remembered his experience in Paris and so he invented a dish where he took a banana and split it in two. Put a scoop of ice cream and some sauce over the top. Wah la! Banana Split.

He has several cook books that he published. One of the booklets that he authored was about the use of bananas.