Chef and television personality Ken Kostick passed away in Toronto on Thursday following complications from acute pancreatitis. Born in 1953, Kostick started in television when a friend suggested he pitch a show about cooking and entertaining. The result was the Gemini Award-nominated CBC show What’s For Dinner that ran for more than 600 episodes.
Kostick shared the screen with co-host Mary Jo Eustace, and the two developed a trademark banter that earned them a cult following. Kostick and Eustace worked together in years later on other lifestyle shows, including He Said, She Said with Ken and Mary Jo and as co-hosts of a morning show on 103.9 Proud-FM in Toronto.
“I just want everybody to know he was a fantastic person on TV and off,” Eustace told CBC. Eustace also said Kostick’s friends will be organizing a memorial in his honour. “Ken is not about seriousness. What we want to do is include all the food he loved, like perogies, and the people that he loved, to laugh and share a story about him.”
Kostick is survived by his partner Desi Cabrera.
• Cooking show celebrity Ken Kostick dies [CBC News]
nuts iam very sorry to hear of kens passing i have watched him for years and always brought a smile to my face.
April 30, 2011 at 6:45 pm | by teresa stadnykmay the goddess help his friends and family
he will be in our hearts
Very sorry to hear of the passing of Ken Kostick. Years ago, when I was a homeschooler, I would take my 3 sons to tapings of What’s for Dinner. During breaks and after the show, Ken always made a point of coming over to talk to us, and was thrilled to know we were of Ukrainian parentage. He also gave my kids various kitchet gadgets and treats. My eldest son went on to become the Food/Beverage/Operations manager of Canada’s Wonderland, my youngest son is a first chef there as well at the MarketPlace Buffet every summer, and my middle son is a great cook. Ken was a great inspiration, and we surely miss him. Our condolences to his mother, partner, family and friends.
May 3, 2011 at 7:37 am | by Rosemary Breschuk-ChiuRosemary, Newmarket, Ontario