TV Chef Art Ginsburg, Mr. Food, Dies At 81

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

Art Ginsburg, the delightfully dorky television chef known as Mr. Food, died at his home in Weston, Fla., Wednesday following a struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81.

Ginsburg - who enticed viewers for decades with a can-do focus on easy weeknight cooking and the tagline "Ooh! It's so good!" - was diagnosed just over a year ago. The cancer had gone into remission following early treatments and surgery, but returned earlier this month.

Ginsburg had an unlikely formula for success in this era of reality cooking shows, flashy chefs and artisanal foods. With a pleasantly goofy, grandfatherly manner and a willingness to embrace processed foods, Ginsburg endeared himself to millions of home cooks via 90-second segments syndicated to 125 local television stations around the country.

And though he published 52 Mr. Food-related cookbooks, selling more than 8 million copies, he was little known to the nation's foodies and mostly ignored by the glossy magazines. That was the way he liked it.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FOOD_OBIT_ART_GINSBURG?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-11-21-11-14-10

[alfredo]

1. He reminded me of a local baker I knew. Both will be missed.

[JohnnyRingo]

2. Now we know why he's been training that new guy...

I noticed a couple months ago he introduced a new guy who will no doubt be the future Mr Food. He's been working on every show next to Ginsburg.

I met Mr Food about fifteen years ago at a food event in Cleveland. I was trying to scam him out of an autographed picture signed: "Ooh... Johnny's kitchen is sooo good". I was going to hang it in my kitchen. It was satirical because everyone knows I can't cook, but he was too sharp for me, and wouldn't do it. He did however, sign a picture postcard with that phrase, and that was stuck to my fridge for years.

He confessed to me that he was a diabetic at the time as well, so I'm glad he went on for so long as he did.

RIP Food.

[Delphinus]

3. RIP, Mr. Food.

I've enjoyed him and a few of his recipes over the years.

[bmbmd]

4. Oooh that's so

sad.

[emmadoggy]

5. Just saw this news on Facebook.

I used to work at one of the local TV stations that carried his segment. He came to visit one year to promote his new cookbook. I got to meet him and got an autographed copy of his book.

He was very nice and I still make some of the recipes from the book. One of them has become a family favorite that I make every year for my kids' birthday celebration.

Rest peacefully, Mr. Food.