The Legacy of Mr. Food Lives On with the Mr. Food Test Kitchen
A reader from Homewood, Mrs. Charles Lowery, recently inquired about a well-known syndicated food segment on television that hadn’t crossed my mind in years. She mentioned Mr. Food or, as she put it, “the new Mr. Food.” Like Mrs. Lowery, I remember the original charismatic Mr. Food, Art Ginsburg, who passed away nearly 15 years ago at age 81.
Art Ginsburg, known for his short syndicated TV segments, left a lasting legacy before his death in November 2012 in Weston, Florida. Ginsburg, whose segments were a staple on Chicago’s ABC-WLS Channel 7, was a cancer survivor. His presentations highlighted quick recipes with few ingredients, always concluding with his registered tagline: “Ooh! It’s so good!”
Ginsburg’s career in food began as a butcher in New York, where he was raised by parents who owned butcher shops. He learned traditional Jewish recipes from family cooking sessions. His “Mr. Food” segment, launched in 1975, grew to be syndicated across over 168 stations, managed by King World, which also distributed major shows like “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
Throughout his life, Ginsburg published 52 cookbooks, selling more than 8 million copies. Despite his success, he preferred to remain accessible rather than achieve celebrity status, as he revealed in a 2010 interview. Ginsburg’s humility resonated with his audience and distinguished him from other high-profile food personalities.
Reflecting on his influence, longtime journalist Eloise Valadez highlighted Ginsburg’s amiable nature during interviews and newsroom visits. Although I never met him, his impact was far-reaching, as evidenced by fans like Mrs. Lowery.
In recent years, Ginsburg reduced his on-camera presence, passing the torch to his son Steve. The company still produces segments, including a spin-off called “Mr. Food Test Kitchen,” with Howard Rosenthal as the host. The segment, under CBS Syndication, airs on over 120 stations and reaches a vast audience.
My surprise was palpable when I recently heard the phrase “Ooh! It’s so good!” from a “Mr. Food Test Kitchen” segment hosted by Rosenthal, now 65. The familiar sound brought back memories of classic recipes and cherished TV moments. The segment remains accessible through various local sources, providing viewers with reliable culinary inspiration.
One delightful recipe Rosenthal shared was “Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad,” a nod to the Mr. Food tradition. Here’s the recipe for you to try:
Mr. Food’s Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
Makes 10 servings
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 3/4 cup sweet pickle relish, drained well
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Paprika for sprinkling
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook macaroni 7 to 9 minutes until tender. Drain, rinse, and cool.
- Combine macaroni with all ingredients except paprika in a large bowl; mix well.
- Sprinkle with paprika and cover.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour or until serving.
For more delicious recipes and to view the segments, readers can check their local TV listings or visit www.MrFood.com using their zip code.
Columnist Philip Potempa, author of four cookbooks, also hosts a weekly radio show. He can be contacted at [email protected], or by mail: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374.