Remembering Mr. Food: His Legacy and a Classic Recipe

Reader Mrs. Charles Lowery of Homewood recently inquired about a well-known television food segment. She was seeking information on Mr. Food, or as she referred to him, “the new Mr. Food.” Art Ginsburg, the original Mr. Food, passed away at 81 nearly fifteen years ago. He became recognized for his brief, engaging cooking segments on television, which aired in between the midday news on Chicago’s ABC-WLS Channel 7.

Art Ginsburg’s “Mr. Food” segments were known for their simplicity and endearing catchphrase: “Ooh! It’s so good!” Launched in 1975 as a local segment, Ginsburg’s 90-second features were eventually picked up by King World. At its peak, Mr. Food was shown on over 168 local TV stations nationwide. Ginsburg’s recipes drew from his background as a New York butcher and his family’s Jewish culinary traditions. Alongside his TV appearances, Ginsburg authored 52 cookbooks, selling over 8 million copies.

Despite his success, Ginsburg preferred to stay out of the limelight. In an interview in 2010, he remarked, “I was always the hometown guy. I don’t want to be the super celebrity.” My colleague, Eloise Valadez, cherished interviewing him. He generously shared recipes and cooked for the news team at the Southtown newsroom. Ginsburg, who would have turned 95 this month, reduced his screen time with age, gradually handing over the reins to his son, Steve.

The Mr. Food brand continues through the “Mr. Food Test Kitchen” series. Howard Rosenthal, joined by his wife Patty as test kitchen director and Kelly Rusin as an assistant, carries on the legacy. The program is syndicated on more than 120 TV stations and reaches over 2 million viewers daily. For broadcast schedules, viewers can check local listings at www.MrFood.com.

Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad – A tribute to Mr. Food’s classic simplicity.

Here’s a delightful recipe for “Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad,” ideal for summer gatherings, from the Mr. Food Test Kitchen.

Ingredients

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 3/4 cup sweet pickle relish, drained
• 2 cups mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Paprika for sprinkling

Directions

1. Boil macaroni for 7 to 9 minutes until tender. Drain and cool.
2. Mix macaroni with all ingredients except paprika in a large bowl.
3. Sprinkle with paprika. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Enjoy this recipe in celebration of the past and present Mr. Food. For inquiries, reach out to Philip Potempa at [email protected] or mail to: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374.