Chef John DiGiovanni

[ctchandler]

Sorry to hear about Chef John's death. I think he added a fair share to the OKC food scene both on TV and on radio.
C. T.

[RadicalModerate]

I met Chef John for the first time when he was doing a cooking demonstration. It was at Quail Springs Mall in the same area in which I was helping to MC an appearance by Norm Abrams of This Old House fame. I was mesmerized by John's cooking skills. After that, I used to tune into his radio cooking show as often as possible. I also ran into him from time to time at Buy for Less where he had some sort of educational cooking thing going on and at his place in 50 Penn Place. I still remember watching him carve a perfect "tomato rose" with a paring knife while we were having a conversation.

I consider him to be one of the primary influences behind why cooking is now my primary hobby.
I read in the paper, some time ago, that he wasn't well. He was a great guy and I am saddened by his passing.

[RJJackson]

John was a very close friend of mine and one of my influences in life I was able to say goodbye to him in the last months of his life. He was suffering from Throat Cancer, for the last 6 months of his life he was only able to eat small portions of ice cream. Not to put a damper on y'alls day but he was nothing like himself. But he was definitly the healthiest dieing man you will ever see. If not for the cancer I am convinced he would live to a hundred. He kept active in his last days, the joke was that as long as his wife, Amber, was able to keep giving him projects he'd never die.
When he finally succumed to the disease he was about 90 pounds, and as any true chef would like to be laid to rest, when his ashes were returned from the company he donated his organs to he was laid to rest at the Leavenworth Military gravesite in a cooking pot. As bad as that sounds anybody who knew John's humour would know he'd laugh it up.

[metro]

And for those who don't know who he is, he was a chef where......?

[ctchandler]

Metro,
In addition to a short show on News 9, some of his activities were listed in this article in the OKC Gazette. "Along with owning and working in restaurants in the Oklahoma City area over the years, DiGiovanni hosted several delightful and informative radio shows on KTOK. Among them were “The Chef’s Show” and “What’s Cooking?”

In 1991, he was the first visiting chef in the Distinguished Chefs program at the Oklahoma State University School of Hotel & Restaurant Administration.". He had a restaurant at 50 Penn Place but I don't remember the others.
C. T.

And for those who don't know who he is, he was a chef where......?

[AmberDiGi]

Chef John was my husband, greatest influence and the love of my life.
Here is the obituary than ran in the Oklahoman:

1948 - 2011 KANSAS CITY, MO Chef John lost his 18-month battle with cancer on Nov. 3rd. He passed peacefully at home, cradled in the arms of his wife, Amber, and in the love of family. He was a Chef of over 40 years, as well as being a Navy Veteran. He was a Consulting Chef, had owned restaurant and catering businesses in OKC, spent five years managing retail Deli/Bakery operations and six years as a Broker Chef with Keeth & Assoc. & Fidler Mktg. From '80-'86, Chef John was a regular feature on KWTV CBS affiliate. From '87-'92, Chef John hosted the talk radio show, "The Chef Show," on 1000 KTOK. From '99-'04, Chef John co-hosted with his wife, Chef Amber, the radio show, "What's Cooking!" on 1000 KTOK and WKY. In '91, he was the first Visiting Chef in the Distinguished Chef's Program at The School of Hotel & Restaurant Admin. at OSU. He is survived by his wife, Amber; daughter, Heather; sons, Rob and Ryan; son-in-law, James; and three grandchildren. He made a gift of his body tissues for scientific research. His ashes will be interred at Leavenworth National Cemetery. He is now pain free and Personal Chef to the Master. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the "Chef John DiGiovanni OSU Scholarship Fund," c/o Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

[RadicalModerate]

I have said it before, and I will say it again:

Chef John DiGiovanni was the person who showed me--in real time, in real life--that all of the A-List/imaginary/virtual cooking that you see on television and read about in books can actually be produced.

In my opinion, he is right up there with Jacques Pepin in terms of Excellence in Cooking,

Thanks for the reminder.

[Roadhawg]

I/m sorry for your loss and I'm also sorry I never caught any of his shows, sounds like a good man.

[AmberDiGi]

Thanks to you all for the wonderful memories of my DiGi. I miss him every day and he will always influence everything I do, but most especially the way in which I approach my culinary career. He was one of a kind.
Amber DiGiovanni