Many celebrity chefs have been a large part of the success of the Food Network and its
laundry list of hits. Sadly, the lights went out too soon on some beloved chefs, breaking
the hearts of foodies all around the world. Here are Food Network stars we've sadly lost.
According to IMDb, chef Fatima Ali first came onto the scene in 2012 when she appeared on
Food Network's "Chopped." If you don’t know, it’s a competition show that challenges
chefs to create delicious meals out of unexpected ingredients and then eliminates them one course
at a time. Ali went on to appear on the show two more times as part of the "Chopped Champions"
and "Chopped Champions: Pros" series. Ali really became a household name when she competed
on the culinary classic "Top Chef" in 2018.
Unfortunately, shortly after "Top Chef" wrapped filming, the chef announced that she'd been
diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and only had a year to live.
Ali wrote of her diagnosis in an essay published in Healthyish. She shared,
"When we think we have all the time in the world to live, we forget to indulge in the
experiences of living [...] When that choice is yanked away from us, that's when we scramble
to feel."
Sadly, Ali died from Ewing's sarcoma at age 29 in 2019.
Ken Kostick was one of the first Canadian celebrity chefs. According to CBC, his cooking
and lifestyle show "Ken Kostick and Company" was one of the first programs to ever air
on Food Network Canada. The TV personality got his start — and his fame — from co-hosting
"What's For Dinner?" with Mary Jo Eustace. CBC also reported that "What's For Dinner?"
began on Life Network in 1995 but, because of its incredible popularity, it moved over
to CBC-TV and broadcast over 600 episodes all over the world. Kostick and Eustace went
on to host other Canadian hits like "He Said, She Said with Ken & Mary Jo" and a Toronto-based
morning radio show.
Sadly, Kostick's career came to an early end when he died in 2011 at the age of 57. As
per the National Post, he had almost recovered from acute pancreatitis before his death.
His business team released a statement, writing,
"Ken lived a full and wonderful life, with many passions including, food, pets and people."
Cristie Codd competed on Season 8 of the Food Network competition show "Food Network Star."
According to an interview with Wannabe Chef, her goal was to make the world a better place
through healthy food. She revealed in the chat,
"I'm an advocate of trying to motivate and educate and inspire people [...] Healthy does
not mean boring and bland."
Unfortunately Codd was the first one eliminated that season, but she wasn't deterred. She
shared,
"It's not over for me yet. I have actually two shows that I'm going to start pitching.
Two really awesome shows including one called 'Catch, Clean and Cook.'"
But, just a few short years later, Codd's dreams were cut short when she, her husband,
and their unborn child were killed. A local handyman named Robert Jason Owens dismembered,
and burned the family and then tried to cover up his crimes by staging their home to look
like there had been a robbery. The publication also reported that Owens eventually confessed
and was sentenced to 59 and a half years in prison.
Floyd Cardoz's friendly face regularly graced some of the Food Network’s shows, but was
known early on for being seen on “Top Chef Masters” and “Iron Chef America: The Series.”
Born and raised in India, the celebrity chef was also known for breaking down barriers,
as The New York Times lauded him as the first Indian chef to helm a big-time New York City
restaurant. He opened his restaurant, Tabla, with Danny Meyer in 1998. According to Forbes
India, Cardoz expanded his empire back into India in recent years, creating the company
Hunger Inc and opening several successful restaurants like The Bombay Canteen and The
Bombay Sweet Shop. Cardoz told Forbes India,
"I still want to set the bar in terms of the food we do, the service we have, the kind
of hospitality we offer, and importantly, how we treat people."
Sadly, Cardoz died from COVID-19 early in 2020. Chef Alex Guarnaschelli tweeted about
Cardoz's death, writing,
"A true gentleman in every sense and a great credit to the chef community. He will be sorely
missed."
No one would have ever thought that a show about two middle-aged women touring England
in a motorcycle and sidecar, tasting food, and cracking jokes would have been a success.
Nevertheless, "Two Fat Ladies" on the Food Network definitely was. Fans loved the quirky
Jennifer Paterson, but they adored the oftentimes grumpy but always engaging Clarissa Dickson
Wright. Wright, a celebrated chef and food historian according to The Guardian, became
famous for her cheek. In fact, Express reported that whenever someone asked her if the title
"Two Fat Ladies" upset her, she would shoot back,
"I had problems with 'ladies' because it sounds like a public convenience. But which bit do
you object to? Are you saying I'm thin?"
Sadly, as reported by The Guardian, Wright died in 2014 at the age of 66. A producer
on ”Two Fat Ladies" said of Wright to the publication,
"Clarissa was a marvelous cook and hugely knowledgeable about food and food history.
She was possessed of a formidable intelligence, and held strong opinions, a powerful combination
that made her a commanding presence on television."
Jennifer Paterson was the other half of the hit food show "Two Fat Ladies." The travel,
cooking, and lifestyle show began on BBC, but was picked up by the Food Network in 1997.
This was so Americans could enjoy all the delightful recipes that BCC viewers got to
enjoy from the smiling mouths of Paterson and her co-star, Clarissa Dickson Wright themselves.
Sadly, Paterson was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1999, even though the year prior she'd
told a reporter that she felt great. She even joked that the secret to her health was lots
of meat, drink and cigarettes and not giving in to things.
The jovial TV personality did receive plenty of love during her illness. According to The
New York Times, even Prince Charles himself sent Patterson tomato soup and ice cream to
help her feel better. Her co-star was planning on sending her caviar, too. Dickson Wright
explained,
“She didn't see the point of flowers. She'd rather have caviar.”
Sadly, Paterson died before she had the chance to eat it.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Judson Todd Allen liked to call himself the "architect
of flavor." The Chicago chef entered the public eye when he made it to the finals in Season
8 of "Food Network Star" on Food Network.
However, Allen solidified his spot at the top by cooking for celebrities like Jamie
Foxx and Steve Harvey as well as creating most of the menu at Taste 222 in Chicago.
He was also dedicated to helping others in their journeys with food because, as he revealed
in an interview with Illinois Alumni, he always struggled with his weight as a kid. He also
released a book called “Spice Diet” on losing weight and healthy recipes.
“I’ve always been over-the-top with everything I’ve done.”
Sadly, as the Chicago Tribune reported, Allen died in May of 2018 of a heart attack at just
39 years old. Allen’s friend and co-worker, Liz Thompson, said of him to the Tribune,
"He was an absolute joy to be around every single day. No matter what the situation [...] he
brought the weather with him. If it was cloudy outside, he brought the sunshine. I can't
tell you how much we are going to miss that."
Carl Ruiz first entered the celebrity chef food scene when his New Jersey restaurant
Marie's Italian Specialities appeared on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." The
chef went on to guest star in and judge on other Food Network competition shows like
"Guy's Grocery Games" and "Guy's Ranch Kitchen." But, according to The New York Times, Ruiz's
first love was Cuban food. His brother George Ruiz told the publication that Carl's inspiration
always came from his mother and grandmother's traditional Cuban cooking.
Sadly, it was also reported that Ruiz died in 2019 at the age of 44. It was later revealed
that, according to the Maryland Department of Health, his cause of death was atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease. Ruiz's friend Troy Johnson wrote in remembrance of the chef on
Twitter, saying,
"He made people laugh who'd forgotten how to laugh. He set rooms on fire. He was the
match and the kerosene."
Arguably one of the best known celebrity chefs and Food Network stars, Anthony Bourdain was
synonymous with exploration, adventure, and, of course, delicious food. His first food
and travel show, "A Cook's Tour," ran on the Food Network for 35 episodes between 2002
and 2003, according to IMDb. However, the chef, food writer, and host went on to produce
and star in an array of other hits like "The Layover," and "The Taste."
Bourdain bewitched the world with his fascinating travels, and the heartwarming connections
he made with the people he met. Not to mention his wizard-like way of making viewers feel
as if they're with him in whatever exotic locale, tasting the next flavorful dish.
“I think I promised you stunned silence. So far so good.”
Sadly, Bourdain took his own life in 2018. One of his close friends, Eric Ripert tweeted,
"Anthony was ... an exceptional human being, so inspiring [and] generous. One of the great
storytellers who connected with so many."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.