Update: Homes-Extra is sad to report the passing of Ken Kostick on April 21, 2011. (Read the story and readers' comments here.) Star Spaces visited Kostick's home for this article that was originally published in March 2010.
He will be missed.
Ken Kostick has made it his life’s mission to share his passion for food and entertaining. Canadians will recognize him from the long-running cooking show What’s for Dinner?, which he co-hosted with Mary Jo Eustace.
The duo is back together on He Said, She Said, airing on VIVA.
“We have a special chemistry,” Kostick says. “It’s almost like we’re a married couple.”
The Winnipeg native attributes his cooking skills to his dad and says, “My father loved my jokes and encouraged me to make people laugh.”
View the photo gallery of Ken Kostick's home.
His combination of humour and no-fuss, healthy recipes has made him a popular cookbook author, with his 15th – The $10 Gourmet – currently going into its second printing. He already knows what the next book will be.
“I am writing a new cookbook called Bone Appetit – you can feed yourself and your dog from the same recipe.”
Visit his website for all things Ken Kostick.
Q: How would you describe your home in a few words?
A: Modern and sleek. Comfortable.
Q: Tell us about your home.
A: My home is a 1,600-square-foot, three-level coach house. It’s open-concept with a large kitchen, hardwood floors and an enclosed courtyard.
Q: What attracted you to this space?
A: I was attracted to the open concept and the privacy it offered.
Q: Who shares your home?
A: My partner and three Chihuahuas – Napoleon, Josephine and Kasper. I can’t forget my cat, Hercules. He thinks he is a Chihuahua.
Q: What is your favourite room? Why?
A: Of course it’s the kitchen. I love to cook!
Q: How would you describe your decorating style?
A: I’d describe my style as modern/minimalist. Clean lines with a white colour theme throughout and touches of turquoises. The leather couch (where the dogs rest) in the living room can be wiped off easily. Adorning the living room wall I have a black-and-white Picasso print in a white frame.
The house did not come with a fireplace so I added an ethanol, stainless steel fireplace. It adds a warm feeling to the room. The kitchen is also white with stainless steel appliances.
I don’t like clutter. When things start to pile up, I donate them to charity.
My workspace is downstairs. It is very organized and tidy. That is where I write my cookbooks, prepare for public appearances and do all the business-related work for my pet-care line.
Q: What is your fondest memory in this home?
A: The Jack and Jill shower prior to the wedding of my dogs Napoleon and Josephine. All my friends came over and brought their dogs. We had wonderful food and libations. We filmed the behind-the-scenes planning of the wedding and in the fall we will be launching a feature film entitled The Big Chihuahua Wedding – A Dogumentary.
Q: What’s the one item in this house you can’t live without?
A: My televisions. I’m addicted to my televisions. Flat-screens everywhere!
Q: Weekends at home, what are we most likely to find you doing?
A: Cooking and entertaining.
Q: If your walls could talk, what would they say?
A: Mmm, that smells good…I’d like to try that.
View the photo gallery of Ken Kostick's home.
