Celebrity chef Ian Parmenter has died, aged 79.
Close friends of the culinary star, who hosted ABC TV’s Consuming Passions from 1992 to 2001, confirmed he passed away over the weekend, reported the ABC on Monday.
The entertainer was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2011 for his incredible service to the food and tourism industries over his decades-long career.
Parmenter began his working life as a journalist on Fleet Street in London before moving to Australia and getting a job in advertising.
He went on to join ABC Perth in 1974 where he took on several behind-the-scenes roles before working his way up the ladder to become a TV producer and director.
Celebrity chef Ian Parmenter (pictured) has died aged 79
When Parmenter began his show Consuming Passions, he purchased a small cottage near Margaret River, south of Perth, where he worked on recipes for the series.
He told ABC local radio in 2017 he thought Margaret River had a ‘great community’ and it was ‘just extraordinary, the amount of energy that is in this place’.
A local of the town sung praises of Parmenter and his connection with the community and its people.
Close friends of the culinary star, who hosted ABC TV’s Consuming Passions (pictured) from 1992 to 2001, confirmed he passed away over the weekend, reported the ABC on Monday
‘I think he had many sides to him… He love connection people, an ambassador for the region… an incredible bloke,’ she told ABC.
After Consuming Passions wrapped in 2001, Parmenter maintained his close ties to ABC, writing several successful cookbooks and attending numerous food events.
Verity James, a former ABC journalist and broadcaster, told Michael Tetlow on ABC Perth that while Parmenter was great in front of a camera, he was also ‘incredibly introspective’.
The entertainer was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2011 for his incredible service to the food and tourism industries over his decades-long career
‘So thoughtful and so compassionate,’ she said before mentioning the TV news he directed in the 80s and 90s.
‘While he was very flamboyant, he was also quite strongly opinionated,’ she added.
More to come.
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