Kevin Koss, a Fifth Avenue alumnus, is trying out for a cooking show on Oprah Winfrey’s new network. |
Former Fifth Avenue cook Kevin Koss seeks Oprah gig, and friends can help June 26, 2010 A chef who once manned the grills and fryers at one of Antigo’s favorite downtown establishments is hoping to hit the big time courtesy of Oprah Winfrey.
Kevin Koss, son of Grace and Steve Koss of Antigo, is auditioning for the Oprah OWN show contest, vying for the opportunity to host his own culinary show on the talk show queen’s new network debuting Jan. 1, 2011.
In the early 1990s, Koss, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., came home to Antigo due to medical issues within his family for about a year and took a job cooking at Fifth Avenue Restaurant and Lounge.
“I didn’t think I could afford him,” Sue Stanton, who runs the restaurant, said. “But he said he just wanted to work. He wanted to cook.”
Koss soon put is own unique stamp on the menu, adding the pico de gallo salsa and basil mayo that is still served today, along with plenty of other touches.
“Sue’s famous clam chowder is actually Kevin Koss’s clam chowder,” Stanton said. “I learned so much from him.”
Koss grew up on a Langlade County dairy farm, on a northwoods diet of beef and mashed potatoes. In addition to his parents, five of his six brothers and sisters remain in Antigo—Gail Schroepfer, Debbie Wolter, Lynn Arrowood, Renee Heiny and Greg Koss. A brother, Steve, lives in Poynette.
After graduating from the Culinary Institute, he went on to a series of jobs, including as a private chef for the Forbes family on their ranch in Colorado. He then went on to work around the country including Coyote Café with Mark Miller, L’Espalier in Boston, Flying Fish in Seattle, Lulu and Jardinière in San Francisco, and Graham’s in New Orleans.
He switched to real estate in 2004 but this year decided to return to his true passion, food. He launched the first “webisode” of “The Porky Bohemian Cooking Book” on June 21. It focuses on making soul-satisfying, fulfilling meals with a thoughtful approach that highlights a diet comprised mostly of vegetables.
“Eating intelligently does not mean sacrificing deliciousness,” Koss said.
The Oprah OWN contest has a series of categories, including traditional talk show, cooking, interior design and fashion, health and well-being, and wildcard.
Voting continues through July 2. Visit www.kevinkoss.com/vote/ to access the video and cast a ballot.
Stanton said she’s watched the video, “which is hilarious and informative” and has already put a big checkmark next to Koss’s name.
And he is always welcome back at the grill at Fifth Avenue.
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