NBC 5 adds Kevin Pang as new “Food Guy”
Succeeds Steve Dolinsky in role
Kevin Pang has been tapped to succeed Steve Dolinsky as NBC 5’s (WMAQ-TV’s) new “Food Guy”. He begins tonight (January 29) on the station’s 10 p.m. newscast, and across the station’s digital platforms and social media accounts. He replaces Dolinsky, who left last May for a position at Levy Restaurants.
Pang has already appeared on the station with The Wiener’s Circle’s Poochie on the Sunday late-night short-term series Poochie and Pang Eat Chicago, which recently wrapped up its second season.
“I’m enormously grateful to NBC 5 Chicago for keeping the flame of food journalism alive in our great town,” said Pang. “Telling our viewers where to find great places to eat is the least we can do. There’s no better feeling than sharing stories about people who use food as their love language — from mom ‘n’ pop businesses to Michelin-starred chefs, cooking in Pilsen taquerias and Plainfield barbecue joints to Westmont noodle shops and all points between. Food stories are Chicago stories.”
Pang spent eleven years on the culinary beat at the Chicago Tribune from 2008 to 2019, where he wrote The Cheap Eater and co-directed a Netflix restaurant documentary called For Grace. Pang is currently a contributing writer for the New York Times, where he authors a list of the best restaurants in Chicago.
“Chicago’s culinary scene has always been as vibrant as the city itself, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome Kevin to our team to share his fun and insightful experiences with our viewers,” said Sally Ramirez, who is Vice-President of News at the NBC-owned station. “His unique perspective and spirited storytelling will give our audience an engaging, behind‑the‑scenes look at the flavors shaping our city today.”
Food critics appearing on newscasts were a staple of local news starting in the 1980s, with the late James Ward at ABC 7, succeeded by Dolinsky upon his retirement, and the Chicago Tribune’s Phil Vettel, who hosted CLTV’s Good Eating.
However, local stations across the country had to cutback on staff as viewership continues to decline due to cord-cutting. Pang is the only local television reporter on the culinary beat.
This comes as NBC 5 is stepping up its game in local news, recently unveiling a new, multi-million-dollar newsroom and news set and hiring sports anchor Lou Canellis away from Fox 32.