Pasquale Carpino better known as the “singing chef”

Pasquale Carpino: Singing Chef of Canada
Discovered at Highland Memory Gardens, Toronto

On a wintry walk through Highland Memory Gardens in Toronto, I stepped into the peaceful indoor mausoleum and discovered the urn niche of one of Canada’s most beloved and flamboyant culinary personalities — Pasquale Carpino.

Born in Calabria, Italy, Pasquale arrived in Toronto at the age of 22, alone and full of ambition. He began as many do in the culinary world — washing dishes, prepping ingredients, and learning the rhythms of a busy kitchen. His skills and infectious personality soon led him to success as a restaurateur.

But it was on television, over a span of three decades, where Chef Pasquale truly made his mark.

Wearing his signature blue smock, white necktie, and bright red chef’s toque, he charmed audiences not only with his traditional Italian cooking but with his impromptu opera performances, often belting out arias mid-recipe. He famously said:

“If you sing to the food, then it will come out good.”

Chef Pasquale was more than a cook — he was a performer, a teacher, and a personality who made viewers feel like family. Here are just a few of his most memorable quips:

• “The pasta should not wait for the sauce, the sauce can wait for the pasta.”

• “Mamma mia! We should say Papà mio sometimes.”

• “Watch out for your eye lashes when you flambé.”

• “May everyone in the world, especially the little ones, have a meal like this.”

As one of Canada’s first celebrity chefs, Pasquale Carpino brought joy, tradition, and a distinct theatrical flair to kitchens across the country. He passed away in Toronto on December 30, 2005, at the age of 69.

1936-2005

Pasquale’s familiar red chef hat along with a wooden mixing spoon are appropriately placed beside his urn.