Christopher Kimball to depart 'America's Test Kitchen'

BROOKLINE, Mass., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Christopher Kimball will depart America's Test Kitchen over a contract dispute.

The 64-year-old celebrity chef confirmed as much to media outlets after America's Test Kitchen's parent company, Boston Common Press, announced the news in a press release Monday.

Kimball co-founded America's Test Kitchen in 1992, and launched the television series of the same name in 2001. The company also produces Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines, as well as the Cook's Country television show.

"We made every effort to offer Chris a reasonable contract that reflected his significant contributions to the company and are disappointed that we could not reach agreement," Boston Common Press CEO David Nussbaum said in the release.

Kimball has hosted America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country since their debuts, and will appear on the already-filmed 2016 seasons. He will remain a minority owner in the company, but "no longer play a role" in operations.

"He was asked to stay with the company and focus his talents on creativity, on-air presence and in-person appearances," Nussbaum told employees in a company e-mail. "Despite our interest in having him stay and after negotiating with him in good faith for many months, he ultimately rejected that approach."

America's Test Kitchen will return for a 16th season in 2016, while Cook's Country will return for an eighth.