Dame Alison Holst at her Orewa home in 2008. File photo / Martin Sykes
Dame Alison Holst at her Orewa home in 2008. File photo / Martin Sykes
The family of celebrity chef Dame Alison Holst have thanked the public for their support following news the beloved Kiwi icon has been diagnosed with dementia.
Dame Alison, 77, has decided to step out of the public eye and spend time with her family as her condition worsens.
Son Simon Holst, who has been writing recipe books with his mother for 20 years, said the family had been humbled by the support since it was made public his mother was ill.
"We have had some lovely messages. And I don't want to put words in Alison's mouth but I know she would be grateful for those messages."
He said being named, twice, among New Zealand's most trusted people had been an honour for Dame Alison. She loved being involved in people's lives and felt fortunate to have been able to spend 50 years pursuing her passion for cooking.
"She likes to think she helped people," he said.
Tributes to Mrs Holst included messages from New Zealand chefs as well as home cooks, and those she had worked with.
MasterChef judge and celebrity chef Simon Gault tweeted: "Sad to hear the legendary Alison Holst has retired. A fantastic Kiwi we should be proud of."
Radio host Alison Leonard said: "So sad to hear of #AlisonHolst #dementia diagnosis .... She taught me a nifty trick with preserving. #grateful love to her #family."
Dame Alison officially retired last year. Since then, she had been writing a monthly column for her local newspaper in Orewa, Auckland, but has produced her last recipe for the paper.
Developing recipes and meeting deadlines was becoming too much for her, an editorial in Hibiscus Matters said.
"While she will always be interested in food, Alison's memory is declining, and the deadlines of developing recipes and writing is a stress that she no longer needs," it said.
"The family encourage you to support the work of the Alzheimer's Society and Age Concern, and to share your food and meals with those you love."
Dame Alison published more than 100 books, defining her "everyday cooking", selling more than 3 million copies.
She first appeared on television screens in 1965, a few months after the introduction of television to New Zealand. Since 1990 she has co-written several cookbooks with her son Simon Holst.
In 2011 she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Sad to hear the legendary Alison Holst has retired. A fantastic Kiwi we should be proud of
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