Local young chef shines at international competition
Another of Kitchissippi’s restaurants is in the spotlight because of its staff, this time, internationally.
Kathryn Ferries, a sous-chef at Stofa Restaurant, recently competed at the 4th edition of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Regional Competition in New York.
The international competition saw 133 chefs from around the world compete in 12 different regions.
Kathryn, 27, won the regional social responsibility award in New York. The award was “decided by an internationally recognized voice on sustainability in food, selecting the chef who puts forward the dish that best represents the principle of food as a result of socially responsible practices,” according to the competition’s website.
“I wasn’t even thinking about that award when I created my dish,” says Katrhyn who has been at Stofa for two years.
While she won’t be competing in Milan, Kathryn was invited to attend.
Grunt chef taking to Mechanicsville
Jason McLelland, owner of Grunt, has embraced Mechanicsville fully.
Since Grunt opened last May, owner and chef Jason has made his small, 22-seat restaurant an integral part of the community.
“I love it here, and I want to showcase the area,” says the Scotsman, who started his cooking career at a small fish and chip shop in rural Scotland.
After traveling the world over the last 10 years, learning different cooking styles by simply watching and listening, Jason met his wife to be, who’s from Ottawa, in Australia.
“We travelled for a couple of years, and we came back to visit and I fell in love with the city. It reminds me of Edinburgh,” he says.
When the opportunity came to open his own restaurant, he jumped at the chance.
“I fell in love with the area. It’s a bit edgier than most, and I feel at home here. I want to help this area, try to make an impact. I’ve been here for 8 months and I’m doing things for charity. I’m trying to use this as a muse to do more,” he says.
Ten Thousand Villages ?to close Westboro store
Ten Thousand Villages announced last month that it would be closing many of its stores across the country, including its Westboro location on Richmond Road.
The popular store, known for its eco-friendly, fair-trade, handmade gifts from around the world, has been a staple of the neighbourhood for more than 20 years. It was primarily run by a group of volunteers and one paid staff member.
On Twitter, the store noted that it only recently received new items and will remain open until August.
– Compiled by Yose Cormier