Chef to Chef A conversation with
Chef Lynn Crawford
By Chef Brian Henry The Spice Co. & Angle Iron Kitchen
I recently was able to connect with Canadian celebrity chef Lynn Crawford, whose culinary
journey includes owning restaurants, hosting a menu of shows on the Food Network while being a Best-Selling author and brand ambassador. Chef Brian (CB) So why did you choose to be a chef? Chef Lynn (CL): Well I’ve always had a love of cooking. Certainly as a young kid growing up it was very much a part of our lives preparing a family meal together, sitting around the table and sharing our day with one another with heart felt conversation and great delicious recipes. The Crawford’s were and are lovers of food. CB: Are you a culinary school grad or a chef from the streets that worked their way through kitchens? CL: I went to George Brown College and attended their culinary program. After completing college I moved to Montreal to cook. CB: When did things start to take off for you in your career? CL: Well after Montreal I joined the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and that was really the start of my wonderful career. I was with them for 24 years and worked at 5 properties and 7 postings. It was just an amazing time. CB: I’ve had a few restaurants over the years, never more than one at a time. I learned at a young age that if nothing else it can be can be a punishingly stressful endeavor, but you have two. How does that work? CL: Well we had Ruby Watchco for 10 years and was recently closed as our lifestyle changed as we moved to the country but I still have one at Pearson International Airport “The Hearth and the Hearth Market”. CB: This might come off as a bit cheesy but have to ask if there is a chef you admire the most? CL: There are so many that I admire but I think Alice Waters really laid the foundation of the importance of sustainability and supporting local farmers, growers, fishermen and ranchers.
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