Chefs of the Kawarthas Chef Jeff Curtis
I met up with Jeff at Elmhirst’s Resort. We
By Karen Irvine Editor, ATOTK
had an interesting conversation and I learned a lot about what makes him tick. Chef Jeff is a Red Seal Chef who started working in the industry at a very young age. His mom got him a job at the restaurant she worked at. He has been a chef for 8 years, and has been Head Chef at Elmhirst’s Resort for the past two years overseeing 12 kitchen staff. Jeff ’s formal education is in Ancient History and Classical Literature. He laughs, “It’s easy to joke about, but I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t helped. Having formal education and being able to write well and express myself well has really helped me function in a leadership capacity.” His favourite genre to cook is Barbeque. He says, “I Adore BBQ. We have a lovely hardwood BBQ program. We Smoke our own beef, duck, turkey and even tofu. It’s pretty spectacular. Also, charcoal is always a delight.” There’s not much that Jeff doesn’t have a hand in, although he has specialists, such as a pastry Chef. Guest satisfaction is his highest priority. He says, “It’s wonderful to hear from guests. You want to make sure everything is perfect. It’s connecting with people. We are on a beautiful lake and have a very specific identity, being a family business that has been here for generations. And we have food that’s grown right on the property. We have a sizable vegetable garden and a farm. What I care about is putting our best food forward.” Elmhirst’s is a Feast On Certified property, which means we are part of the Canadian 8
Culinary Tourism Alliance. Elmhirst dedicate themselves to representing Ontario. 49% of the food served is grown in Ontario, 25% is grown on their property and 95% of all alcohol is from Ontario. Having the farm makes it a truly organic experience. “We are very passionate
