Hey Reader! Wow!!! August already?!I feel like I just unpacked in Muskoka, and now I’m less than a month away from back-to-school and heading home. The private cheffing gig has been amazing (and I’m definitely going to miss lake life)… but I can already feel the shift back to real life creeping in. Me and my daughter Juniper on the beach in Muskoka If you’re anything like me, baking tends to go a little off-schedule during summer, but I’ve got something that’ll help you get right back on...
10 days ago • 6 min read
Hey Reader! Wow! Summer is officially halfway done. As of today, I’m on the back half of my private chef contract, meaning I’ve got fewer days left than I’ve already worked. (How did that happen so fast?!) Making S'mores in Muskoka With my Girls It’s been such a great season so far. I’ve been cooking every day with amazing organic produce from Eat Local Muskoka, and I’ve really leaned into the joy of cooking carte blanche just using what’s in season and letting the ingredients guide the menu....
17 days ago • 8 min read
Hey Reader! My family has been having the best time up in Muskoka this summer. In between some long days of cooking and working hard behind the scenes, we’ve been swimming, relaxing, and soaking up the season together. The girls are in heaven, and I even got to spend a few quiet days with my parents, which always feels extra special. Last week I made one of my all-time favourite desserts, mille-feuille crisp, caramelized puff pastry layered with vanilla bean pastry cream. While the weather...
24 days ago • 5 min read
Hey Reader! This week’s been a wild one. I pulled off a major 40-person wine dinner at work complete with three canapés, a main course, and a plated dessert. It was one of the biggest events of my summer private chef contract and honestly, it felt amazing to throw down in the kitchen again. I had some incredible help, check out the menu below so you can see what we served. Ill also add a few pics at the bottom of this email if you want to see some of the food. Next week, I’ll share the...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
Hey Reader! Muskoka has been amazing so far, and I’m really enjoying the private chef gig. I’ve had the chance to work with some truly incredible ingredients huge thanks to Afrim at Cheese Boutique, Jenn and Richard at Stephens Butcher Shop, and some of my favourite local farmers for keeping me stocked with the best. It’s been BUSY (and next week’s big event dinner is no joke), but the best part? My whole family is here with me. We’ve been soaking up cottage life together. Juniper even tried...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader! This summer is already off to a wild start, and I’ve got two big updates to share. First, I’ve taken on an incredible opportunity as a full-time private chef for the summer, based up in Muskoka, one of the most beautiful (and busiest!) cottage regions in Ontario. If you’ve never been, think lakeside living, winding forest roads, and some truly spectacular properties tucked into nature. It’s often compared to the Hamptons, and while I can’t share any details about the client, I’ll...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
What's up Reader! It’s a week of transitions over here—our oldest just wrapped up Grade 1 today (😭 how?!) and our youngest finishes daycare tomorrow. By the time you’re reading this, we’ll be deep into summer mode. Sort of. I’ve also been in full baguette mode, filming every recipe and wrapping up all the videos for a brand new resource I’m really proud of (details below). It’s been so much fun to make, and I can't wait to share it with you. And just when I thought I couldn’t pack anything...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
What's up Reader! I’m technically on holiday right now… but in true chef fashion, I also just picked up a wild summer gig that I’ll tell you more about next week. Let’s just say it involves heavy lifting, long days, and a pretty incredible opportunity I couldn’t pass up. 🛶🔥 This week (and maybe next) are my only real downtime for a while, so I’m trying to soak it up — hanging with the kids, sneaking in a bit of baking, and getting everything in place for the cookbook launch this fall. 🎉...
about 2 months ago • 8 min read
What's up Reader! Father’s Day is finally here — woot woot! 🎉The girls have been talking about it for weeks, and my wife keeps asking what I want to do. Honestly? I just want to hang around the house, declutter a bit, bake something tasty, hang with the kids, and cook a big côte de bœuf — my favourite steak and a little tradition of mine. (And if you need steak inspiration this weekend, do yourself a favour and watch this Daniel Boulud steak au poivre video. He’s the best chef I’ve ever...
2 months ago • 7 min read