David Adjey

Celebrity chef David Adjey tells it like it is, which might account for part of his popularity. He has, after all, shared his expertise on Food Network Canada shows such as Restaurant Makeover and The Opener. But his frank personality is only part of what has created his reputation. He's also earned accolades for his deconstructive cooking style, which distills the fundamentals of each ingredient into mouthfuls of intense, subtle flavours. His presentation is impressive, too; each dish is artfully arranged with an eye for colour and design. On his website, Adjey says, “If I wasn’t a Chef, I would have been a florist.”

After graduating at the top of his class from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and spending a summer assisting chef Guiliano Bugialli in Florence, Adjey made his name at the Relais & Chateaux-accedited San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. Now the ambassador for St. Lawrence Market, Adjey works as a restaurant consultant and host for lavish corporate events. He also teaches occasional cooking classes in between mornings spent chatting with local vendors, picking up fresh ingredients for his classes, and using kitchen cleavers for his morning shave.