Who's the Best Chef in Toronto?

Best Chef TorontoWho's the best chef currently working in Toronto? Is it the soon to be departed Susur? The locavore obsessed Jamie Kennedy? How about Rocco Agostino who's been winning praise for both the Silver Spoon and the newly minted Pizzeria Libretto?

If it's any of the above, we won't know it by the soon to be in production seven-part television series and culinary competition Gold Medal Plates: The Quest for Canada's Best Chef which will air on Travel + Escape in the Spring of 2009.

Slated to represent Toronto in the national competition are ten chefs including:

J.P. Challet - The Fifth
Lino Collevecchio - Via Allegro
Ryan Gustafson - Epic, The Fairmont Royal York
Jonathan Gushue - Langdon Hall Country House
John Kwan - Lai Toh Heen
David Lee - Splendido
Patrick Lin - Senses Restaurant
Lorenzo Loseto - George
Mark McEwan - North 44
Scot Woods - Lucien

Take our poll below to vote on who you think is the best chef in the city. If you don't like any of these candidates, add your pick in the comments below.

Photo by Roger Cullman

Reader Reviews and Comments

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Odd that you'd use a photo of Elias Makhoul, proprietor of the amazing Mystic Muffin, to illustrate this story. Should we consider him a write-in vote?

http://torontoist.com/2006/10/the_amazing_mys.php

Posted by: Steve at September 27, 2008 6:56 PM

He could be!

Posted by: Tim at September 27, 2008 7:41 PM

Not one woman?

Posted by: Desiree at September 27, 2008 10:36 PM

Cambridge is not Toronto.

Wtf is Langdon Hall Country House doing on the list?

Posted by: wa at September 27, 2008 11:47 PM

I guess it's Toronto area

Posted by: Tim at September 28, 2008 9:10 AM

Well, the title obviously states "Who's the Best Chef in Toronto?" not "Who's the Best Chef in the Greater Toronto Area?" But, correct me if I'm mistaken. Which would EXCLUDE Missisagua, North York, Etobicoke, Vaughn, Newmarket, Markham, Scarborough and all other surrounding counties.

Posted by: Joe Shithead Knightly at September 28, 2008 12:06 PM

I think you might be misunderstanding the purpose of this poll. It simply is a list of the chefs in the TV show that are in the Toronto area. This isn't a formal survey where we're going to be announcing the winner and giving out a reward or anything.

Posted by: Tim at September 28, 2008 12:47 PM

@Joe:
North York, Etobicoke, and Scarborough ARE part of Toronto. This only happened 10 years ago.

Posted by: A at September 28, 2008 2:32 PM

Oh, to have an expense account to try out each nominee! It would not be fair if one does not try out each and every nominee. If you have been only to one, and it you like it, it would not be fair to the others.

Can I write in my own name?

Posted by: W. K. Lis at September 28, 2008 2:47 PM

Having Cambridge on a Toronto list is as dumb as having Calgary on an Edmonton list.

Posted by: wa at September 28, 2008 10:09 PM

Cambridge is on the list because Jonathan Gushue has mad skills!! He deserves to be there!

Posted by: Bert at September 29, 2008 12:20 PM

I love Elias. Mystic Muffin has the best veggie sandwich and apple cake in the city. And he remembers every single person!

Posted by: k-chan at October 2, 2008 11:59 AM

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