Canada: Ontario Chef Prodigy

Luke Hayes-Alexander

There are many reasons why foodies visit Ontario's Prince Edward County, including the fantastic artisanal cheesemakers and wineries. But probably the most surprising one is 19-year-old Luke Hayes-Alexander, who's been chef of his own restaurant, Luke's Gastronomy, for four years.

Hayes-Alexander spent much of his childhood in the tiny restaurant in Kingston, named after him by his chef father when he was an infant. At age 12, he butchered a pig on his own; by 15, he'd taken over the kitchen. Today he conjures up dishes as disparate as an avant-garde scallop mousse pressed between cocoa cookies and an Apicius Composition—sausages with squash and wine honey—based on first-century Roman foods. His cooking is mature beyond his years.

 Plus: The Best Places to Eat in Vancouver

More Canadian Travel Experiences:

• Best Outdoor Trips from Fishing to Biking
• Ontario: Chef Prodigy
• Toronto: Best Locavore Experience
• Montreal: Best Spice Shop
• Montreal: Best Wine List
• Vancouver: Best New Bar

Published May 2010