Executive Chef Stuart Cameron is a busy man. Currently overseeing the kitchens at Patria, Weslodge and STORYS, the Australia-native has had a fascinating career in kitchens beginning at the tender age of 14. We caught up with Cameron to find out where he grabs a drink and a bite in his downtime, and what he loves most about Toronto.
Give us a snippet about you. What should people know?
I was born in Melbourne, Australia and started my four-year cooking apprenticeship just before I turned 15. After working and traveling my own country, I decided to move to Vancouver and then Banff which is basically inhabited by most of Australia. After a return home, I came back to Toronto and started working with long-time friend Hanif Harji at Icon Legacy, who had partnered with INK. I have been working in kitchens for 23 years and currently oversee the kitchens at Patria, Weslodge and STORYS.
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Finish this sentence: I love Toronto because…
…of the amazing people and fun vibe of a fast paced city that is constantly growing.
What are three things you simply cannot live without?
Definitely can’t live with out a phone, a vacation once a year, and a good night out on the town once in a while, as I don’t recover well anymore.
What are some of your favourite restaurants in the world and why?
I really like it simple now days without too much fuss; nice and casual as that’s kinda what I am like myself: MoVida Restaurant in Melbourne; Avec in Chicago, which was super fun; Casa Mono and Barbuto in New York, which are both super chill. So basically, chef-driven restaurants which are casual and all about food.
What’s your favourite drink/cocktail and where do you go to get it?
I am a beer guy and recently anything wheat and in a bottle is great. (Patria has Estrella Damm Inedit, which is a beer Ferran Adria created with Estrella. It’s my favourite). Also, I like a Drambuie chaser to sip on. I like a beer at Allen’s on Danforth – it’s near my home and probably the only place I drink draft beer.
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Let’s get social for a mo’. How can people stay up-to-date with all your city-trotting?
I am super bad at social media stuff; however, I do still tweet stuff from: @Weslodge , @PatriaTO and @chef_stucameron… but usually it’s all about food, new dishes and the restaurants.
