Treadwell's Farm to Table Cuisine

If you haven't heard of Chef Stephen Treadwell, then it's time you met one of the Niagara Region's best and brightest.

A lone green asparagus stalk braves the elements on the cover of the Spring 2008 Edible Toronto issue- an ode to the bounty that awaits us in the Golden Horseshoe when the harsh winter makes us all wonder if anything will ever grow again. But grow again our fruits and vegetable do and Chef Stephen Treadwell is someone who likes to take advantage of Mother Nature’s bounty at every possible turn.

A little while back, I mentioned that the best meal of 2007 was had at Treadwell’s Farm to Table Cuisine- that’s when I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Treadwell at his restaurant in Port Dalhousie, Ontario (near St. Catherines and Niagara-on-the-Lake). I interviewed the big-hearted chef during a cold, dreary winter’s day that he managed to spike with warmth and good cheer in the form of comforting, delectable dishes using locally sourced ingredients.

His is a fascinating story- a boy from working-class Harlow, England (a suburb of London) who decides that he’s good with his hands and has a creative mind. This leads him to cooking school where he sees the world is his potential playground – eventually landing gigs throughout Europe before settling on Toronto, Canada as his new home. To read about his journey and what he’s doing now- feel free to click here where you’ll be taken to my profile piece on Treadwell in the latest Edible Toronto. It’s worth the drive to Port Dalhousie!