More and more hot international chefs eating out in Toronto

We have been noticing lately that internationally renowned chefs are increasingly traipsing through Toronto. A few months back, Grant Achatz of Chicago’s Alinea was in town tippling at Barchef and envying the St. Lawrence Market. This past weekend, culinary greats Daniel Boulud (owner of NYC’s Daniel and Vancouver’s Lumière) and James Beard Award winner Paul Kahan (executive chef at Chicago’s Blackbird, The Publican and Avec) were in town to help raise funds for Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital at the fifth annual Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival.

While Boulud, Kahan and a number of other top Toronto chefs prepared exclusive wine and dine experiences on Friday night in sponsors’ private homes, the visiting crew also took time to explore Toronto’s culinary scene. On Thursday night, Boulud stopped by Pangaea—co-owned by chef Martin Kouprie, his partner for the same event last year—for charcuterie, foie gras and Ontario pine mushrooms. (Kouprie’s wife has also tweeted that Martin will be cooking for Prince Charles on Friday.)

Meanwhile, Grant van Gameren, co-owner and chef of The Black Hoof, posts a picture of Boulud and Kahan on his Twitter account after the visitors’ group finished the entire Hoof menu twice over.