Michael Stadtländer and Jamie Kennedy walk away with new Governor General’s Cuisine Awards
The Governor General’s Awards, heretofore known for honouring the best in Canadian academics and arts, have added a new category to their ranks: cuisine. Yesterday, in an award ceremony at Rideau Hall, celebrity chefs Jamie Kennedy and Michael Stadtländer received a joint distinction for their role as culinary leaders by outgoing GG Michäelle Jean and her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond (the new awards were apparently his idea).
Kennedy, who came back from the brink of bankruptcy after selling off his signature Wine Bar last year, and Stadtländer, whose Eigensinn Farm is easily one of the best restaurants in the country, shared the leadership prize honour for helping to make Scaramouche a dining legend in the early ’80s and for co-founding Knives and Forks, an advocacy group promoting organic agriculture. They have also been hugely instrumental in the evolution of Canadian cuisine, having mentored countless young, talented chefs and having committed to using local and seasonal ingredients. The two chefs met when Kennedy moved to Europe to expand his cooking knowledge and apprenticed with the German-born Stadtländer. They have remained friends and colleagues for the past three decades.
Twelve others were honoured with awards in six categories, including creativity and innovation, education and awareness, leadership, mentorship and inspiration, stewardship and sustainability, and youth. The full list of recipients can be found here.
• Michaelle Jean honours Canadian cuisine [National Post]
