THE NEW SCHOOL: MASTERS OF CULINARY EYE CANDY

WE EAT WITH OUR EYES FIRST. AND, IN TODAY’S SOCIAL MEDIA AGE, I’D HAZARD A GUESS THAT QUITE OFTEN WE EAT – OR INGEST – WITH OUR EYES ONLY. NEED PROOF? DO A CURSORY SEARCH OF THE HASHTAG #FOODPORN ON INSTAGRAM AND WATCH YOUR (APTLY-NAMED) FEED FILL WITH ALMOST ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MILLION BITE-SIZE IMAGES OF VISUALLY-TITILLATING, DROOL-INDUCING EATS. 

INDEED, IT’S ALMOST AS THOUGH THE CELLPHONE HAS USURPED THE KITCHEN KNIFE AS A COOK’S MOST VALUABLE CULINARY TOOL. 

IN OUR REGION, THERE EXISTS A SMALL HANDFUL OF YOUNG CHEFS WHO ARE ELEVATING THE FOOD PRESENTATION GAME TO NEW HEIGHTS. WITH DISHES THAT ARE EQUAL PARTS MINIMALIST, WHIMSICAL AND MISCHIEVOUS, THESE COOKS ARE CREATING AESTHETIC MASTERPIECES THAT SERVE TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED, POSTED AND DEVOURED WITH OUR EYES AS MUCH AS THEY BEG TO BE CONSUMED BY OUR MOUTHS. 

OVER THE PAST LITTLE WHILE, TOQUE MANAGED TO TURN THE CAMERA’S EYE AWAY FROM THE FOOD AND ONTO FOUR OF THESE COOKS – AS MUCH VISUAL ARTISTS AS CULINARY MASTERS. 

TAKE A GOOD LOOK. AND REMEMBER THESE FACES. 

RYAN DELEON, CHEF DE CUISINE
Quatrefoil Restaurant, Dundas
quatrefoilrestaurant.com
EMILY SCHLIEPER, SOUS CHEF
Arabella Park Beer Bar, Kitchener
arabellaparkbar.com
JOEY BORNINO, CHEF & OWNER
Elizabeth Street Eatery, Guelph
elizabethstreeteatery.com