Dale MacKay

MacKay in 2014

Dale MacKay is a Canadian chef, best known as the winner of Top Chef Canada''s first season in 2011.[1]

MacKay first entered the food industry as a fry cook in Vancouver, British Columbia. In the early 2000s, he moved to London, England, where he got a job at Gordon Ramsay's Claridge's, later moving to other Ramsay restaurants in London, Tokyo and New York City.[1] He later became executive chef at Daniel Boulud's Lumière restaurant in Vancouver, following the departure of Rob Feenie from the establishment in 2007, until its closure in 2011.[2]

He opened his own pair of restaurants, ensemble and ensembleTap, in 2011. He won the Top Chef Canada title soon afterward, investing his prize money in the venues, but closed them in 2012 after determining that rental costs in downtown Vancouver were too expensive for them to become profitable.[3] In early 2013, MacKay announced that he was returning to his hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to open a new restaurant.[4] The restaurant, named Ayden Kitchen & Bar, opened on November 15, 2013.[5][6]

He made a return appearance on Top Chef Canada in 2013, acting as sous chef to third season finalist Danny Francis.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Former Vancouver fry cook wins Top Chef Canada". CBC News. 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  2. ↑ Smith, Charlie (2011-02-27). "Lumiere and db Bistro Moderne restaurants will close on March 13". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  3. ↑ Da Silva, Michelle (2012-08-27). "Chef Dale MacKay closes ensemble and ensembleTap restaurants". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  4. ↑ Da Silva, Michelle (2013-02-15). "Vancouver chef Dale MacKay to open new restaurant in Saskatoon". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  5. ↑ "Top Chef opening local spot". The StarPhoenix (Postmedia Network). 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  6. ↑ "Dale MacKay opens Ayden Kitchen and Bar". The Vancouver Sun (Postmedia Network). 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2014-01-11.