From a media release:
CTV, in partnership with Gusto Worldwide Media, announced today the reboot of iconic series COOK LIKE A CHEF for its new lifestyle brand CTV Life Channel. Production begins later this month in Ottawa with an all-new cast of some of Canada’s best and brightest chefs, including former personal chef to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Chef Katie Ardington, head chef of Montréal’s Maison Publique Chef Derek Dammann, host of ONE WORLD KITCHEN Chef Natalia Machado, and owner of Patois restaurant in Toronto Chef Craig Wong. The series is slated to debut in early 2020 on CTV Life Channel.
CTV’s first original order for CTV Life Channel, the revival of COOK LIKE A CHEF stays true to its initial creative with some modern updates. Originally on air from 2001 – 2005, the rebooted series teaches viewers how to cook, not what to cook. The live-to-tape studio production breaks down the fourth wall, bringing the crew into the on-camera experience and providing a unique, intimate point of view for the audience.
The first season consists of 20 half-hour episodes, in which an expert chef focuses on a single ingredient and dives deep into cooking techniques, tips, and tricks that will give any home cook confidence in the kitchen.
Initially created by President and CEO of Gusto Worldwide Media Chris Knight, COOK LIKE A CHEF’s original run spanned six seasons and 165 episodes, and won a Gourmand cookbook award.
See below for more details on the diverse culinary backgrounds of COOK LIKE A CHEF’s four new hosts:
Chef Katie Ardington
Well-established in the Ottawa culinary scene, Chef Katie Ardington is the executive chef for the Beckta restaurant group, overseeing Play Food & Wine, Beckta, and Gezellig. Formally, Katie worked as the personal chef to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family. A proud recipient of the prestigious Top 30 Under 30 Award from the Ontario Hostelry Institute, Katie regularly gives back to her community through local food-related events and initiatives.
Chef Derek Dammann
Derek Dammann was raised in Campbell River, BC. He previously worked in one of Canada’s great Italian restaurants, Zambri’s, before making his way to the U.K. to work with Jamie Oliver. Today, Derek is based in Montréal where he is the proud owner of Masion Publique. Recently, he partnered with the Joe Beef team to open McKiernan Luncheonette, Rotisserie and Catering. He is the author of the best-selling cookbook, True North, Canadian Cooking from Coast to Coast.
Chef Natalia Machado
Originally from Buenos Aires, Natalia Machado is an award-winning chef who has brought her creative and authentic Argentinian fare to international competitions. Based in Montréal, Natalia is the Culinary Director for Ville Marie Collection and the host of ONE WORLD KITCHEN, where she showcases her culinary traditions while telling unique stories.
Chef Craig Wong
Craig is the Chef and owner of Patois Toronto, an Asian-Caribbean restaurant and the executive chef at Ting Irie, Dubai’s first Jamaican restaurant. Combining his Jamaican-Chinese heritage with classic French cuisine training, Craig Wong’s cooking has always been exciting, unique, and packed with bold flavors. His passion for learning and relentless determination led him to working in Three Michelin starred restaurants including Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée and The Fat Duck.
What sets this apart from other Salem witch trial programming that I’ve seen before is the legwork done setting the scene. While most, if not all, past programs dive right into the screaming and writhing experienced by Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, Witches of Salem describes what life was like at the time both socially and religiously. That goes a long way to explaining why the trials happened in the first place. I’ve been to Salem and read the court documents surrounding the case, and T+E’s project gets it right factually. And, as well-versed in the case as I am, the show is scary as heck. I credit that to an excellent cast led by Nick Biskupek as the creepy Reverend Samuel Parris, eerie camera work, special effects and downright disturbing soundtrack.
