Chef Stephen Vardy
Winner of the 2006 Ottawa Chef of the Year Award
Four-Two star awards, Where to Eat in Canada
Three-CAA/AAA Four Diamond Awards
At 31 years old award winning Chef Stephen Vardy already holds well over a decade of experience. Raised in Newfoundland and proud of his heritage Stephen moved to Ottawa in 1992 and began to build his career. Entering the kitchen at the bottom of the brigade in 1994 Stephen quickly bulldozed up through the ranks to be the most talked about chef in Ottawa, Canada.
After training with revered chefs like Michael Smith, Robert Bourassa, John Taylor, Stefan Czapalay and Maurizio Bertossi he went on to open critically acclaimed Beckta Dinning and Wine with Stephen Beckta. It won him three consecutive CAA/AAA 4 diamond awards, two stars in Where to Eat in Canada (during his stay) and fourth best new restaurant in Canada by En Route Magazine. He was only 24 years old.
Stephen has since gone on to achieve Ottawa’s first Epicurean Chef of the year award 2006, 3rd place in Canada’s Gold medal Plates, appear in Time Magazine along with dozens of other publications and establish other culinary land marks in Ottawa such as The Black Cat Bistro and Whalesbone Oyster House
He has charmed stars and executives alike and continues to instigate the dinning scene in Ottawa. To name A few; The Rolling Stones, Robert Plant, Liam Niesson, Kate Blanchett, Wayne Gretzky, Joni Mitchell, Diana Krall, Tori Spelling. Casper Weinberger, Rick Mercer, Prime Ministers, Premiers and Politicians have all passed through his kitchen doors.
Stephen has quickly won the hearts and stomachs of diners and critics, offering charm and passion with guests in addition to his diverse culinary arsenal. His cuisine is intensely personal and showcases the skilled technique and great respect for the traditional roots it spawns from.
This passion and committment that Chef Vardy brings with him to Atlantica is very much welcomed!
Testimonials
"Steve is like the Bob Dylan of cooking"- Howe Gelb
"One of the best meals we’ve had in twenty years"- The Rolling Stones
"Steve Vardy’s bold mix of flavors is Renoir meets Jackson Pollock"- Natalie MacLean