What’s art? It’s an age-old question for sure, but in truth, it’s anything that conveys an emotion, creates an experience, takes you on a journey or tells you a story. And if those are the qualifications, one of the world’s top artists isn’t a traditional painter or photographer, but a chef.
Marc Lepine is the executive chef of Atelier, a celebrated Ottawa restaurant that he opened in 2008. But this isn’t just any restaurant, nor is Marc just any chef. He’s competed on Iron Chef, authored a cook book, twice won the Canadian Culinary Championship’s gold medal as our nation’s top chef and has been named Canada’s Most Innovative Chef. Atelier has also consistently been named one of Canada’s top 100 restaurants. The key ingredients? Make delicious food, yes, but make it and plate it in ways you’d never think possible. In the doing, Marc’s created a new style of artistic, visual storytelling – stories that help diners fall in love with the nature behind the food.
We sat down with Marc at his restaurant to learn about his story just before guests arrived for their one-of-a-kind, twelve-course journey into the culinary mind of an artistic genius.
What do you think?
- What did you take from Marc’s story? Does it make you rethink art and storytelling?
- If you’re a creator, how can your skill manifest itself in different ways? Are you willing to be bold? And if so, can you take the heat?
- Do we, as a society, need to be more thoughtful reviewers and more reflective reviewees?
- Do we know how to take good advice? Do we know how to separate good advice from the bad?
- Are any of us truly equipped to dish fair criticism?
More on Marc
Read the articles: Renowned Chef Marc Lepine brings Culinary students into his element., Atelier chef Marc Lepine opens much-anticipated six-seat restaurant THRU, serves 50-item dinner