Michael Smith (chef) facts for kids
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Smith (right) with Andrew Scheer in 2019
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| Born | October 12, 1966 New York City, U.S. |
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| Cooking style | Canadian Regional |
| Education | Culinary Institute of America Rochester Institute of Technology |
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Current restaurant(s)
Chef Emeritus
The Inn at Bay Fortune |
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Television show(s)
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Michael Dixon Smith is a famous chef and cookbook writer. He was born in America but is now a Canadian citizen. You might know him from TV shows like The Inn Chef, Chef at Home, or as a judge on Chopped: Canada. These shows aired on the Canadian Food Network.
Chef Smith is also known as Prince Edward Island's Food Ambassador. This means he helps promote the delicious food from that area. He cares a lot about healthy eating and teaches people how to cook at home using fresh, local ingredients. This idea is called "farm-to-table" cooking, where food comes straight from farms and local sources to your plate.
Becoming a Chef
Michael Smith started cooking in restaurant kitchens when he was just seventeen years old. At the same time, he was studying art! In only five years, he became the Head Chef at a big, fancy restaurant.
He then went to a special cooking school called The Culinary Institute of America. He was a top student, graduating as the second best in his class. After school, Chef Smith worked in some of the world's best restaurants in Europe. These restaurants had earned three stars from the Michelin Guide, which is a very high honor. He also cooked in places like South Africa, the Caribbean, and New York City.
Cooking on Prince Edward Island
Chef Smith moved to Prince Edward Island because he wanted to cook in a way that helps the environment. He wanted to grow his own vegetables and work closely with local farmers and fishermen.
In 1991, he started working as a chef at The Inn at Bay Fortune. His first TV show, The Inn Chef, began in 1998. It was filmed right at the Inn and in other beautiful spots across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Chef Smith also led the team that cooked for athletes during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia.
In 2015, Chef Smith and his wife, Chastity, bought The Inn at Bay Fortune. Their restaurant there, called FireWorks, focuses on sustainable cooking. They grow their own vegetables in gardens around the Inn and get fresh seafood from local fishers.
In 2019, Chef Smith received a special award called the Order of Canada. This award recognized him for being a great chef and business owner. It also honored him for promoting local foods and helping tourism in the region. That same year, the Smiths opened another place called The Inn at Fortune Bridge.
Family Life
In 2009, Chef Smith created a scholarship to help students. This scholarship was for young people studying Family and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Prince Edward Island.
On August 17, 2013, Michael Smith married Chastity Smith. She is a talented singer-songwriter. They live on Prince Edward Island with their three children, Gabe, Ariella, and Camille. Chef Smith also enjoys collecting old maps as a hobby.
TV Shows
Chef Michael Smith has been on many television shows. Here are some of them:
| Year | Show | Role |
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| 1999 | The Inn Chef | Host |
| 2000 | Chef at Large | Host and writer |
| 2004 | Chef at Home | Host and writer |
| 2005 | Superstar Chef Challenge | Judge |
| 2007 | Chef Abroad | Host and writer |
| 2008 | At The Table With... | Host and writer |
| 2010 | Iron Chef America | Challenger (in a cooking battle) |
| 2010 | Food Country | Host and writer |
| 2011-2012 | Top Chef Canada | Guest Judge |
| 2014 | The Lentil Hunter | Host and writer |
| 2014-2015 | Chopped Canada | Judge |
| 2016 | Chef Michael's Kitchen | Host and writer |
| 2020 | Behind The Food Mussel Edition | Host and writer |
| 2021 | The Marilyn Denis Show | Himself |
| 2021 | The Social | Himself |
