Day 9: Executive Corporate Chef Gordon Mackie

Plato Putas is all about spreading the holiday cheer, especially when it’s related to food. We’re asking some of the most beloved chefs and food lovers about the best gifts to give…and get.

Best Cookbook to Give
Ad Hoc At Home – approachable food from Thomas Keller. I like all his books because all his recipes work. This one is particularly good for families, and it’s Keller being light and funny. It’s a must for foodies.

Best Gourmet Food Item to Give
Any seasoning. I love to work with seasonings & spices – fleur de sel & salts from around the world, Balinese long pepper, allspice from Guatemala. Check out The Spice Trader on Queen Street West in Toronto – they’ve got it all.

Best Kitchen Gadget to Give
Tongs. Chefs use them for everything and a great pair will last forever. Try the Calphalon Culinary Center at King Street West and Spadina in Toronto.

On My Wish List
Any of the fantastic organic meats from Cumbrae’s on Church Street – like the fantastic chickens they sell, which are raised being fed grains, corn and soya to promote healthy growth and great taste.

Gordon Mackie is the executive corporate chef for SIR Corp.’s one-of-a-kind, Toronto-based restaurants, the Signature Group. He currently operates from the kitchen at Far Niente, while also presiding over the kitchen operations at reds bistro & wine bar, Petit Four Bakery and the newest restaurant, FOUR. Plato Putas recently ate at FOUR and became a big fan of their $2 dessert menu.