Durham College (DC) announced today it is serving up more Jamie Kennedy through an expanded partnership with the celebrity chef and Centre for Food (CFF) ambassador, in support of student success.

With this commitment Kennedy will interact with students in the classroom, labs and fields; work with staff and faculty; and participate in student special events. The community will have the opportunity to taste the chef’s talents through a special Jamie Kennedy menu offered on Thursdays at Bistro ’67 – the CFF’s green-certified teaching-inspired restaurant.

“As the ambassador for the Centre for Food we have seen Chef Kennedy’s work in action first-hand,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “We are very excited that we’ll see more of Jamie on campus and with our students, offering them more opportunities to explore the field-to-fork philosophy and enhancing DC’s best-in-class education across culinary, hospitality, event management, food science, agricultural and horticultural programs.”

Kennedy is a pioneer in ‘farm to table’ practices, and recipient of the Order of Canada for his promotion of Canadian cuisine and the use of organic, sustainable and locally-sourced foods. His expertise will enhance DC’s leadership in the field-to-fork food movement – a vision at the heart of the CFF, and a concept that is shaping the future of local food and farming industries to help maintain Ontario’s strong agricultural tradition.

“Canada is becoming a real hub for creating culinary uniqueness using fresh ingredients from local farms, and Durham College is a leader in this movement,” said Kennedy. “Students are learning to draw inspiration by following the field-to-fork philosophy, and I have reached a point in my career where sharing of knowledge is key. It’s important to instill this ideology in younger cooks, and I’m looking for practical ways to get involved.”

He added that with programs like DC’s, both students and the Ontario food industry have a bright future ahead of them, and he’s excited to be a part of it.

Kennedy, who owns and runs a farm and vineyard in Prince Edward County, has applied the slow food philosophy in every aspect of his business. His seasonal methods of cooking continue to inspire progress in agricultural and gastronomical communities nationwide.

With the capacity to accommodate 900 students, the CFF is Durham Regions first-ever post-secondary presence focused on field-to-fork. In addition to Bistro ’67, the CFF houses Pantry, a retail store featuring fresh-baked items, meals-to-go, preserved foods and ready-to-cook meals created by students in the college’s culinary programs. The grounds feature an apple orchard, farm fields and greenhouses that support academic applied-learning and research while growing fruits, vegetables and other produce for use in its kitchens, laboratories and Bistro ‘67.