This past week, Mezzo Restaurant hosted iconic Canadian chef, Michael Smith, to cook for a series of evenings. For those who missed out, we wanted to give a little peek into how it all went.

 

Chef Michael Smith cooked in the kitchen at Mezzo Restaurant in April 2018.
Chef Michael Smith cooked in the kitchen at Mezzo Restaurant in April 2018.

 

The night started with being handed a glass of sparkling wine from Colio Estate Wines upon entering the restaurant. Chef Michael Smith was immersed in the midst of the 100 plus dinners, shucking P.E.I. oysters and telling stories as people came up to sample them.

 

Chef Michael Smith shucking oysters at Mezzo Restaurant.
Chef Michael Smith shucking oysters at Mezzo Restaurant.

 

After the shucking and hors d’ouevres, guests was seated at long, communal tables, set to encourage conversation and interactivity with other guests. The seating was styled after Chef Smith’s, The Inn at Bay Fortune.

 

A packed evening at Mezzo Restaurant for Chef Michael Smith's visit to Windsor, Ontario.

A packed evening at Mezzo Restaurant for Chef Michael Smith’s visit to Windsor, Ontario.

The kitchen staff at Mezzo Restaurant then worked closely with Chef Michael Smith and his staff, who had been flown in from Prince Edward Island, to create the perfect 4-course meal, representing the best P.E.I. has to offer. The meal started with cured, maple-smoked sustainable salmon served with potato salad before moving on to a farmers salad with root vegetable puree and edible dirt.

 

Salmon was on the menu for the Chef Michael Smith event at Mezzo Restaurant in Windsor, Ontario.
Salmon was on the menu for the Chef Michael Smith event at Mezzo Restaurant in Windsor, Ontario.

 

Then, the main course showcased a slow roasted island beef short rib and grilled flat iron steak, the flavours popped.

Extra props definitely go to the Mezzo kitchen staff for keeping their cool with a Canadian cooking icon in the kitchen beside them.

 

Chef Michael Smith judging the play dough representations of Windsor, Ontario.
Chef Michael Smith judging the play dough representations of Windsor, Ontario.

 

To encourage interactivity and add to the dining experience, trays of colourful play dough were placed on the tables between each group of four. The goal: work together and create a sculpture on what you thought best represented Windsor, with Chef Michael Smith also choosing a winner.

Everyone worked hard to put their best work forward with sculptures created representing Windsor’s diversity, close connection to Detroit and, of course, our pizza.

 

Chef Michael Smith mingled throughout the evening and signed cookbooks.
Chef Michael Smith mingled throughout the evening and signed cookbooks.

 

After dinner, things got kicked up a notch as 7 lucky guests (myself included!) were chosen to try their hand at becoming an honorary Islander. This included doing traditional Islander things like downing moonshine and an oyster, peeling a potato, finding Confederation Bridge on a map and folding it back up and de-banding a live lobster.

 

A few lucky guests were chosen to try their hand at becoming an honorary Islander.
A few lucky guests were chosen to try their hand at becoming an honorary Islander.

 

Thankfully, Mezzo owner, Filip Rocca, plans on hosting more unique events in the future at the restaurant. We’re excited to see what they have up their sleeve next.