Laura Calder is the champion of civilized behaviour and hospitality and tries to make life inviting. She’s subtle about how she makes you think about what you are doing.  Tony Bourdain, on the other hand, was brash, opinionated but was just as passionate about where you go looking for your food and cultural experiences.

Tony put it very well.   Food is everything we are.  It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma.  It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.

Laura is perky, bright, and likes quick and modern ways to cook traditional favourites. She’s always looking for improvements to the classics. 

Tony wants his food, and experiences, straight up. Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one’s life.

Laura has brought the French approach to life, food and entertaining to the forefront.  She’s about presentation but embraces the cultural values of ‘how’ we do things – from the way we enjoy food, wine and company.

Tony I don’t have much patience for people who are self-conscious about the act of eating, and it irritates me when someone denies themselves the pleasure of a bloody hunk of steak or a pungent French cheese because of some outdated nonsense about what’s appropriate or attractive.

They both relay ‘experiences’.

You’ll find a mix of the two here with us.