Michael Lyon
Chef Michael Lyon
“French forward with a Rocky Mountain twist”
Eldorado
I was Born In North York, and raised in Shelburne Ontario. My first job in a proper kitchen was” The Globe” in Rosemont. I was a first cook at age 14 and have not stopped since. Upon finishing high school, I ventured into the engineering world for a semester and quickly realized that the kitchen was my domain. I changed career paths to become a chef and I enrolled at George Brown Culinary College in Toronto. Aside from College I traveled extensively to Europe and various exotic locations to learn other methods of cooking, primarily France (the mother of culinary).
I was fortunate to be part of the opening sous chef for Alice Fazolli’s and executive chef for Al Frisco’s, Far Niente. I lived in Las Vegas to train for my career overseas in Moscow as Planet Hollywood’s Senior Executive Chef. This position was nothing of a culinary challenge but more so an adventure of a life time.
Upon returning to Canada, we had our first child Nicholas, followed by Ella and Quintin. I assumed the executive chef position at the Maple Leaf in Banff where I took this community to a new level of dining, as well as receiving many other accolades while working in Banff.
After leaving Banff I enjoyed personal catering, food styling, cooking classes in the Rockies/Okanagan, and filming a very unique Food Network program called CheF@OFF
I have been everywhere man, but nothing compares to my new digs at the Eldorado Boutique Hotel on Lake Okanagan in Kelowna. This is definitely a place that I will call home. My quest is over and I have met my biggest and most fun challenge. However, I have been told I must make it through the summer , and then I can talk. LoL
Highlights of Qualification
- Featured in best selling cookbook “Le Grand Chapeau” (top 20 chefs of Canada
- Two time Gold Medal Plates Calgary, Gold Medalist
- Inaugurated in the Gold Medal Plates Hall Of Fame
- Raised over $350.000 in local (bow valley, Calgary, Edmonton and Canadian Olympics) charitable auctions as quest chef, from travelling to the Grand Canyon or high end dinners in people’s homes.
- 4 years alongside Kate Kunz photography as a food stylist
- Co-stared in the Thirsty Traveler “Rye On The Rocks”
- Star in Food Network’s “CheF@OFF” hosted by non other “Kevin Brouch”
Sunroom Terrace at the Eldorado