One of Canada’s top female chefs, Executive Chef Amanda Ray, has landed lakeside at The Drake Devonshire, bringing with her over 20 years of kitchen experience cooking in some of the country’s most respected kitchens. Newly revitalized menus at this idyllic waterfront hotel will take Ray’s classic French training and pair it with her extensive travels to Vietnam, Israel, England, Italy, France and Cape Cod. Expect to indulge in comfort classics like a legendary New England inspired lobster roll, lamb roti and family-style clam bake dinners.

Chef Ray began her career with Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality in 1999. Starting at Auberge du Pommier under Chef Jason Bangerter (currently Executive Chef at Langdon Hall), at Canoe under Corporate Executive Chef Anthony Walsh, then heading up Biff’s Bistro as Chef de Cuisine/Executive Chef, and most recently in Montreal as Chef de Cuisine of Le Mount Stephen Hotel one of the Leading Hotel’s of the World in downtown Montreal, Ray honed her culinary technique with an emphasis on classic French cuisine. During her time with Oliver & Bonacini she also completed a three-month stagiaire at Hotel Crillon le Brave in Provençe, France a small luxury Relais & Châteaux property. Here she cooked rustic Provençal cuisine and taught at the cooking school alongside Head Chef Philippe Monti.

In addition to having spent over two decades honing her craft, Amanda has been actively involved in dozens of industry events and charity fundraisers, including Toronto Taste, Gold Medal Plates (Ontario Regional Champion, 2016), Canadian Chef’s Congress, What’s on the Table in support of The Stop Community Food Centre, and the Brickworks Picnic in support of Slow Food. She has also appeared as a guest chef at the Mission Hill Winery Epicurean dinner and at Michael Stadtlander’s globally renowned Eigensinn Farm located in Grey County.