photo: James Tse

Mark McEwan is one of Canada’s foremost chefs and restaurateurs. He the host of Fine Living Network show “The Heat with Mark McEwan” and head judge on Food Network Canada’s “Top Chef Canada”. From his home base of Toronto, he owns and operates several restaurants, among them Bymark, North 44, and ONE, as well as his eponymous food store, McEwan. We had a lovely dinner at CinCin with him recently, after putting to him the following questions…

Name the thing that you eat that is bad for you that you will never stop eating? Fatty meats, aka pork belly.

Default drink/cocktail of choice? Dry vodka martini with olives.

Name three drinks/cocktails you’ll never have again? Cosmos, Black Russians and Grasshoppers.

The Canadian that you admire most and why? Paul Martin, because he saved us from a US style banking system.

Your role models? Heather Reisman, Ralph Lauren and Steve Jobs. They are timeless, innovative characters that fight through anything.

Your favourite sound? The surf.

Your least favourite sound? Exhaust fans.

Your favourite smell? Sea water.

Your least favourite smells? Mothballs and marigolds.

Where is your favourite local patio? My condo’s terrace.

The historical personalities, both good and bad, that fascinate you the most? Napoleon, Washington, Lincoln, Hitler and Charlie Sheen.

What trend have you followed that you now regret? Following trends in the first place!

What are the three things you’d like to change about Toronto? We need to act a bit more like Vegas, loosen up and enjoy things more, and win a Stanley Cup.

Your two favourite places to go for dinner in Vancouver? Hawksworth and Vikram’s restaurants.

If you could board a plane this afternoon, where would it be taking you? Brown trout fishing in New Zealand.

Who’s personal style do you covet? Gene Simmons’!

Have you ever fired a gun? Yes.

Where was the last place you traveled to for work or pleasure? Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and China for a press tour.

What is your biggest phobia? Not executing things properly.

Where did you go to school? I grew up in Buffalo, but went to George Brown in Toronto for culinary school.

The one word your employees would use to describe you? “The Ghost”. You never know when I’m going to show up!

What makes you gravitate toward the cuisines of Italy? It is comfort food based around a family atmosphere.

The different career path that you could have gone on? Landscape Design.

Your ancestry? Scottish/Irish.

The three films that you can tolerate watching again and again? Pulp Fiction, The Wizard of Oz and Goodfellas.

Your most regrettable purchase ever? A baby blue, three piece suit…yikes! Don’t ask!

The character flaw in others that you can’t abide? I can’t stand people who are all talk, no action!

What are you the most proud of? Being a good boy scout in life.

What is the best thing about your work as a chef/restaurateur? That I’m still happy after 30 years. It’s a fun, fun business.

The talent that you wish you possessed? Writing.

What musical instrument do you secretly long to play? The accordian, of course!

What sport did you give up and why? Football. I was too small.

The song that you could listen to on repeat for an hour? “Old Man” by Neil Young.

The first three things that you do every morning? Coffee, feed the dog (Ruthie) and read the paper

If you had a motto, what would it be? “You can always do a better job!”

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