FAB MAGAZINE:
The holidays have arrived just in time for Patrick Wiese. The Toronto-based, Chicago-born chef had all burners firing this year as he competed on the first season of Top Chef Canada and continued his work as a personal chef to the stars and personality on the food show circuit.
“I’ve been so busy, it’ll be nice to go home and just breathe a little bit,” he says. “I haven’t seen my family in a couple years, so this holiday season will be a great reunion.” Wiese will be forced to relax, he says, because his mother refuses to let him in her kitchen. “That never works,” he laughs. “She tries, but I’ve got to be in the kitchen! I’ll just pour a glass of wine and help her chop stuff. That’s what the holiday season is about: taking a break, de-stressing, being with your family and friends who make you feel loved.”
Wiese admits that his style of communal cooking is tricky in his condo kitchen. “I’m a big guy, so to have other people in the kitchen, we have to stay focused and organized,” he says. “It sounds clinical but cleaning as you go really helps. Chop everything up ahead of time and put it in little containers so you can just go boom, boom, boom.” Thanks to a bit of planning, he says, “We’re still having fun, drinking wine, and telling stories as we go.”
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