Rare Culinary Arts Studio in downtown Peterborough is under new ownership, and will reopen as a fine dining restaurant at the end of August.
Earlier this month, former owners Tyler and Kassy Scott announced they had sold the business to Andrew Eric Lewin and Haley Mai Dong.
Lewin was previously the chef du cuisine at Chemong Lodge in Bridgenorth and, before that, sous chef at Hilton Toronto. Mai Dong studied culinary management at Fleming College and, earlier this year, won a silver medal at the Skills Canada National Competition in Vancouver after winning a gold medal at the Skills Ontario competition.
As co-owners, Lewin and Mai Dong are preparing the restaurant at 166 Brock Street in downtown Peterborough to reopen on Wednesday, August 31st, with Lewin as executive chef and Mai Dong as executive sous chef and general manager.
“Chef Andrew and his team want to support local farmers, using local products to provide a fine dining experience for their community,” reads the Rare Culinary Arts Studio website.
Reservations will be taken by phone at 705-742-3737 or by email to info@rareculinaryartsstudio.ca, with Lewin and Mai Dong also accepting bookings for private events and catering by email.
Tyler and Kassy Scott will continue with their venture Rare Escape, which offers guided outdoor culinary experiences in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
The couple, who have two young daughters, purchased Rare Grill House from Brad and Katie Watt in 2019 and relaunched the restaurant as Rare in January 2020. After navigating the restaurant through two years of the pandemic, they rediscovered their love of nature and wanted a lifestyle change.
They decided to sell the restaurant in April this year but, with no solid offers, launched Rare Culinary Arts Studio to transform the restaurant into a culinary arts studio offering educational seminars, intimate tasting dinners, and more. While Lewin and Mai Dong are retaining the name, they are reopening the business as a traditional restaurant.
For more information about Rare Culinary Arts Studio, including the menu, visit the new website at www.rareculinaryartsstudio.ca. For more information about Rare Escape, visit rareescape.ca.
