Catering Program and Two New Dining Destinations Launch in June
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), in partnership with Restaurant Associates and Compass Canada, today announced that Elizabeth Hollyer, Ted Corrado, Lauren Boyington and Caesar Guinto have been chosen as the four-member team that will spearhead the ROM’s new food services, including a resident catering program, an upscale restaurant in the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal called C5 Restaurant Lounge and a new family cafeteria entitled Food Studio.
“We are thrilled and honored to be involved with the new Michael Lee Chin Crystal,” said Dick Cattani, President of Restaurant Associates (RA). “RA is proud to deliver its fine dining history and partner with the ROM team in an effort to create two exceptional dining venues. C5 Restaurant Lounge is to become Toronto’s premier restaurant while Food Studio, a fresh market eatery, is for all ROM visitors to enjoy.”
Elizabeth Hollyer will lead the team as Director for Restaurant Associates at the ROM. Ms. Hollyer brings to the Museum over twenty years’ experience in the food services management sector. Most recently she served as Vice-President of Signature Division SIR Corp, where she successfully oversaw the operation of top Toronto restaurants such as Far Niente, Soul of the Vine, reds and The Brasserie. Career highlights include helping to bring the very successful Quebec chain Chez Cora Dejeuners to Ontario, and managing restaurants such as Toronto’s historic Senator Restaurant and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, where she won the restaurant their first Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
Toronto chef Ted Corrado will oversee C5 Restaurant Lounge as Chef de Cuisine. Mr. Corrado brings ten years of culinary experience to the ROM’s new upscale restaurant. He has worked as sous chef and executive chef in some of Toronto’s most exclusive restaurants such as George, rain and Luce. Mr. Corrado’s C5 menu for Restaurant Associates will combine local, organic and artisanal ingredients for a superlative dining experience paired with an international and regional wine list.
Lauren Boyington will be the new chef of Food Studio, the ROM’s new earth-friendly family diner. Ms. Boyington has spent twenty years in the culinary industry, working at highly regarded restaurants such as Czehoski, Coca Tapas and Wine Bar, the Palmerston and The Founder’s Club under the tutelage of chef Jamie Kennedy. Ms. Boyington brings her passion for organic ingredients and innovative menu development to Food Studio, where she will oversee the day-to-day operations, menu planning and staffing. Ms. Boyington is a founding member of Knives and Forks and an organizer for Feast of Fields.
Restaurant Associates’ new resident catering program at the ROM will provide in-house catering services for Museum special events. Caesar Guinto will oversee these initiatives as Catering Chef, including menu planning, staffing and execution. Mr. Guinto is an award-winning pastry chef and brings 12 years of culinary experience to the ROM. Most recently he served as Executive Chef at the premier Toronto catering company Gibson and Lyle.
“Excellent dining options are integral to any leading museum today and we welcome this team to help us launch our two new dining venues at such an important time in the ROM’s history,” said William Thorsell, Director and CEO of the ROM. “With their unique skills and solid experience, and in partnership with a sector-leading company like Restaurant Associates, the new ROM becomes an even better place for pleasurable social experiences.”
C5 Restaurant Lounge, located at the pinnacle of the new Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, is a unique dining destination that will provide superlative gastronomic experiences and a sophisticated lounge environment. The restaurant opened for à la carte lunch on June 11th and will open for à la carte dinner on June 14th.
Food Studio at the ROM is a casual family restaurant dedicated to providing healthy menu options in an earth-friendly environment, including freshly made favourites such as salads, pizza, soup and hot sandwiches. Action stations serve exotic ethnic cuisine reflecting themes of the ROM’s exhibitions. Food Studio will source organic, seasonal ingredients from local Ontario food producers when possible and will provide a selection of biodegradable containers and plates as part of their healthy planet initiative. Food Studio is located on Level B1 of the ROM’s Philosophers’ Walk building.
Restaurant Associates is an operating division of Compass PLC, the largest foodservice company in the world. Compass Group Canada is a partner in the venture with the ROM and manages a wide range of foodservice operations in Canada, including the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum. Restaurant Associates manages foodservice at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Morgan Library, Lincoln Centre, The Museum of Natural History and The Guggenheim, among many others.
On June 2, 2007, the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, the centrepiece of the Renaissance ROM expansion project, opened to the public. The 175,000 square-foot, aluminium-and-glass-covered Lee-Chin Crystal houses seven permanent galleries overlooking Bloor Street West, a new main entrance and lobby, the ROM Museum Store, C5 Restaurant Lounge and special events facilities, as well as Canada’s largest space for international exhibitions.