Eat-drink – The Royal Hotel

Executive chef Albert Ponzo brings over two decades of award-winning experience and passion to his seasonal and locally inspired food.

Working closely with The Royal’s Edwin County Farms, his passion for sustainable farming and nose-to-tail butchery are being explored like never before. Albert honed his craft in the kitchens of some of Toronto’s most beloved and respected culinary institutions, including Canoe, Crush Wine Bar and Le Sélect Bistro, where he was executive chef for 11 years.

Albert traces his love of food back to Sardegna where, as a young boy, he spent countless hours in his Nonna Maria’s kitchen. This love of food, its relationship to the land and the past, are what drive his passion today. When he’s not at The Royal, Albert can be found tending to the Ponzo Family Farm with Marlise and their three children.