Canadian Press Dining in the kitchen is offered at the Hemispheres Chef's Table at the Metropolitain Hotel in Toronto. Corporate chef Neal Noble is shown discussing the dishes in the glassed-in dining room overlooking the action of the busy kitchen. For travellers, it's a way to try delicacies of an area they're visiting while discussing the ingredients and preparation with the chefs.
Diners can even join in to help create the meal.
It's thought the first chef's table resulted spontaneously when a regular guest arrived to find no tables available at a hotel restaurant. Instead of being sent away hungry, the chef instructed staff to seat the party at a table in the kitchen. The Metropolitan Hotel in Toronto has refined the tradition even more with a chef's table in a luxurious room with a view. Corporate chef Neal Noble created the private, glassed-in dining room overlooking the action of the busy kitchen at the Met's Hemispheres restaurant. Accommodating up to 10 people, it's directly connected to the kitchen.