The Table Culinary Studio provides the perfect spot for bringing local history, food and culture together.
D
errick Hoare has lived on Canada’s
Prince Edward Island for 12 years
and his love for it runs so deep that
when he retired five years ago, he knew
there was nowhere else he’d rather be. “I’m
an islander by choice. I chose to live here
because there’s a sense of community, a
collective of folks putting together great
things,” he said.
Derrick is one of those people doing
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“great things”. In May this year, he opened
The Table, a culinary studio showcasing the
island’s bountiful produce.
Derrick spent 35 years as a health care
executive but he is also a trained chef, and
his passion for fresh, local ingredients is
inspiring. He particularly loves the spirit of
co-operation and genuine friendship that
exists between producers on the island.
“It’s not a competition between culinary
folks, it’s a collaboration. Everybody helps
everybody, no matter what,” he said.
The setting for The Table is a quaint
wooden church in New London, a pretty
rural community 40 kilometres from Charlottetown, capital of Prince Edward Island
(PEI). The 1952 church has been beautifully converted with a modern kitchen opening to a graciously furnished dining space.
When Derrick bought the property in
January this year, he built on the foundation laid by Annie Leroux, who established
Annie’s Table in 2012. He has continued
with Annie’s philosophy of gathering
people together in the kitchen and around
the dining table to experience fine food,
community and laughter.
Every dish that goes onto the menu at