'EATING WORDS' with Writer in Residence IVY KNIGHT | Friday November 27/26
Join us for EATING WORDS, a discussion with IVY KNIGHT, our Joseph Hoare Gastronomic Writer-In-Residence (JHGWIR) for 2026, in conversation with Megan Jones, co-owner of The Starlight, Stratford.
Ivy Knight was a line cook before becoming a food writer and filmmaker. She is a French Canadian who was born on the west coast, grew up on the east coast, and currently lives in Toronto. Knight spent a decade cooking professionally before leaving restaurant kitchens to write full time. Her first big interview was Jacques Pepin, her second was Calvin Trillin — those two giants provided the best learning curve for breaking into the business.
Her byline can be found in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Food & Wine, and more. She has written two cookbooks for HarperCollins and her short film series OPEN (created with JR Reid and James Chatto), is produced in partnership with award-winning Roads & Kingdoms.
Megan Jones has spent 24 years in hospitality. A York University graduate, Megan worked
her way through restaurants in Toronto, Southeast Asia and Australia, and became one of only a handful of women in the middle of Toronto’s cocktail boom. With her partner, Tim Pritchard, she opened The Gaslight in Toronto’s Junction Triangle, and later Noble Coffee across the street.
After the pandemic, Megan and her family moved to Stratford, where they now own The
Starlight. In three years it has grown from a cocktail and snack bar into a full restaurant.
Learn more: https://stratfordchef.com/about-the-wir-program/
EATING WORDS 2026
Where: Stratford Chefs School Kitchens, 136 Ontario Street, Stratford ON
When: Friday, November 27 from 4:00 to 5:30pm
Tickets are complimentary, but must be booked in advance.
$25 tax deductible donation per person is suggested.
Cash Bar Available
Previous JHGWIR candidates include: Joshna Maharaj | Lesley Chesterman | James Chatto | Corby Kummer | James Oseland | Lucy Waverman | Gabrielle Hamilton | Molly Wizenberg and more.
Special thanks to Elizabeth Baird for her generous support.
More information
Party size
1 ticket