Chef Michael Smith and Sodexo Open New Restaurant

KINGSTON, ON, Jan. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Chef Michael Smith and Sodexo are proud to announce the Grand Opening of their new restaurant concept; The Canadian Grilling Company by Chef Michael Smith. The official opening of the restaurant will take place at Queen's University in Kingston Ontario on Thursday January 11, 2012.

Chef Michael Smith and Sodexo began collaborating several years ago based on a shared appreciation and respect for delicious, nutritious, local and sustainable food. This relationship has grown over the years to the point that Michael is active in all facets of Sodexo's business and also passionately represents the company's charitable STOP Hunger organization in its mission to end hunger.

Along this journey Michael and Sodexo began bouncing around the idea of creating a special restaurant concept that would embrace their shared values and provide customers with a uniquely enjoyable Canadiana experience. The mission To create and grow a national chain where people love to eat, work and learn about Canadian sustainable food. "We're honouring local Canadian farmers, ranchers and growers".

"I'm wildly excited to be collaborating with my friends and colleagues at Sodexo to launch the Canadian Grilling Company. Our journey begins in Kingston, Ontario on campus at Queens University, a long time Sodexo client partner. We're looking forward to sharing this exciting opportunity with you as well!" Adds Chef Michael Smith.

Follow the CGC family on Facebook at Canadian-Grilling-Company-at-Queens-U and Twitter @CGCatQueensU

About Michael

Chef Michael Smith, Canada's best-known chef is the winner of the James Beard Award for Cooking Show Excellence and host of Chef Abroad, Chef at Home, Chef at Large and The Inn Chef on Food Network Canada and in more than 100 other countries. Currently Michael is in production on a brand new series that will begin airing in Fall 2011 on Food Network Canada.

Michael is Prince Edward Islands official food ambassador, an award winning cookbook author, newspaper columnist, professional chef and home cook. In 2010 he led the team of Sodexo chefs that cooked for the worlds Olympians in the Whistler Athletes Village. He is the National Sustainability Advocate for Sodexo, one of the worlds largest food service management companies. His recent cookbook, Chef Michael Smith's Kitchen 100 of My Favourite Easy Recipes is a smash hit across Canada.

Sodexo in Canada

Since 1912 through its legacy company, Sodexo Canada has been delivering Quality of Life Solutions to clients across Canada. Now present in Healthcare, Education, Business and Industry, Government, Hotels, Remote Sites and Sports and Leisure. By integrating the delivery of its client's property management, private public partnerships, project management, facilities management and food services, Sodexo provides clients with economic efficiency, guaranteed expertise, certified quality, reliability and consistency. It all leads to a better Quality of Life for the end-user, resulting in overall return on investment for the client's organization. Sodexo Canada created the Sodexo Foundation an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 2001, has donated more than 750,000 free meals to at risk youth in Canada.

Sodexo around the World

Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations. Based on this conviction, Sodexo acts as the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and employee well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo's 391,000 employees in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled array of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the fulfillment of its employees and the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates.