Lesley Chesterman

Lesley Chesterman
Born (1967-03-14) March 14, 1967
EducationInstitut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec
OccupationsFood critic, author
EmployerThe Gazette (Montreal)
Writing career
Notable awardsOrdre de Montréal

Lesley Chesterman (born March 14, 1967 in Montreal) is a Quebec food critic, journalist and author. Trained as a pastry chef at the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), she has established herself as an influential figure in Montreal's culinary scene through her columns in The Gazette, her radio appearances and her publications.

Biography

Born in Montreal, Lesley Chesterman studied pastry at the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) before honing her skills in France, notably in Lyon.[1][2][3] Upon returning to Quebec, she taught cooking and pastry, then began her career as a food critic at The Gazette in 1998.[2] She wrote columns for nearly twenty years, helping to popularize Montreal's culinary scene among both English and French-speaking audiences.[2][4][5][6][7][8][9]

In parallel, she contributes to various publications and participates in several radio programs, including Medium Large on ICI Radio-Canada Première, where she is known for her direct and accessible style.[5]

The New York Times has quoted her several times over the years, describing her as a recognized authority in the Montreal culinary world.[10][11][12][13]

In 2020, she published Chez Lesley. Mes secrets pour tout réussir en cuisine (At Lesley's: My Secrets to Success in the Kitchen), a cookbook focused on sharing knowledge and simplicity.[14] Her work, marked by a pursuit of authenticity and a rejection of snobbery, has earned her recognition in the culinary world.

In 2023, at the Taste of Canada Awards, Lesley Chesterman won two gold medals: one in the English category for Make Every Dish Delicious and the other in the French category for Un week-end chez Lesley (A Weekend at Lesley's).[15][16]

In 2025, she was named Commander of the Order of Montreal for her contribution to Montreal's culinary culture.[2] She was among the eight women honoured at the official inauguration of the Place des Montréalaises.[17]

Publications

  • Boulangerie et patisserie techniques de base, Montreal, Éditions Trécarré, 2000, (ISBN 978-2892499681).
  • Flavourville: 2003-2004 Edition, Updated and Revised, Montreal, ECW Press, 2003, (ISBN 978-1550225983).
  • Chez Lesley: Mes secrets pour tout réussir en cuisine, Montreal, Éditions Cardinal, 2020, (ISBN 978-2925078029).
  • Un week-end chez Lesley: Mes idées gourmandes à partager, Montreal, Éditions Cardinal, 2022, (ISBN 978-2925078661).
  • Make Every Dish Delicious: Modern Classics and Essential Tips for Total Kitchen Confidence, Montreal, Simon & Schuster, 2022, (ISBN 978-1982196370).
  • En accord: Cépages, recettes et prises de bec, co-écrit avec Jean Aubry, Montreal, Éditions Cardinal, 2025, (ISBN 978-2925354611).
  • A Montreal Cook: Recipes and Reflections from My Kitchen, Montreal, Simon & Schuster, 2026, (ISBN 978-1-6680-6135-0).

Distinctions

References

  1. ↑ "Communiqué – Francophiles dans la ville (PDF)" (PDF). Culture Montréal (in French). Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Lesley Chesterman". Ordre de Montréal (in French). Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Kayler, Fançoise (18 October 1989). "A RETENIR". BAnQ (in French). La Presse (Montréal). p. 4. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  4. ↑ Mollé, Philippe (8 June 2002). "Un guide en anglais sur les restaurants de Montréal". BAnQ (in French). Le Devoir. p. 5. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  5. 1 2 Tremblay, Karine (17 October 2020). "À LA TABLE DE LESLEY". BAnQ (in French). Le Soleil (Québec). p. 52. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  6. ↑ O'Malley, Olivia (11 January 2019). "Lesley Chesterman reflects on 20 years of restaurant reviews". Global News. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  7. ↑ Lebleu, Mikael (12 May 2025). "Lesley Chesterman: An Iconic Voice In Our Culinary Landscape". Tastet. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  8. ↑ Chatto, James; Chesterman, Lesley; Goldman, Marcy; Turgeon-Gouin, Catherine (28 June 2011). "The Taste of Words: A Bilingual Panel Discussion / Le goût des mots : une table ronde bilingue". Cuizine. 3 (1).
  9. ↑ "Lesley Chesterman". Radio-Canada (in French). Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  10. ↑ Austen, Ian (17 March 2017). "Montreal Chefs Are Fuming Over a Casino's French Import". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  11. ↑ Bilefsky, Dan (19 December 2017). "Calling Poutine 'Canadian' Gives Some in Quebec Indigestion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  12. ↑ Anderson, Brett (23 December 2019). "L'Express, the Beloved Montreal Bistro Where So Much Began". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  13. ↑ Bilefsky, Dan (25 February 2021). "Canadians Try to Solve the Enigma of Hard Butter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  14. ↑ Tastet, Jean-Philippe (7 November 2020). "Lesley Chesterman, une excellente critique à votre table". Le Devoir (in French). Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  15. ↑ Dunlevy, T’Cha (15 May 2025). "Former Gazette fine-dining critic Lesley Chesterman among eight women to receive Order of Montreal". The Gazette. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  16. ↑ Gagnon-Paradis, Iris (20 November 2023). "La crème des livres de recettes canadiens". La Presse (Montréal) (in French). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  17. ↑ Ouellette-Vézina, Henri (16 May 2025). "Place des Montréalaises: Un « legs important » pour l'histoire de la métropole, dit Plante". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 20 November 2025.
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