Rodney Bowers
Chef Rodney Bowers has made a name for himself, thanks to a passion for sharing his love of all kinds of food. His combination of skill, enthusiasm, business sense, and charm has catapulted him to the forefront of Toronto’s culinary scene.
Now, after 25 years in the food business, Rodney is the co-host of CTV’s new Double Your Dish with his partner, Meredith Shaw. The celebrated chef is also a regular of The Marilyn Denis Show, where he is the go-to cooking expert for the popular daytime program
Growing up in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, as part of a large family full of bakers and professional cooks, Rodney was always surrounded with good food. He began helping out in the family kitchen at a young age, and got his first job in the business at the age of 13—in a local pizzeria. Soon, he began hopping from one opportunity to another, eventually moving to Germany, Belgium, England, New York, and Connecticut, before ending up in Toronto.
In the span of just a few years, Rodney rose from Entremetier in the Toronto kitchens of North 44 and Canoe, to junior Sous Chef at the Four Seasons Hotel with Lynn Crawford, and then Restaurant Chef at Massimo Capra’s Mistura.
In 2004, Rodney opened his own restaurant, The Rosebud, which quickly became one of Toronto’s top eateries. A string of renowned restaurants followed, including The Citizen, Bunny’s, and, in 2011, Hey Meatball!, which was one of Canada’s first farm-to-table restaurants, serving quick-service style food.
Rodney also appears as a regular guest chef on Canada AM, and has appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and hosted The Delinquent Gourmet. He is a Culinary Arts professor and head of the Food Media program at Centennial College.