Celebrated Canadian chef tapped to lead culinary direction at Drift, Halifax’s new waterfront restaurant

Chef Anthony Walsh will bring a creative interpretation of Atlantic Canadian cuisine to the Queen’s Marque district

Halifax (NS) – June 9, 2021 – Today, Queen’s Marque announced Chef Anthony Walsh will be the creative culinary lead at Drift, a new dining destination opening fall of 2021 on the Halifax waterfront. Chef Walsh will oversee the culinary vision at Drift, as well as on other food and beverage programs for several Queen’s Marque district restaurant and bar concepts currently in development.

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, as well as weekend brunch and late-night cocktails, Drift will offer modern and innovative takes on Atlantic Canadian classics. Paying tribute to the culinary traditions of Nova Scotia, Chef Walsh’s menus will have a distinctive and contemporary Maritime flair, featuring familiar and celebrated local ingredients.

"With much of my family living here in Halifax, Atlantic Canada has always been a very special place for me," said Chef Walsh, who will be working with Queen’s Marque through an operating agreement with Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality. "I'm excited to work with some of the city's tremendous local culinary talent to showcase the East Coast's most beloved ingredients ─ all stemming from a vibrant community of artisans, producers, farmers and fishers."

One of Canada’s most revered and highly respected chefs, Chef Walsh first garnered attention as Executive Chef of Canoe. There, his leadership, unrivalled culinary craftsmanship and visionary sense for haute Canadian cuisine played a vital role in the restaurant’s meteoric ascent on the country’s fine dining scene. Over the course of his 30-year career, Chef Walsh has received numerous awards and distinctions, including multiple gold medals from the Canadian Culinary Championships, Taste of Canada, Black Box and Salon Culinaire, as well as hosting at New York City's esteemed James Beard House.

“We are delighted to have Chef Walsh join us, bringing his robust culinary experience and expertise to Drift and the surrounding Queen’s Marque district,” said Scott Armour McCrea, chief executive officer of The Armour Group Limited, owner and operator of Queen’s Marque. “Nova Scotia has a rich and evolving culinary landscape, which we are honoured to become a part of. We aim to create a distinct dining experience that fosters connection amongst people and place.”

With Drift’s opening slated for fall 2021, Chef Walsh will be spending the next several months developing his culinary team and recruiting local talent. For more details about employment opportunities, please visit www.drifthalifax.com.

Website: drifthalifax.com

Facebook: /DriftHfx

Instagram: @drifthalifax

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About Queen’s Marque

Queen’s Marque, conceived, developed and operated by The Armour Group, is a new urban neighbourhood on the historic waterfront, in the heart of downtown Halifax. When fully open, Queen’s Marque will feature upscale residences, office space, a wide variety of food and beverage offerings, 75,000 square feet of public space, a significant art collection and in the centre of it all – Muir, a refined, distinctly Nova Scotian hospitality experience.

For more information, interviews or high-res images, please contact:

Nicole Amiel
Beattie Tartan
nicole.amiel@beattiegroup.com | 416.436.5185

Catherine Bagnell Styles
Executive Vice-President, Marketing + Communications, The Armour Group
cbstyles@armourgroup.com | 902.441.2276