Chef Duff Culinary Creations

A Life in the Kitchen, and a New Space for Culinary Connection 

For Chef Bruce Duff, cooking has never been just a job; it’s the only job he’s ever had. He started as a teenager at a summer camp, discovered he loved the pace and creativity, and went straight to Humber College for culinary school. From there, he landed in the Kitchener area, building his skills at well-known spots like The Walper Hotel, Westmount Golf Club, and Conestoga College. 

“I worked my way through the ranks,” Bruce says. “At first, you’re just happy to learn and be told what to do. Then you find yourself supervising without even planning to, just because you’re more experienced. Eventually, you want to run your own kitchen.” 

He’s been a head chef for over 25 years, but in early 2020, just before the pandemic, he decided to take a leap and start his own business at Riversong Banquet Hall just five minutes outside of the Village of St Jacobs. Initially, his business plan centered on banquet catering—until restrictions wiped out events entirely. “We really had to change it up,” he recalls. Pivoting to take-out dinners and family-style meals, Chef Duff built a loyal following. “It went really well. We’re grateful to everyone who came out and supported us; that’s what kept us going.” 

When the Riversong Banquet Hall was sold by its owner in summer of 2024, Bruce didn’t have his next space lined up. The community showed up for farewell events, then followed him to his new venture at TriSisters Art House, right in the center of the Village of St Jacobs. “It was July 2024 when we left the old place, and we really got going here in the Village in October,” he says. “We’re still experiencing things for the first time.” 

A Kitchen in an Art House 

The TriSisters building had never been a restaurant, which meant a fresh start, no leftover reputation, but also no built-in customer base. The space, originally designed for art shows and private events, now has a dual purpose: hosting creative gatherings and housing Chef Duff Culinary Creations. 

Bruce has a small team of five or six, and the business is as much about teaching as it is about serving meals. Cooking classes have become a signature offering, drawing guests eager to try new cuisines. “When I was in culinary school, we only learned French cooking; everything else was considered irrelevant. That’s changed. People want to explore specific cultures and flavour profiles.” 

Each class is built as an experience: participants cook together, share wine, and sit at one big table. “Most people come with a friend, but by the end of the night, they’ve met someone new,” Bruce says. “It’s about skills, but also about connection.” 

From Burnout to Creativity 

Like many chefs, Bruce has known the fatigue that comes with long hours in a high-pressure kitchen. “I asked myself, what can I do that’s still interesting, that uses my skills in a different way?” Cooking classes, teaching apprentices, and collaborating with other chefs, such as during the Taste the Countryside Harvest Meal, have brought that spark back. 

Local sourcing is a key part of his approach, thanks to years of relationships with farmers and vendors at the St. Jacobs Market. “I use local ingredients as much as possible. It’s easier when you know the people you’re buying from.” 

Finding a Place in the Community 

Although Chef Duff Culinary Creations is still relatively new, Bruce hopes it’s becoming known as a place for a homemade meal and a slightly quieter dining experience. “I’m here every day. When you’re here all the time, you get to know people quickly, you talk, you introduce yourself. It’s a friendly community. The whole city is small businesses, which is really nice.” 

For Bruce, the goal is simple: offer good food, create a welcoming atmosphere, and give people a reason to gather, whether it’s for a special event, a casual lunch, or a night of learning something new. “I’ve been in kitchens my whole life,” he says. “This one’s mine, and I want it to be a place where people feel at home.” 

Find Chef Duff on Instagram @ chef.bduff. Here he posts his cooking classes, specialty meals, and fun evenings out!