STRATFORD, Ont. — The Old Prune, a well-known Stratford, Ont., restaurant and Stratford Chefs School location, is under new ownership.
The seasonal restaurant (open from May to October, with the not-for-profit school running from October to February) has been sold by owners Eleanor Kane — who also co-founded the school — and Marion Isherwood to Best Western’s Parlour Historic Inn & Suites owners, Bill Windsor, Shelley Windsor and Randy Simpson.
“We’ve been planning to grow our business, and this was an ideal opportunity,” said Bill Windsor. “This has been a very successful restaurant for many years, and we intend to maintain the high-quality food and service people have come to expect. We also want to facilitate the continued growth of the Stratford Chefs School, so it’s our intention to keep the relationship between the school and the restaurant [intact].” The new owners plan to keep senior staff, including Bryan Steele, chef de cuisine, and Peter Lavoie, restaurant manager.“The Old Prune is one of the founding restaurants and teaching locations for the school and has been expanded and upgraded continually throughout the years to meet growing needs,” said Kane, who, along with Isherwood, decided to step away and enjoy a more leisurely lifestyle. “We’re very gratified that something we worked so hard at will be in good hands. We have no doubt it will continue to flourish.”
