Looking to take a break from the daily grind and reignite your passion? Chefs, restaurateurs and anyone else embedded in Toronto’s foodservice milieu take note: departing the hectic environs of the G.T.A. for a culinary tour in Prince Edward County (P.E.C.) provides a welcome respite from reality.

Yes, the drive out of downtown is grating, bordering on horrific — depending on how many pileups jam the 401 East — but trust that the strip malls, big box stores, condominiums and commercial office space that clots together into a sprawling, bleak vista do eventually give way. And when the slow procession and industrious scenery begins to break — right around the time you’re speeding past Oshawa — the rolling landscapes of rural Ontario will sooth your city-shocked soul.

WHISTLER, B.C. — It’s shaping up to be a good year at Araxi, which just enjoyed hosting Olympic fans and is now celebrating an award nomination for executive chef, James Walt’s cookbook, Araxi: Seasonal Recipes from the Celebrated Whistler Restaurant.

On Monday, the book was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award, in the Cooking from a Professional Point of View category, alongside Momofuku by David Chang and Peter Meehan and The Fundamental Techniques of Classic Pastry Arts by The French Culinary Institute with Judith Choate.

TORONTO — Great photography isn’t static. The best work captures the movement, energy, colour and sound of a particular moment — or a movement — and preserves it for eternity. There’s life in those photos that goes well beyond images on glossy paper.

That’s what Toronto-based photographer John Gundy set out to achieve when he embarked on a five-year project to shoot some of the inspirational figures in Ontario’s foodservice community. His portfolio includes active portraits of chefs, growers and other key stakeholders who, through their determined work and leadership, have shown tremendous stewardship over food culture in this city.

TORONTO — Fans of one of Toronto’s culinary touchstones, and those who simply fear change, will breathe a sigh of relief today, as its been announced that Scaramouche Restaurant will be staying put at One Benvenuto Place until the end of 2016. The news comes after several uncertain years of lease negotiations and speculation about if and where the Toronto landmark would move.

“We’re delighted Scaramouche will be staying in its current location so we can continue to provide our many loyal clients and guests with the high level of cuisine and trusted service that’s been recognized for years,” said Carl Korte, company partner. “Extending our lease also means we can happily reinvest in our kitchen and dining room to maintain our position as one of Toronto’s top restaurants with the best view in town.”