Prince Edward County | The Lilac Retreat - Culinary & Wellness Weekend | May 22-24th, 2026

With over 5 decades experience, Didier Leroy is one of Canada’s most revered French chefs. A Maître Cuisinier de France, his approach is grounded in Buddhist philosophy, discipline, legacy, and the practice of presence as much as technique.

He is known for serving Classic French Cuisine and is recognized by some of the world’s best and most influential chefs for maintaining the art of French cooking and technique. Chef Didier received the ‘Medal of the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole’ (Knight of Order of Agricultural Merit) in 2009, and, in the following year, was inducted into the Master Chef Association of France. (Maîtres Cuisiniers de France) Chef Didier trained in Paris, France for 18 years before coming to Canada and is one of only a few Master Chefs in Canada and one of approximately 450 worldwide.

A leading culinary voice in Prince Edward County, known for ingredient-driven cooking that reflects the seasons, the region and a deep respect for local producers.

Leah Marshall Hannon's culinary vision is rooted in her great grandmother Stella Pamajewon Marshall, who raised her family on the shores of Pickerel River, foraging and hunting from the land. After training at George Brown and working in top Toronto kitchens, Leah returned to those ancestral flavours, studying foraging, farming, and sustainable foodways.

Named for Stella and located in Waupoos, Prince Edward County, Stella's Eatery offers casual fine dining with the comfort of a home-cooked meal. Leah's hyper-seasonal, locally sourced menus are sharing-style and ingredient-driven, making every visit a new experience.

Sally Ramsaran is the heart and hands behind Sally’s Roti Shop, a beloved Trinidadian kitchen in Kingston known for its deeply soulful, from-scratch cooking.

Each day begins before sunrise. By 6AM, Sally and her husband Bobby, are already in motion, preparing everything by hand the way it’s meant to be done. Roti dough is rolled, spices are layered, curries are built slowly and with intention. Nothing is rushed, nothing is outsourced.

Her doubles are widely regarded as some of the best you will ever eat. Her curries are equally unforgettable. Tender, complex, and deeply comforting, it carries the kind of flavour that only comes from time, instinct, and lived tradition.

Sally’s cooking is not conceptual. It is not trend driven. It is rooted and generous, and honest. The kind of food that goes straight to your heart and stays with you.

At the Lilac Retreat, Sally brings a powerful expression of Trinidadian culinary tradition. Her presence grounds the experience in something real, visceral, and deeply nourishing.

Natalie Goldenberg-Fife is the Founder and Creative Director of Gold & Fife, an experiential studio specializing in highly customized culinary, wellness, and cultural programming. She has curated over 1111+  acclaimed events across Canada and internationally, working at the intersection of hospitality, storytelling, and destination development.

Natalie is also an active food journalist and a judge for Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants. She is a triple-certified yoga guide trained in Moksha/Modo hot flow, vinyasa sequencing, and Vikasa Yoga in Thailand. Her work is defined by a refined balance of sensory dining, meaningful connection, and transformative wellness experiences.

UK-born, Mexico-based, Sophie Arkana is a Kundalini yoga guide known for her deeply intuitive and energetic approach to practice. Her work draws on the ancient technology of Kundalini to support emotional clarity, nervous system regulation, and expanded awareness.

Through breathwork, kriya, and meditation, Sophie creates a powerful yet accessible space for participants to reconnect with themselves and move through internal blocks with greater ease and presence.

Lucrecia is an experienced temazcal guide from Mexico who holds space with deep care, presence, and respect for the tradition. Her approach is both grounding and supportive, welcoming participants at all levels of experience.

The ceremony is guided with intention, offering a space for release, reflection, and renewal within a safe and held environment.

Zachary Owen is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine whose work focuses on the relationship between food, emotional balance, and seasonal living.

His sessions offer a grounded and insightful approach to understanding how nourishment, energy, and internal rhythms intersect, providing participants with practical tools to support long term wellbeing.