TORONTO—On a cold, cloudy November afternoon, celebrated chef Susur Lee sat quietly in the back room at Madeline’s, one of two chic restaurants he owns and operates in the fashion district here, pondering over the final details of his boldest menu yet. “The Chinese always say, eating is heavenly,” he said. “That is the way of life for ...

Eat up, suckers! Gourmet editrix Ruth Reichl (whose Condé Nast magazine should be doing just-fine-thank-you if everyone’s padding themselves for winter hibernation like we are!) welcomes Canadian bigwig chef Susur Lee to the Lower East Side, where he will preside over much-ballyhooed new restaurant Shang at Jason Pomeranc’s finally-open Thompson Hotel. (The forward march of sustenance stops for ...