The Owners

About Us

Rooted in experience. Fueled by passion. Grounded in the garden.

Kevin and Sheina Hemstreet are the husband-and-wife duo behind The Garden’s Gate... a soulful, seasonal restaurant tucked into the land they now call home: Tehkummah, Manitoulin Island.

With over 50 years of combined experience in the food and hospitality industry, a shared love of nourishing others, and a deep respect for nature, opening The Garden’s Gate was not just a business decision, it was a calling.

Meet Chef Kevin Hemstreet

A Red Seal Certified Chef with more than 30 years in the industry, Kevin brings a wealth of culinary knowledge and artistry to the kitchen. After spending a decade as sous chef at a renowned Italian restaurant and earning his classical training in French cuisine, Kevin spent 12 years as a Chef Technician at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, where he mentored and shaped hundreds of culinary students from around the world.

His time at Fanshawe allowed him to broaden his skills and culinary repertoire, drawing inspiration from global cuisines and international chefs. With this depth of experience and a rekindled desire to create something of his own, The Garden’s Gate became his next chapter... a place where he could return to the roots of why he fell in love with cooking in the first place.

Meet Sheina Hemstreet

Also classically trained in French cuisine and front-of-house service, Sheina spent the first 15 years of her career immersed in every facet of the restaurant world—including a pivotal season at Red Lodge Resort on Manitoulin Island in 2009, which would later inspire her return.

A self-proclaimed guide of light and spreader of love, Sheina brings not only a deep understanding of hospitality but also her entrepreneurial spirit. She has successfully owned and operated three businesses over the last decade, weaving together her passions for food, community, nature, and soulful leadership.

Her dream? To build something beautiful—alongside the love of her life, in harmony with the land. The Garden’s Gate is that dream made real.

A Family Rooted in Purpose

In search of a deeper connection to land, rhythm, and family life, Kevin and Sheina—along with their two young sons—moved from London, Ontario to Manitoulin Island. They packed up their home, renovated the apartment above the restaurant, and began their next chapter seven hours north.

Now, The Garden’s Gate is more than just a restaurant. It’s a living expression of everything they believe in:
🌿 Slower meals
🌿 Seasonal, locally sourced food
🌿 Alcohol-free dining rooted in presence
🌿 Deep hospitality
🌿 And a love for feeding people in meaningful ways

Whether you’re a returning regular or a first-time guest, Kevin and Sheina welcome you with open hearts and full plates.
Come experience what a lifetime of love, skill, and intention tastes like.