Government House chef prepares months ahead for levee

The executive chef at P.E.I.'s Government House has been preparing for months for the annual New Year's Day levee Thursday morning.

The levee at Fanningbank, the official residence of P.E.I.'s Lieutenant Governor Frank Lewis and his wife Dorothy, is one of the most popular in Charlottetown.

Hundreds are expected to pop in to shake hands on Jan. 1, and executive chef Gillian Gaudet has been getting ready for the big day for awhile.

"I make about 20 fruit cakes and then about 15 loaves like cherry loaf or gumdrop loaf," said Gaudet.

"I get some looks when I go to the grocery store. My cart is full of apple juice or cranberry juice or pounds of raisins and cherries. I get some looks. People are wondering who I am buying for."

The Government House levee takes place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday.