In this page are some of the chefs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in my travels!
A
Michelin Star Chef Akira Back
Dasha – Toronto, Ontario – October 2019
Kilted Chef Alain Bosse
Chef Aldo Elizondo
Tucanes Restaurante at Tabacon Thermal Resort – La Fortuna, Costa Rica – October 2025
Chef Alfonso Iaccarino
Don Alfonso 1890 – Toronto, Ontario – July 2018
Chef Anja Voth
Anja’s Kitchen – Berkeley, California – February 2026
Chef Anna-Kay Tomlinson
Miss T’s Kitchen – Ocho Rios, Jamaica – April 2019
Michelin Star Chef Antonio Abbruzzino
Taste of Calabria at Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex – Toronto, Ontario – November 2019
Chef Ariel Coplan
Thoroughbred Food & Drink – Toronto, Ontario – May 2016
Chef Atsushi Yamamoto
Konjiki Ramen – Toronto, Ontario – November 2017
Michelin Chef Attila Galambos
Daróg Wine Bar – Galway, Ireland – September 2024
B
Chef Benoit Brunet
Le Geraldine in The Laurentians – Saint-Eustache, Quebec – September 2025
Chef Bernhard Güth
Festival Gourmet International Theme Night at Trio Restaurant – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – November 2019
Chef Blake Williams
Dukes – Ottawa, Canada – June 2026
Chef Blanca Delia Villagómez Estrada
Cocina Tradicional La Casa de Blanca – Tzintzuntzan, Michoacan – May 2026
Chef Brandon Olsen
CXBO Chocolates – Toronto, Ontario – Oct 2019
C
Chef Carl Heinrich
Taste of Toronto Festival: Richmond Station – Toronto, Ontario – June 2016
Richmond Station – Toronto, Ontario – December 2015 (left)
Chef Cam McGihon
Bar Lupulus – Ottawa, Canada – June 2026
Michelin Star Chef Chele Gonzalez
Gallery by Chele – Manila, Philippines – April 2019
Chef Chindi Varadarajulu
L’Attitude 49 Restaurant – BC Seafood Festival – Comox Valley, British Columbia – June 2017
Chef Chloe O Shea
Daróg Wine Bar – Galway, Ireland – September 2024
Chef Chris Chafe
Evoo in the Courtyard – St. Johns, Newfoundland – May 2016 (right)
Chef Chris Valdes
Dish Cooking Studio, Miami Event – Toronto, Ontario – September 2022 (left)
Michelin Chef Christophe Bellanca
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Montreal en Lumiere 2020 – Montreal, Quebec – March 2020 (left)
Chef Christopher Siu
5th Annual Bento Sushi Competition – Toronto, Ontario – May 2016
Chef Claudio Aprile
Splenda Stevia Event – Copetin – Toronto, Ontario – June 2018 (right)
Chef Clinton Zhu
EFUN Culinary Arts Academy – Canada Beef and Fairmont Royal York: East Meets West Event – August 2017 (right)
Chef Craig Harding
Campagnolo – Toronto, Ontario – June 2016
Chef Cynthia Martinez
La Conspiración de 1809 – Morelia, Michoacan – May 2026
D
Michelin Star Chef Dani Garcia
Smoked Room – Dubai, UAE – November 2024
Chef Daniel Butler
Evoo in the Courtyard – St. Johns, Newfoundland – May 2016 (left)
Michelin Star Chef Daniel Corona
Michelin Star Chef Daniel Hadida
Chef Daniel Janetos
Moet Pop-up Event – Omni King Edward Hotel – Toronto, Ontario – September 2018
Chef Dany Bolduc
H4C par Dany Bolduc, Montreal en Lumiere 2020 – Montreal, Quebec – February 2020
Chef Dave Mottershall
Loka – Toronto, Ontario – April 2016
Chef David Rocco
David Pecaut Square for TIFF 2022 – Toronto, Ontario – September 2022
Chef Deborah Ross
At some of the best places to eat in Laramie, Wyoming – April 2026
Chef Dennis Prescott
World Vision Canada Kick-Off Dinner for #hungerfree Campaign – Toronto, Ontario – October 2016
Chef David Willocks
Baker’s Table Bakery and Pizza – Newport, Kentucky – October 2022
Chef Dianna Dar
Cult Crackers – Berkeley, California – February 2026
Chef Digby Stridiron
AMA at Cane Bay – St. Croix, US Virgin Islands – February 2020
E
Edgar Wallace aka Pudding Man
Jus Cool – Montego Bay, Jamaica – April 2019
Chef Elia Herrera
Taste of Toronto: Chef Battle (El Caballito and Los Colibris) – Toronto, Ontario – June 2016
Chef Emre Inanir
Tugra Restaurant – Ciragan Palace Kimpenski – Istanbul, Turkey – November 2023
Michelin Star Chef Enrico Croatti
Moebius Sperimentale – Milan, Italy – October 2025
Michelin Star Chef Eric Chong
R&D Spadina – Toronto, Ontario – January 2016
Michelin Star Chef Eric Robertson
Restaurant Pearl Morissette – Michelin Guide Toronto & Region Event at History – September 2024
Chef Eric Suniga
e by Jose Andres – Las Vegas, Nevada – January 2023
Chef Eric Youngsup Kim
Kame Omakase – Las Vegas, Nevada – January 2017
Chef Ernesto Iaccarino
Don Alfonso 1890 – Toronto, Ontario – November 2018
Chef Ervin Bushi
Broken Plate – Calgary, Alberta – September 2018
Chef Ethan Smith
Alibi Wood Fire Pizzeria and Bakery – Laramie, Wyoming – April 2026
Eva of Eva’s Original Chimneys
Eva’s Original Chimneys – Toronto, Ontario – February 2017
F
Chef Farzam Fallah
Richmond Station – Toronto, Ontario – Dec 2015 (right)
Michelin Star Chef Fatih Tutak
Turk Fatih Tutak – Istanbul, Turkey – Nov 2023
Chef Felicia Lacalle
Hemingway’s – Tampa Bay, Florida – May 2019
Chef Fergus Henderson
Charlie Burger X St. John Restaurant – Toronto, Ontario – Mar 2014 (beside me)
Michelin Chef Frank Parhizgar
G
Chef Geoff Webb
Sassafraz Restaurant in Bloor-Yorkville – Toronto, Ontario – October 2018
Chef Gianluca Guglielmi
Donato & Co – Berkeley, California – February 2026
Chef Giovanni De Luca
Taste of Calabria at Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex – Toronto, Ontario – November 2019
Michelin Star Chef Glynn Purnell
Birmingham 2022 CWG VIP reception at 1 Hotel – Toronto, Ontario – May 2022
Chef Gurkan Tatar
Alaf – Istanbul, Turkey – November 2023
H
Chef Hayden Johnston
Taste of Toronto: Chef Battle (Richmond Station) – Toronto, Ontario – June 2016
Chef Heinz Reize
Festival Gourmet International Master Class at Cafe des Artistes – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – November 2019
Chef Henry Quesada
Tucanes Restaurante at Tabacon Thermal Resort – La Fortuna, Costa Rica – October 2025
Michelin Star Chef Himanshu Saini
Tresind Studio – Dubai, UAE – October 2024
Michelin Chef Hisao Ueda
TakaHisa – Dubai, UAE – October 2024
Chef Hugo Lefrançois
Resto Bistro Accents – Iles de la Madeleine, Canada – June 2022
Chef Humberto Romaguera
Borbon Market – San Jose, Costa Rica – October 2025
I
Chef Isaac Madrigal
Nectandra Restaurant at Ocotea Boutique Hotel – Monteverde, Costa Rica – October 2025
J
Chef Jamie Corlett
Gio Restaurant – Halifax, Nova Scotia – June 2017
Chef Jamie Oliver
Exclusive Q&A with Jamie Oliver – Jamie’s Italian – Toronto, Ontario – October 2016
Michelin Chef Jason Bangerter
Langdon Hall – Cambridge, Ontario – September 2024
Chef Jean-Pierre Curtat
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Montreal en Lumiere 2020 – Montreal, Quebec – March 2020 (2nd from right)
Michelin Star Chef Jeremy Austin
Sommelier Jeremy Bonia
Raymonds Restaurant – St. John’s, Newfoundland – May 2016
Michelin Green Star Chef Jess Murphy
Kai – Galway, Ireland – September 2024
Chef Jin Chua
Fins& Feathers – Berkeley, California – February 2026
Michelin Star Chef Joan Roca
Chef Joe Friday
ViaVai Pizzeria and Wine Bar – Toronto, Ontario – Nov 2015
Local Restaurateur John Anderson
Toronto Food Tours: BBQ Week Tour – Toronto, Ontario – June 2016 (left)
Michelin Star Pastry Chef Jordi Roca
El Celler de Can Roca – Girona, Spain – January 2012
Chef Jorge Avendano
Festival Gourmet International Theme Night at Trio Restaurant – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – November 2019
Chef Jose Alvarez
Restaurant Casa Jose – Cachi, Costa Rica – October 2025
Michelin Star Chef Jose Barroso
Tasca at Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah – Dubai, UAE – October 2024
Michelin Star Sommelier Josep Pitu Roca
El Celler de Can Roca – Girona, Spain – January 2012
Michelin Star Chef JP McMahon
Chef Julio Cesar
Gaby’s Restaurant – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – November 2019
Chef Justin Champagne-Lagarde
Perch Restaurant – Ottawa, Canada – June 2026
K
Michelin Chef Kadir Yilmaz
Matbah Restaurant – Ottoman Hotel Imperial – Istanbul, Turkey – November 2023
James Beard Nominated Chef Kaoru Azeuch
Kaiseki Yuzu – Las Vegas, Nevada – December 2022
Chef Kazuki Uchigoshi
Taste of Toronto: Chef Battle (Miku Toronto) – Toronto, Ontario – June 2016
Chef Kerri Smith
Alibi Wood Fire Pizzeria and Bakery – Laramie, Wyoming – April 2026
Chef Khalil Omar
Saha Dinners – Hamilton, Ontario – Oct 2019
Chef Kid Mey Chan
Tucanes Restaurante at Tabacon Thermal Resort – La Fortuna, Costa Rica – October 2025
L
Chef Leon John
M
Mairlyn Smith
Michelin Star Chef Maksut Askar
Neolokal – Istanbul, Turkey – November 2023
Chef Manjunath Mural
Song of India – Singapore – April 2019
Chef Marco
Restaurante Silvestre – San Jose, Costa Rica – October 2025
Chef Mark McEwan
Taste of Toronto Festival: McEwan Food Group – Toronto, Ontario – June 2016
Chef Masaki Hashimoto
Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto – Toronto, Ontario – November 2016
Michelin Star Chef Massimo Bottura
The Best Chef Awards – Milan, Italy – November 2025
Chef Massimo Capra
Capra’s Kitchen – Mississauga, Ontario – November 2019
Chef Matt Basile
Fidel Gastro’s/Taste Canada Awards Gala – Toronto, Ontario – October 2017
Chef Matt Macisaac
Krave Burger – Halifax, Nova Scotia – June 2017
Chef Matt McDonald
Bacalao – St. Johns, Newfoundland – May 2016
Chef Matteo Gabrielli
Acanto Restaurant – Milan, Italy – September 2025
Chef Melissa Murphy
Sweet Melissa Cafe – Laramie, Wyoming – April 2026
Chef Michael Hunter
Taste of Toronto Festival: Antler Bar and Kitchen – Toronto, Ontario – June 2016
Chef Michelle LeBlanc
Chinched Bistro – St. Johns, Newfoundland – May 2016 (center)
N
Chef Nadege Nourian
Atout France Event at The Drake Hotel – Toronto, Ontario – November 2019
Chef Nathan Fong
Fong on Food – BC Seafood Festival – Comox Valley, British Columbia – June 2017
Chef Ned Bell
Loblaws: Taste The New Next – The 100 Mile Meal – Toronto, Ontario – April 2017
Chef Neftali Hernandez
Tata Mezcaleria – Morelia, Michoacan – May 2026
Michelin Star Chef Niki Nakayama
n/naka – Los Angeles, California – December 2021
O
Chef Osamu Tomita
Tokyo Docs’ Ramen Heads Press Conference – Toronto, Ontario – May 2017
P
Chef Patrick Kriss
Alo Restaurant – Toronto, Ontario – December 2016
Chef Patrick Willis
Lemaire at The Jefferson Hotel – Richmond, Virginia – October 2022
Chef Paul Liew
OTR StillHouse – Cincinnati, Ohio – October 2022
Chef Phillip Foss
H4C par Dany Bolduc, Montreal en Lumiere 2020 – Montreal, Quebec – February 2020
Chef Pino Barbino
Taste of Calabria at Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex – Toronto, Ontario – November 2019
Q
Chef Quang Anhh
The Best Chef Awards Area Talks – Francatoria, Italy – October 2025
R
Chef Rashad Jones
Big Lee’s BBQ – Ocala, Florida – May 2019
Chef Richard Singh
Bosk Taste of the Six – Toronto, Ontario – April 2018 (right)
Chef Rob Gentile
Toronto Taste 2018 – Toronto, Ontario – June 2017 (right)
Chef Robert Mills
Fairmont Royal York – Canada Beef and Fairmont Royak York: East Meets West Event – August 2017 (left)
Chef Roberto Fracchioni
Taste of Calabria at Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex – Toronto, Ontario – November 2019
Chef Roland Menetrey
Festival Gourmet International Master Class at Cafe des Artistes – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – November 2019
Chef Ronald St. Pierre
Locals Restaurant – Courtenay, British Columbia – June 2017
S
Michelin Star Chef Sam Tran
The Best Chef Awards – Milan, Italy – October 2025
Chef Santiago Fernández Benedetto
Don Rufino – La Fortuna, Costa Rica – October 2025
Chef Saúl Umaña
Tucanes Restaurante at Tabacon Thermal Resort – La Fortuna, Costa Rica – October 2025
Chef Scott Savoie
Toronto Food Tours: BBQ Week Tour – Toronto, Ontario – June 2016 (right)
Chef Sean MacDonald
Bosk Taste of the Six – Toronto, Ontario – April 2018 (left)
Chef Seiichi Kashiwabara
Zen Sanuki Udon – Toronto, Ontario – January 2020
Chef Sergio Herman
Oud Sluis – Sluis, Netherlands – January 2012
Chef Shaun Hussey
Michelin Star Chef Solemann Haddad
Moonrise – Dubai, UAE – Oct 2024
Chef Stephane Galibert
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Montreal en Lumiere 2020 – Montreal, Quebec – March 2020 (right)
Michelin Star Chef Steven Molnar
The Best Chef Awards – Milan, Italy – October 2025
Barista Stuart Ross
Bull Dog Coffee – Toronto, Ontario – January 2018
Chef Sylva Senat
Visit Philadelphia – Toronto, Ontario – May 2017
T
Michelin Chef Takashi Namekata
TakaHisa – Dubai, UAE – October 2024
Michelin Star Chef Tasos Mantis
Soil Restaurant – Athens, Greece – June 2023
Chef Tarun Kappor
Urban Turban – Las Vegas, Nevada – January 2017
Chef Ted Reader
Van Houtte Event – Toronto, Ontario – July 2019
Chef Thierry Blouet
Festival Gourmet International Master Class at Cafe des Artistes – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – November 2019
Chef Todd Perrin
Mallard Cottage – St. Johns, Newfoundland – May 2016
Chef Travis Luu
Mizu Sushi – Laramie, Wyoming – April 2026
Chef Tre Sanderson
Toronto Beach Club – Cayman Islands X Top Chef Canada Event – Toronto, Ontario – Nov 2022
Sommelier Trevor Gulliver
Charlie Burger X St. John Restaurant – Toronto, Ontario – Mar 2014 (blue jacket)
Chef Trevor Lui
Kanpai Snack Bar/Taste Canada Awards Gala – Toronto, Ontario – October 2017
V
Chef Victor Barangan
Eastwood Cafe + Bar – Manila, Philippines – March 2019
Y
Chef Yendry Soto
Azotea Calle 7 at Hotel Presidente – San Jose, Costa Rica – October 2025
Z
Michelin Chef Zach Smith
