Culinary and Pastry Arts

I have been with Okanagan College for 11 years and am an assessor for the cook trade certification for the Industry Training Authority (ITA). I have taken on the Culinary and Pastry Arts Chair position in June 2019 and am currently full-time chair of the department. My culinary education and work experience spans over 34 years and includes a Diploma in Hospitality Management from Heidelberg Hospitality Management College in Germany, 10 years as Executive Chef at Manteo Resort in Kelowna, Executive Chef with Hy’s Canada at Bigwoods Restaurant and Bar in Whistler, Sous Chef at the Fish House in Stanley Park and working with Hilton International at the Park Hilton Hotel in Munich, Germany. My professional highlights include being an active member of the Okanagan Chefs Association, serving two terms as vice president, two terms as treasurer, and being voted Chef of the Year twice by the Okanagan Chefs Association members in 2008 and 2005, acting as Head Assessor for the trade of cook in Canada federal project, and membership of the Chaine des Rottiseurs Okanagan from 2003 – 2012. I consider food one of life’s greatest joys. My focus when teaching students is to teach them the best up-to-date skills and methods possible, so they will be successful in the industry after graduating from Okanagan College.

Credentials:
Red Seal Cook Certification, ITAC Vancouver
Hospitality Business Management Diploma, Hotelfachschule Heidelberg, Germany
German Red Seal Cook Certification, Hospitality School Bad Ueberkingen, Germany
Provincial Instructor Diploma, Vancouver Community College

I have been a culinary arts instructor for 13 years. I started as a permanent Culinary Arts Instructor at Okanagan College in 2008. I taught a dual-credit program at Mount Boucherie High School until 2010 and am currently a Chef Instructor at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus. An Okanagan College alumnus, I completed the ten-month Cook Training Program at Okanagan College and completed a Red Seal three-year apprenticeship at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver, B.C. My culinary work experience includes; three months of cooking in an international hotel in Auckland, New Zealand; four years at Chateau Whistler Resort, including two years as Sous Chef; two years as Chef at the Black Forest Restaurant, Kelowna, B.C.; ten years as Executive Chef of the Harvest Golf Course Dining Room; and four years as Executive Chef at Illichmann's Gourmet Foods.

Credentials:
Red Seal Chef, Culinary Arts
Instructor's Diploma, Vancouver Community College

I am one of the Culinary Arts Instructors at the Culinary centre of Okanagan College. The main area that I teach in is Infusions Restaurant at Okanagan College. I teach the Hot Kitchen Breakfast/Lunch service (CA 103) and night-time Dining Room Service (CA 105). This is the part of the Level 1 Foundation for Culinary Arts in our certificate program. My students learn how to source and use the fresh local bounty of products available. I strive to provide a variety of foods, driven by the required curriculum, that change daily and challenge the students' skills to provide for two food outlets. My goal is to provide students with a solid foundation in culinary techniques and theoretical information to enable them to succeed in their chosen field. My career started in Vancouver in 1984 when I took the 52-week Culinary Arts program at PVI in Burnaby. I then went on to apprentice with Delta Hotels for two years in Richmond, B.C, before moving on to the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver for three years. I then spent seven years at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre working my way up to Sous Chef Garde Manger. My love of golf led me to various Executive Chef positions at some of B.C.’s best golf resorts for 10 years, before I started teaching at Okanagan College in 2002. While working at the Delta and Pan Pacific hotels, I received numerous awards in cold food competitions, as well as a fat sculpting award as an apprentice. My teaching philosophy is one of inclusiveness for all students. I try to connect with my students to show my enthusiasm for food and my chosen industry, as well as trying to meet the students’ needs at every level of their learning journey.

Credentials:
Culinary Arts Certificate, PVI
Certificate of Qualification, Province of British Columbia
Certificate of Apprenticeship, Delta Hotels within the Province of British Columbia
Instructor Diploma Program (BCID), VCC

I have been working in the hospitality industry for 27 years, having graduated from Vancouver Community College in 2001. I started my apprenticeship in Vitre, France in the Brittany Region then continued it in Vancouver, B.C., at the Westin Bayshore hotel. I have competed in many competitions winning multiple awards including the Grand Gold Award at the Salon du Chocolat in 2005. I then moved on to work at Chocolate Arts to learn more about chocolate. Returning back to France, I attended a short Pastry Class at the Paul Bocuse Institut in Lyon. I moved to the Okanagan in 2007. Having worked for some of the best restaurants and hotels in the valley, I became the Pastry Arts instructor at Okanagan College in 2014. In 2016, I developed an exclusive chocolate line for Okanagan College at the Cacao Barry, Or Noir Lab in Meulan, France, becoming the third learning institution in the world, the first in North America to have their own exclusive chocolate line.

Credentials:
Red Seal Certified, Culinary Arts Program at Vancouver Community College

Okanagan College Culinary Arts apprenticeship Instructor, past chairman and president of the Okanagan Chefs Association, wine lover and raconteur extraordinaire are just a few of the toques that that I have worn over the years. With four decades of award-winning experience behind me, the obsession for great food, simply prepared with passionately produced local products only burns brighter. Having called the Okanagan home for close to 20 years, I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to provide culinary inspiration for many great wine producers in the valley including Mission Hill, Cedar Creek, Blue Mountain and Andrew Peller, among others. The best advice I could give to all young chefs looking for education and inspiration? Go work on a farm... After a classic apprenticeship, I departed to Europe to do the typical travel, eat and work thing, at the time thinking I knew a fair bit about cooking. Ending up on a small family farm in southern Germany, what I soon came to realize was that I knew nothing about food. And there is a huge difference between the two. To see products destined for the table being raised, weeded, milked and vinified, etc., to witness first-hand the tremendous effort it takes to produce great food, will undoubtedly make a huge impact on the way any young cook views their profession.

Credentials:
Red Seal Endorsed Chef

I am a Red Seal Chef and Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant. I am originally from Calgary, Alberta, which is where I developed my skill and expertise in the culinary arts and nutrition. I've enjoyed every moment of my time spent in the industry working in areas including catering, private clubs, personal chef services, commercial cheese production and nutrition counselling and education. My true passion lies in educating and empowering the next generation of talented cooks and chefs. I have taught in various culinary programs at SAIT, Olds College and now Okanagan College. The Okanagan is a wonderful place to learn about food, wine and cooking, and when I'm not doing these things, I am enjoying all that Kelowna has to offer like skiing, hiking, biking and paddling.

Credentials:
Professional Cooking Program, SAIT
Red Seal Certificate, Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training
Natural Nutrition Program, Canadian School of Natural Nutrition

I am a Canadian-born and B.C.-raised Executive Chef who trained most of my career in the Okanagan Valley. I am proud to say I am a true local chef. I graduated from the Culinary Arts program at Okanagan University College in 2001 while working at Kelowna’s Lake Okanagan Resort under a Culinary Team Canada Chef. I then worked at Okanagan Golf Club, where I apprenticed under and was mentored by chefs from Culinary Team B.C. After my time in Kelowna, I moved to Vancouver where I cultivated my skills at The Westin Bayshore Hotel. In 2004, I completed my apprenticeship with dean’s list academic standing. While in Vancouver, I pursued my passion for the marriage of food and wine, training with the International Sommelier Guild at Vancouver College and participating in the University of British Columbia’s wine program. I am an active competitor in the culinary world; some of my accomplishments include two gold medals in the Western Canadian Culinary Arts Festival, honourable mentions in both the B.C. Place Food Service Expo 2005, the EAT! Vancouver-City TV’s Master Chef Competition 2005 and first place in 2013 Sysco Chefs black box competition. Currently, I am preparing for the upcoming Canadian Culinary Championship Gold Medal Plates in Victoria this November. In 2008, I returned to Kelowna to participate in the growing trend towards “farm to table” cuisine, utilizing the plentiful products of the Okanagan Valley. I was the Executive Chef for Bonfire Restaurant and Bar at the Cove Lakeside Resort under the management of Vintage Hospitality. While at Bonfire, the restaurant gained many awards and was featured in many magazines and newspapers, most notably appearing on the cover of Okanagan Life’s Best Restaurants edition in 2009. In 2010, I was one of 13 Okanagan chefs asked to represent the region at the Canadian Chef Congress for sustainability on Vancouver Island. In 2012, I moved to the South Okanagan for my organization (Vintage Hospitality) to re-establish and turn around food and beverage operations at Spirit Ridge Resort through the opening of Mica restaurant and the implementation of an extensive, successful catering package. During this time, I also aided Vintage Hospitality through acting as a consultant for the Gunbarrel Saloon at Apex. In 2013, I continued my career with Vintage Hospitality and began the process of opening Liquidity Bistro. Liquidity Bistro opened its doors in spring of 2014 and hit the ground running, garnering a reputation as one of the valley's best restaurants. The restaurant achieved Top 100 in Canada status via Open Table in its first year of operations and henceforth. In Fall of 2016, I embarked on a new opportunity as the Executive Chef of Big White Ski Resort where I elevated the menus at Kettle Valley Steakhouse, Happy Valley Day Lodge, Black Forest Day Lodge, The Woods Restaurant, Moonlight Bistro at Gem Lake and Clock Tower Coffee Co. I continue to support local product and flavours, the “farm to table” movement and sustainable ingredients throughout all Big White-operated food and beverage outlets. I was also a competitor in the 2016 Gold Medal Plates Regional finals as well the 2019 Great Canadian Plates Regional finals representing the Okanagan.

Credentials:
Red Seal certification
Culinary Arts Certificate, Okanagan College