This model and home baker understands that we eat with our eyes first, that’s partially how she’s cultivated a social media following with nearly 30,000 followers on TikTok. The Gen Z-er was originally nervous about posting those videos, but community engagement and encouragement have helped her grow more confident than ever.

Nicole Gomes is the chef, co-founder and owner at Cluck ‘N’ Cleaver, a chicken joint in Calgary, Canada. Operated by Nicole and her sister Francine, they serve fried and rotisserie chicken made from scratch with all natural ingredients and pride themselves on cultivating an inclusive and positive work environment. Nicole’s 28 years of culinary experience has taken her all around the globe, from Vancouver to Paris and even to a naval base in Sydney. No stranger to competition, Nicole has competed in a variety of cooking competitions, most notably becoming the first woman to earn the title of “Top Chef Canada Champion” by winning the All-Star season of “Top Chef Canada.” She also earned the bragging rights of beating Bobby Flay on “Beat Bobby Flay.” Outside the kitchen, Nicole enjoys singing jazz, traveling, swimming and loves doing anything outdoors.

Vikram Vij was born in India in 1964 and lived in New Delhi and Bombay until the age of 20, when he went to study, live and work in Austria. Vikram moved to Canada in 1989 to work at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta. In September 1994, Vikram opened Vij’s Restaurant in Vancouver, BC. In early 1995, a passionate and a creative Meeru Dhalwala joined him, and the two began collaborating on the menu, which would gain them international recognition and a global fanbase, and multiple culinary and business awards.

In June 2014, Vikram opened My Shanti, based in South Surrey. The theme of My Shanti is based upon Vikram’s culinary travels, and includes flavours, ingredients and influences from all over India. Vikram Vij is a tireless advocate of Indian cuisine in Canada, and of buying and eating locally produced and sustainable ingredients.

In 2022, Vij’s became a Michelin recommended and recognized restaurant, receiving the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand accreditation.

International barbecue champion Ron (“Rockin’ Ronnie”) Shewchuk is the author of three bestselling cookbooks, including his latest, Barbecue Secrets DELUXE!: The Very Best Recipes, Tips & Tricks From a Barbecue Champion.

Chatelaine magazine has called Ronnie one of Canada’s “food gurus” and in 2004 he was named by Food & Wine magazine as one of “America’s greatest grillers.”

Throughout his long barbecue career, Ronnie has never been far away from a grill or a smoker. He has led countless barbecue workshops, appeared as a guest expert on radio and TV talk shows, and cooked up a storm on the competitive barbecue circuit. As chief cook of a competitive barbecue team, Ronnie and his friends made history in 2001 by becoming the first Canadians to win a U.S. barbecue championship, the Oregon State Open.

He’s also the host of the Barbecue Secrets Podcast and the self-appointed Dean of Barbecue Academy, an institute of higher grilling that offers a curriculum of grilling demonstrations, luxury retreats, teambuilding workshops and motivational speeches with a barbecue theme. “For me, barbecue is not just a pastime, it’s a lifestyle,” says Ronnie. “Barbecue at its best is a spiritual experience, and I like to think of what I do as high ceremonial cooking.” In his third cookbook, Barbecue Secrets DELUXE!, Ronnie shares recipes, tips and tricks he’s picked up in a lifetime of outdoor cooking and documents the history, tools, techniques and culture of championship grilling and barbecue.

In 2020 Ronnie was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association Hall of Fame. Ronnie lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia. When he isn’t tending something on the grill,
he’s a communication consultant specializing in employee engagement, crisis communications and business applications of social media.

CHEF, RESTAURATEUR, COOKBOOK AUTHOR,TV PERSONALITY

One of Canada’s most celebrated and visionary chefs, Aprile was born in Uruguay and grew up in Toronto. He has travelled, lived, and worked internationally and spent his professional life in kitchens working through the ranks to become the successful restaurateur he is today. Considered a fan favourite as one of the head judges on the hit show Masterchef Canada, entering its 7th season in 2021 averaging 1.8 million viewers.

Throughout his 30+ year career, Aprile worked in some of the most renowned kitchens around the globe. His time spent with Bali Sugar in London, earned him outstanding reviews as a young executive chef where he received local and international critical acclaim. On returning to Toronto in 2000, Aprile cemented that reputation at Senses where he wowed critics and diners alike with his innovative use of experimental cooking techniques.

Aprile’s first restaurant, Colborne Lane, opened to immediate success. Colborne Lane was lauded as one of the best restaurants in the world and Aprile was named one of the most innovative chefs working in Canada. Central to Aprile’s success is his dedication to creativity and drive to expertly deliver the unexpected. With Colborne Lane offering beautifully crafted, precisely plated cuisine. Aprile switched gears in 2010 by opening Origin an open kitchen format restaurant offering fast, fresh and accessible food to guests who were seated right across from the chef. Toronto Life magazine and Now magazine voted Origin the #1 restaurant in Toronto. Origin restaurant had two locations in Toronto.

In July 2017 Aprile opened the doors to Copetin, a redesigned space that was the original Origin restaurant. Copetin drew on many genres of cooking and offered guests a thoughtful elevated menu
that included the element of surprise. In 2019, Aprile became the Culinary Director of XANGO located in Toronto’s busy King Street West area.

Aprile has been credited for creating a recognizable brand of expertly crafted culinary combinations. In addition to being an internationally renowned Chef, Aprile is also known for serving as a main host/judge on CTV’s culinary competition MasterChef Canada since 2014. MasterChef Canada is ranked among the top 15 most-watched programs on Canadian television with all key demographics.

A father of two, Isabel 11 and Aiden 17, Aprile resides in Toronto

Chef, Restaurateur, Cookbook Author,TV Personality Capra is an award-nominated cookbook author, who’s popularity has earned him to be considered one of Canada’s most entertaining and endearing celebrity Chefs. Capra is no stranger to TV being the host of his own show Gourmet Escapes and is a regular guest expert on City TV’s long running show Cityline, was a chef host on Food Network’s hit series Restaurant Makeover, and a resident judge on the hit show Chopped Canada. Currently Chef Capra is on Wall of Chefs Food Network’s newest primetime cooking competition series.

Christian Pritchard’s passion for food started as a toddler with his weekly trip to The St. Lawrence Market in Toronto with his first culinary mentor his Dad. The sights, sounds, smells and tastes were the catalyst for a career in food and entertaining.

Today, Christian dishes up his own brand of “gastrotainment”. His cooking has enabled him to travel the globe to bring the flavours of the world to your table.

Christian has become a household name in food broadcasting circles having appeared on TV, radio, in print and online across Canada, In the United States and Europe where he showcases his love for food, fun, culinary tourism and family!

As an educator, brand ambassador and food emcee Christian is in demand for his food industry work, recipe development and #1 cheerleader work for the Canadian food movement. In 2013 he taught dozens of cooking classes and in the Arctic and Tuscany, Italy in the same week! His corporate clients include Transat Holidays, Dairy Farmers of Canada, T Fal, Dempsters, Tourism Yukon, Maggi Canada, Baci -Perugina, International Shellfish Festival of PEI, Royal Winter Fair, Gagganeau Appliances, Alberta Beef Board and The Osteoporosis Society of Canada.

His food emcee work has had him working with culinary titans like, Mark McEwan, Lynn Crawford, Curtis Stone, Susur Lee, Michael Smith, Massimo Capra and Bob Blumer.

Christian is also the co founder of The Yukon Culinary Festival held in Whitehorse and Dawson City, Yukon

ACCLAIMED AS TOP 10 BBQ EXPERTS IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA

Maddie & Kiki®, Canada’s favourite female grill experts, have fed thousands of barbecue-loving fans all across Canada and beyond. These charcoal-grilling sisters have a blast showcasing their love for barbecue cookery during television appearances, at live on-stage grilling demonstrations, and on their social channels. Maddie & Kiki take to the streets every week to spread BBQ cheer with their live Instagram segment called #BBQActsOfKindness. From smoked cherry cheesecake to charred morel mushroom and wild turkey pate, Maddie & Kiki grill it all! Recently named in the Top 10 BBQ Experts in all of North America (and the only women!) they are on a mission to get more women involved in BBQ. They also produce a YouTube series called, ‘Made by Maddie & Kiki’ where they teach viewers how to grill up unique BBQ creations with plenty of dancing along the way!

Known as the ‘Godfather of the Grill’, his charm and fearless culinary spirit has led Ted to become an award-winning chef, author, food and product innovation entertainer and a professor of Modern Culinary Applications Innovations at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College.

Ted’s culinary adventure began at George Brown College Chef School in Toronto, which to date has paved the way for his dynamic career. He cooks for all walks of life from swanky corporate affairs; to backyard BBQ parties and summer festivals.

Ted’s passion for all things smoked and grilled is extremely contagious. You’ll often find him spreading his gospel of BBQ at live cooking demonstrations and TV and radio appearances that keep fans salivating for more!

Ted has written over twenty-one cookbooks and has won such awards as Cookbook of the Year for the 2014 Single-Subject Cookbook at The Taste of Canada Food Writing Awards for Gastro Grilling. Other books he has written include; Beerlicious: The Art of Grillin’ and Chillin’, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Smoking, and Napoleon’s Everyday Plank Grilling just to name a few.

Ted owns over 75 grills and smokers.

Today you can find Ted in the backyard of his Toronto home tinkering with toys and developing creative and delicious recipes.

Chef, Restaurateur, Cookbook Author,TV Personality Capra is an award-nominated cookbook author, who’s popularity has earned him to be considered one of Canada’s most entertaining and endearing celebrity Chefs. Capra is no stranger to TV being the host of his own show Gourmet Escapes and is a regular guest expert on City TV’s long running show Cityline, was a chef host on Food Network’s hit series Restaurant Makeover, and a resident judge on the hit show Chopped Canada. Currently Chef Capra is on Wall of Chefs Food Network’s newest primetime cooking competition series.

Born in the suburbs of Paris, son of an artist and a musician, Jeremie was always in touch with his creative side. He spent his adolescence in the south of France, he loved being around the table with family for bright, joyous, and colorful meals. Jeremie wasn’t the best student, but was lucky to have parents who encouraged him in the kitchen. He started his career as a chefs apprentice in the restaurant, Ste Maxime, and worked in several others in the south of France, Paris, and London.

Jeremie took his talents to Montreal in 2005, and in 2008 opened his first restaurant in the city. His speciality is French classics like bouillabaisse, coq au vin, and la blanquette.

Over the last fourteen years, Jeremie has opened two pizzerias, a gastronomies restaurant, a bistro, and two cocktail bars

Known as the ‘Godfather of the Grill’, his charm and fearless culinary spirit has led Ted to become an award-winning chef, author, food and product innovation entertainer and a professor of Modern Culinary Applications Innovations at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College.

Ted’s culinary adventure began at George Brown College Chef School in Toronto, which to date has paved the way for his dynamic career. He cooks for all walks of life from swanky corporate affairs; to backyard BBQ parties and summer festivals.

Ted’s passion for all things smoked and grilled is extremely contagious. You’ll often find him spreading his gospel of BBQ at live cooking demonstrations and TV and radio appearances that keep fans salivating for more!

Ted has written over twenty-one cookbooks and has won such awards as Cookbook of the Year for the 2014 Single-Subject Cookbook at The Taste of Canada Food Writing Awards for Gastro Grilling. Other books he has written include; Beerlicious: The Art of Grillin’ and Chillin’, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Smoking, and Napoleon’s Everyday Plank Grilling just to name a few.

Ted owns over 75 grills and smokers.

Today you can find Ted in the backyard of his Toronto home tinkering with toys and developing creative and delicious recipes.