Your Secret Chef

👏From our friends

LDEI was founded 40 years ago with the goal of supporting and elevating women in the fields of hospitality, fine beverage and culinary arts. Our founder recognized the lack of equality for women in these industry segments in particular and created a movement that has raised more than $10 million in scholarships, endowments, and grants to help women advance their careers. Every day, the more than 2,600 members of LDEI around the world work in their communities to advance the goals of LDEI.

Maybe you can't take today off but know that LDEI sees you and the enormous contributions you make to the industry, all while balancing your personal lives. Thank you for your strength, your smarts and your perserverance.

That potato masher is a force to be reckoned with

“Did you know that if you put 100 black ants and 100 red ants in a jar, nothing will happen?
But if you shake the jar hard, the ants start killing each other.
The red ants consider the black ants their enemies, and the black ants consider the red ants their enemies.
The true enemy is the one shaking the jar.
The same thing happens in human society. So, before we attack each other, we should ask ourselves, who is shaking the jar?”
Stop the division already and ask yourself “Who’s shaking the jar?”
It’s simple.
Stop looking for things to be offended by and Look for the things that unite us, moreso than what divides us!!!

Such an uplifting way to spend a couple of days in September.
A trip to is a fabulous way to show your staff what industry sustainability looks like.

If you buy frozen chicken products in the US… check your freezer!

Over 160,000 Pounds of Frozen Chicken Nuggets and Tenders Recalled Due to Metal Wire in Products There is an active recall on frozen, ready-to-eat chicken products sold nationwide after multiple consumer complaints. Read on for more info.

Weekday breakfast tips:
Keep a covered beaker of the mixture in the fridge, and bake in ramekins whilst you shower;
Cut into portions, wrap and freeze. Heat in the microwave or toaster oven;
Crustless quiche keeps almost a week, in a covered container, in the fridge;
Bake in a square or rectangular pan for easy portioning.

No crust? No problem! Whether you prefer low-carb or just don’t feel like making a dough, this Spinach and Mushroom Crustless Quiche is the perfect Sunday morning breakfast! 🍄‍🟫🍃

Grab the recipe link in the comments! 👇

🍚 "Dames Dine Around" is back for 2024! 🗓️Mark your calendar for Tuesday, September 17th, at 6 p.m including Botanist, Provence, Elisa, Bearfoot Bistro, and more! Tickets will be on sale soon!
An exclusive, Province-wide fundraising dining celebration, Dames Dine Around is a limited, one-evening engagement that allows diners to experience a specially designed multi-course menu with wine pairings at one of BC’s premier restaurants. Proceeds from this popular event support the Les Dames d’Escoffier BC Chapter’s scholarship and outreach programming, which includes Chefs in the Classroom and Growing Chefs.

Women in Hospitality | Culinary Events | Dames Dine Around | Les Dames d'Escoffier Fundraiser | BC Women in Wine | BC Women Chefs

In honour of , a shout out to my Edgelogix pocket sharpener! Whether I am at home or traveling, teaching or helping friends with meal prep, this handy tool comes wherever my knife comes. Great for touching up the kit in a holiday let, too!
Only $10 from —makes a great host gift !

What's with all the kinds of butter?
Food & Wine gives us the low-down
https://www.foodandwine.com/a-guide-to-different-styles-of-butter-8400380
One of my favourites is European butter, for its higher butterfat ratio.

The Different Types of Butter and When to Use Them Learn the difference between the different types of butter and when to use them for cooking, baking, and eating.

What's on the menu for Olympic athletes? Definitely NOT the Nuggets that Usain Bolt famously boasted about eating. lol.
The Guardian chatted with Philipp Würz, head of food for Paris 2024.

Behold, the Automat… started due to anti-waiter sentiment in the US and Germany.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/automat-20th-century-waiterless-restaurants?

The Anti-Waiter Sentiment That Made Automat Restaurants Go Mainstream The "waiterless" restaurants that weren't.

Thank you Stardust Poetry

Home Canning Workshop!
Thanks to funding from the Neighbourhood Small Grants Network program, I am hosting two home canning workshops at Gordon Neighbourhood House
Saturday July 20, 1:15–2:45 and
Tuesday July 23, 3:30–5:15
Both sessions will cover skills to safely preserve fruits and vegetables at home. These are demonstration-style workshops, with lots of time for questions.

Send a message to let me know which session you would like to attend. Each class is limited to 20 participants.

CIBC Ambition Stories: Chef Shelley Redefines Retirement After three decades of building her career, Chef Shelley was ready to reimagine her bustling lifestyle. With an inheritance from her dad, Shelley needed the ...

🎶Summer breeze, make me feel fine. blowin’ through the jasmine of my mind 🎶
(also on my deck)

Congratulations Chef Bruno Marti!

🎉 Congratulations to Chef Bruno Marti - “The Godfather” of Canadian cuisine, on being appointed a member of the Order of Canada! 🇨🇦

Chef Marti, a world-class culinary artist, has significantly advanced the culinary arts in British Columbia and across Canada. As the retired owner of La Belle Auberge in Ladner, BC, his leadership in gastronomy has been celebrated globally. Over the past four decades, Chef Marti has mentored many excellent Canadian chefs and led teams to success in international prestigious competitions, including coaching Culinary Team Canada, Bocuse d’Or Canada, and Team British Columbia.

Here’s to your incredible achievements and continued inspiration! 🏅👨‍🍳🍽️

SWAG with a splash! Cooling bevies from , an invite to and a bit of sweetness from
Thank you for the treats
Opening night party

If you’re a woman in food and hospitality who loves supporting other women and giving back, there’s an organization for you. Les Dames d’Escoffier BC Chapter will accept membership applications until July 15, 2024. Join a vibrant international community of exceptional women leaders dedicated to inspiring and advancing female professionals in our industry.
JOIN > https://lesdames.ca/members/

Les Dames d'Escoffier Int'l (LDEI) BC Chapter is a non-profit organization composed of women leaders in BC’s hospitality, food, and beverage industries. The organization is committed to fostering mentorship, collaboration, and growth among women in these fields.

The BC Chapter boasts sixty-six influential members who span all regions of the province and various stages of their careers. They are chefs, sommeliers, pastry artists, restaurant owners, farmers, teachers, dieticians, food producers, sales representatives, marketers, publicists, food writers, and philanthropists.

Pickled garlic scape bulbs are fab for a martini. And pickled stems add a fun flavour to a relish tray. Y’all know what a relish tray is?

Apparently you should cut the garlic scapes if you are going to want big gorgeous bulbs of garlic. And apparently, you can eat them! I use them for a weird, wonderful bouquet. I still eat them.

From all us Dames all over the world!
Thanks to for this important quote!

Happy Pride Month!

Yes, it’s me! Come and join me on Saturday May 25 for a home canning workshop!

Thanks to for hosting

Posted • Unlock the secrets of food preservation at our upcoming free workshop with Karen Dar Woon! Dive into the fundamentals of home canning, from food safety to selecting the freshest produce. Discover essential equipment and supplies, explore recipe selection, and witness a live demonstration of Apple & Rosemary Jam.

🥫 Event: Water Bath Canning Workshop
🗓️ Date: May 25
🕜 Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
🏞️ Location: Ecology Centre
🏆 Door prize!

Register now at the link in our bio.

Open to ages 15 and up. By donation, consider donating to the Ecology Centre or the EGP to continue offering these valuable programs.

Unlock the secrets of food preservation at our upcoming free workshop with Your Secret Chef Karen Dar Woon! Dive into the fundamentals of home canning, from food safety to selecting the freshest produce. Discover essential equipment and supplies, explore recipe selection, and witness a live demonstration of Apple & Rosemary Jam.

🥫 Event: Water Bath Canning Workshop
🗓️ Date: May 25
🕜 Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
🏞️ Location: Ecology Centre
🏆 Door prize!

Register now at ecologycentre.ca/adult-programs/ -workshops

Open to ages 15 and up. By donation, consider donating to the Ecology Centre or the Edible Garden Project to continue offering these valuable programs.