Chef Ryan

Food, Family, Fun…

Food is my passion, my mistress if you will. It has provided me with so much in life; a career, travel, experiences, successes and failures, and an outlet for my creativity. I started out washing dishes, cooking wings, burgers and fries to pay the bills. Then food bit me back, I started to realize the power and potential that food has! I began to climb the culinary ladder, hopping between restaurants; working all stations in the kitchen, taking any knowledge that I could and moving on. I studied Culinary Arts at Humber College and apprenticed under Olaf Mertens. Yeah, I won medals in competition, became a Pastry Chef and Sous Chef at a fantastic restaurant in Mississauga, worked in Europe, ran a few restaurants, been published, photographed and even done a little television, but it was never really about personal achievements, I loved the camaraderie in the kitchen, fighting to get through each crazy service and most of all…creating amazing FOOD!

Family is my foundation. Jana and I always did things a little different, before there was food, I had Family, and that has always remained my number one priority! We have an incredible eight year old daughter Caitrin, and our most recent additions “the twins” Ella and Jack are now one. Together we live in beautiful Nova Scotia, in an old farmhouse by the beach, and I couldn’t think of a better place to raise a family. They keep me going, keep me inspired and keep me grounded.

Fun is my release. One thing I have learned in the past 30 years is not to take yourself too seriously. You’ve got to be able to laugh, love, live and have fun doing it! For me fun is a day at the beach, playing in the sand and swimming, working outside, gardening, hanging with my family, and of course, creating in the kitchen.