Our Team

Most of the chefs here cook full-time somewhere else. They train on their own time and give up weekends to be ready. These are the people you are supporting.

Alexander Maryniak

Pastry Chef

Alexander began in the industry as a dishwasher and developed his passion for the kitchen from the ground up. Representing Canada lets him keep pushing his boundaries, refining his craft and finding fresh inspiration.

Chris Braun

Core Member

Chris discovered his love for food as a child in his grandmother's kitchen, standing on chairs to help peel potatoes and whip cream. Growing heirloom produce on his parents' farm taught him where food comes from, and teaching young cooks that passion is what puts a smile on his face.

Francis Derick Flores

Team Captain

Francis's love for food and cooking was sparked by going to the local market in the Philippines with his grandma every morning to buy the day's ingredients. That passion eventually led him to pursue cooking as a career.

Kay Noh

Support Member

What Kay has always loved most about cooking is making guests happy and creating memorable moments for them through food. Working at Provence Marinaside inspired Kay to pursue that passion at VCC Culinary Arts.

The Ones in the Kitchen

Alexander Benedict Bernardo

Core Member

For Alexander, culinary is both passion and purpose, rooted in watching his dad cook and tagging along to work and family dinner celebrations. He has also volunteered cooking for organizations that help marginalized communities in the Philippines.

Daniel Calabrese

Member

Daniel is defined by innovation, versatility and a creative approach to cuisine, with meticulous attention to detail. He is committed to pushing culinary boundaries and representing Canadian cuisine on the world stage.

Negus King

Support Member

Negus's journey began with enjoying his grandparents' food and wanting to learn how they made it. His first job was making the local delicacy, Pudding & Souse, at a small restaurant in Barbados.

Anna Yeh

Core Team

Anna started culinary school at VCC in 2004 before she knew what she wanted to do. Working with a group of talented and passionate chefs guided her into furthering her career.

Kate Andrei Remigio

Pastry Support

Kate discovered how much she enjoyed creating things with her hands at a vegan donut shop, turning basic ingredients into something people could enjoy. She grew fascinated by the creativity and precision behind baking and fell in love with working alongside her kitchen team.

Simon Martin

Support Member

Simon grew up with great ingredients and cookbooks around the house because his father and grandfather are chefs, and he really picked up cooking in his high school culinary arts class. His coach taught him that food should not only look good on the plate but also tell a story through its ingredients and techniques.