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Not all of us have the energy to cook food everyday, let alone to make it look beautiful.
Despite that, it’s always fun to look at delicious meals presented in an artsy way.
If you need some culinary inspiration, look no further than some of the best Kelowna chefs.
Not only do they design and create mouthwatering masterpieces everyday, they also post photos of them on Instagram.
1) Brock Bowes- Raudz Regional Table
Bowes graduated from the Vancouver Island University Culinary Arts program and worked Fairmont Chateau Whistler early on in his career. After working at many hot spots in Vancouver and travelling to Europe to expand his culinary horizons, he eventually found his way to the Okanagan. In 2015, chef Bowes won Chopped Canada by creating a lobster dish that earned him $10,000. Now overseeing RauDZ Regional Table and micro bar • bites, he has a focus on supporting and eating local, with an international twist.
2) Alex Lavroff- Sunset Organic Bistro
Kelowna native, chef Alex Lavroff, started as a dishwasher and moved through the kitchen’s ranks, and ended up pursuing a formal education at Vancouver’s Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. In 2013, Lavroff moved back to the Okanagan, eventually leading his own team as chef of the Mission Creek Golf Course. Now at Summerhill Winery’s Sunset Organic Bistro, Lavroff is known for mixing a variety of flavours from B.C. in a unique way that pairs perfectly with the organic wine they serve.
3) Graydon Gliege- Xchange
Xchange head chef Graydon Gliege grew up right here in Kelowna and trained in the Culinary Arts at Okanagan College. After working in many establishments the Okanagan, he ready to run his own kitchen. With a background in Italian, French and West Coast cuisine, Gliege uses seasonally produce to create colourful plates. Also, his Instagram feed is epic. *Must follow*
4) Chris Shaften- Krafty Kitchen
Top Chef Season 3 winner and owner of Krafty Kitchen Chris Shaften came to Kelowna from Calgary, where he worked at some of the province’s most well known restaurants. While the the cuisine is quite gourmet, the atmosphere Shaften creates is laidback, with a focus on “farm to table” and “grape to glass” hospitality. His Instagram is a mix of yummy food, funny photos and pets. Love.
5) Rob Walker- Big White Ski Resort
One of Canada’s most accomplished chefs, Rob Walker, joined Big White Ski Resort as executive chef in the fall. The B.C.-born chef has won plenty of awards in a variety of culinary competitions in the province. Walker is responsible for the menus at Big White’s Kettle Valley Steakhouse, Happy Valley Day Lodge, Black Forest Day Lodge and the new Clocktower Coffee Co. in the Village Centre Mall.
6) Darren Kashin- Kelowna Yacht Club
Darren Kashin was born in Ottawa, Ont. and worked as the executive chef at Sun Peak’s Masa’s Bar & Grill for multiple years. In July, Kashin took over as the new club chef at the Kelowna Yacht Club. His Instagram is all food, so go ahead and ogle.
7) Jeremy Luypen- Predator Ridge
Executive chef Jeremy Luypen joined the Predator Ridge team in 2014 and is the current president of the Okanagan Chefs Association, an instructor in the Okanagan College's Culinary Arts Program and an award winning culinary competitor. In the past, Luypen has worked at Hotel Eldorado, Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos and owned Terrafina in Oliver, named one of the province’s top 5 winery restaurants by BC Living Magazine.
8) Patrick Gayler- Mission Hill Family Estate
Terrace Restaurant executive sous chef Patrick Gayler studied at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and competed with the Canadian culinary team from 2009-2012. In 2014, he was hired at Mission Hill Family Estate and besides serving restaurant guests seasonally, also puts on culinary classes and private culinary offerings. Can we just say his plating is on point!
9) Aman Dosanj- The Paisley Notebook
Originally from England, Aman Dosanj and her family were the faces behind Kelowna’s former Indian mainstay Poppadoms. After being in the restaurant industry for six years, Dosanj took off on an eight-month ‘edible adventure’ across the world and started sharing the stories of chefs from every cultural and culinary background. The travel bug and chef with Okanagan roots will take you on quite the journey- all through social media.
10) Jordan Wilton- Naked Cafe and Social 242
Wilton has worked in multiple Kelowna kitchens, but most recently upped the game at Naked Cafe and helped to debut a vegan menu at Social 242. In recent years, Wilton has also brought home multiple awards for his inspired dishes through culinary competitions in the Okanagan. If you haven’t tried his vegan cupcakes at Naked, you’re definitely missing out. To Wilton, each batch is a work of art. For those of you who aren’t vegan, there are plenty of omnivore photos on his Instagram to daydream about.
Let us know who your favourite foodie or chef is to follow in the Okanagan and show us what you're munching on with the hashtag #kelownanoweats. We’re always looking for some good food porn to feast our eyes on.
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