“Being a chef has given me some of the most challenging moments in life, and the most rewarding. ”

Chef Natasha started her culinary journey at HTA School of Culinary Arts in her native Johannesburg, South Africa before working her way up the ranks at the Arabella Hotel & Spa and Tintswalo Atlantic Lodge in Cape Town.She then caught the teaching bug and spent a stint away from the kitchen, first at the Chefs Training and Innovation Academy and then at HTA School of Culinary Arts.

When the Four Seasons opened a Johannesburg location, Chef Natasha joined as Chef de Partie and was later promoted to Pastry Sous Chef. In 2016, she crossed the Atlantic to take on the role Chef de Partie at the beautiful Four Seasons Resort and Spa in Whistler. She joined PICA as a Baking & Pastry Arts Instructor in 2018.

Chef Natasha has won two bronze medals at the 2012 IKA Culinary Olympics, a bronze medal at the 2013 Salon Culinaire Mondial and a silver medal at the 2020 IKA Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart, Germany. She currently coaches Culinary Team British Columbia and Junior Culinary Team Canada.
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Chef Natasha lists artisan breads, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream and chocolate among her favourite things to make and eat.

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Hailing from British Columbia’s famed wine region, the Okanagan valley, Chef Alex was always interested in cooking from a young age. Inspired by the cookbooks in his childhood home, he would pour through them intensely and then make all the recipes for his family.  Having held several positions in various restaurants, Chef Alex’s passion for food invariably led him to pursue formal culinary training at Vancouver’s Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts.

With his professional culinary diploma in hand, Chef Alex took on different positions in the restaurant of Summerhill Winery while steadily working his way up to become its head chef.  Then, wanting to further his culinary knowledge and training, he set off for Europe to work under renowned Chef Sergio Herman at his famed 2-star Michelin restaurant, The Jane, in Antwerp, Belgium. Later, upon returning home to his beloved wine country, he assumed the executive chef position at O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars the Okanagan’s Lake Country.

Chef Alex’s cooking is influenced by his Dutch upbringing, the flavors of Indonesia, and the bountiful, local produce from valley farmers. His cooking style emphasizes bright flavors with lots of acidity and freshness. Being an Okanagan boy at heart, Chef Alex has a strong passion for pairing wine with food.  

At home, Chef Alex loves cooking comfort foods with his girlfriend, like Moroccan lamb tagines with Israeli couscous, pomegranate, and lemon. When he’s not in the kitchen, Chef Alex can be found practicing jiujitsu and spending time with his young son whom he adores.  

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Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Chef Camila started her culinary journey in her mom's kitchen, where she baked her first cake and fell in love with sharing her creations with others.

Chef Camila attended culinary school in Brazil before furthering her pastry education at Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa, Canada. With her formal training complete, she returned to Brazil where she worked under pastry chef Fabrice Lenud, the former pastry chef at Dalloyau and Paul Bocouse, at Patisserie Dulce France.

Missing Canada, she moved to Montreal in 2013, where she joined the Relais & Château’s Europea’s team as Pastry Chef de Partie. In 2015, Chef Camilia had the opportunity to work at Maison Christian Faure (MOF - Meilleur Ouvrier de France) and shortly afterwards became the head pastry chef instructor for the group's pastry school.  

At the end of 2018, she joined Ryu Group as Executive Pastry Chef, where she created, developed and managed the production for seven different venues, each with its own unique style.

In 2021, Chef Camila moved out west to Vancouver, where she now lives with her cat, Laloue. She loves working with ice cream, cakes, cookies and viennoiseries. Her favorite pastry chef is Christina Tossi of Milk Bar. In her free time, you can find her tracking down the most interesting and unique ice cream flavors the city has to offer!

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“Passion, strong work ethic and an open mind will bring success.”

Born and raised in Richmond, England, Chef Ben got his start at  culinary school. He apprenticed under Chef Paul Gayler at Lanesborough Hotel Hyde Park and — after a stint at another 5-star hotel in the Canary Islands — gained further experience working for Marco Pierre White Restaurant Group.

Chef Ben has learned from some of Europe’s best and brightest, including Chefs Jacques and Laurent Pourcel in Montpellier, Chef Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester Hotel in London and Chef Paul Bocuse in Lyon.

Chef Ben moved to Vancouver in 2009, where he held positions as Executive Sous Chef at the Sutton Place Hotel and as Head Chef at Caffé dé Medici, a DiRoNA award winner. In 2014, Chef Ben shifted his focus to teaching, through which he aims to help students reach their culinary goals.

Chef Ben especially enjoys cooking whole fish, like mackerel, Arctic char and trout. When it’s his turn to order, he often sticks to classic dishes like Beef Wellington followed by his favorite dessert: Mille Feuille.

“I have been cooking professionally for over 39 years and I haven’t stopped learning. I believe it is my responsibility to pass on my skills, knowledge and passion to the next generation.”

Katsuhito began his culinary career in Japan, attending the prestigious Tsuji Gakuen Japan Cooking School in Osaka. After graduating, he ventured to Canada — first working at Furusato Restaurant in Toronto and then at SushiBar in Montreal.

He returned to Japan to complete an apprenticeship at Suikazura, putting his skillset in French cuisine and pastries to the test, before Toronto called once more — this time to take on the role of Department Head at the Westin Prince Hotel where he worked under Chef Takayama. He then moved west and joined the faculty of Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in 2003. A PICAchef instructor for 18 years, he is beloved by students, faculty and staff alike.

Chef Katsu loves exploring local markets to find inspiration for the vegan meals he cooks for his family at home. His favorite thing to eat is sushi and he also enjoys sumiyaki, a traditional style of Japanese charcoal-grilled foods.

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“Success is no accident. It’s hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

Born and raised in a tight knit Italian family in Toronto, Chef Phyllis’s training started in her mother’s kitchen at a young age. She moved to Vancouver in 1994 and in 1996 began her culinary apprenticeship under Chef Peg Montgomery of the legendary Delilah’s, gaining experience at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club and Mescalero.

Her contributions to Vancouver’s culinary industry have been extensive, through consultative and leadership roles at renowned venues such as Cobre and Les Faux Bourgeois. She spent seven years at Bin 941 and Bin 942, graduating from line cook to Sous Chef and ultimately Chef de Cuisine, and contributing to a six-year streak of Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Award titles from 2001–2006.

Chef Phyllis lists Mexican, Middle Eastern and Southern BBQ as her favorite cuisines to cook — and her proudest achievement to date has been conceptualizing and creating her own business, Mangal Kiss Middle Eastern BBQ, in the early days of the Vancouver food truck scene.

Her favorite meal? Always tacos.

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“Finding success in this industry is a journey. Surround yourself with likeminded people who will always drive you to be better.”

Ever a creative mind, Chef Dave graduated from culinary school in 2008. His breadth of culinary experience ranges from casual dining with well-known restaurant chains like the Keg, Brown’s Social House and Milestones to his most recent positions as Chef de Partie at one of Canada’s top fine dining restaurants, Hawksworth, and Senior Sous Chef with Hawksworth Catering.

In between, Chef Dave has also held positions at The Flying Pig as well as the tourist-friendly Salmon House on the Hill. His love of all things culinary extends to his spare time as well where he is often found poring over the latest cookbooks and his enthusiasm for the industry is felt by fellow faculty and students alike.

He loves playing with local, seasonal and ethical products to bring new creations to life and his own favorite things to eat include anything with great balance and thoughtful texture. “Salt, fat, acid and heat!” he says.

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“No words can describe the emotions behind creating the perfect finished product. What makes our craft exciting is that it has no limits!”

Chef Christian was born on the island of Mauritius where he attended culinary school and apprenticed at The Royal Palm Hotel. In 2006, he moved to France to specialize in baking & pastry arts. He worked at Chez Bouillet pastry shop in Lyon, as well as Chez Cordier and Aux Délices d'Etampes near Paris.

Studies complete, he returned to Mauritius as Pastry Chef at two 5-star resorts, the Maritim and Taj Exotica. In 2009, he moved to Toronto where he joined the Ritz Carlton Toronto team and was nominated for the 2013 Greater Toronto Hotel Association Award.

He relocated to Vancouver and joined the faculty at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts’ in 2015. In 2017, Chef Christian was one of only two Canadian pastry chefs and one of just six finalists from across North America at the Valrhona C3 Chocolate Competition in New York. Chocolate is Chef Christian's favorite product to work with as it requires precision and patience.

When cooking for his family, he loves to barbeque and prepare fresh fish. Why fish? - It reminds him of the ocean's abundance in his home country.

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“As a pastry chef, there’s nothing more relevant and pleasurable than seeing how you have fulfilled people with happiness.”

Chef Julien was raised on homemade food and quickly fell in love with the joy of baking and cooking.

A native of Paris, Chef Julien graduated from CEPROC, where he studied under pastry chef instructor Bruno Ciret. He gained experience working in pastry shops and restaurants around the world, including Au Rocher de Cancale and Renoma Café in Paris, and TWG Tea in Singapore.

In 2017, he was recruited for the first Canadian location of TWG Tea in Vancouver. Julien later moved to Au Comptoir, where he led his team to win the 2019 Vancouver Magazine Silver Award for Best Dessert Restaurant. Chef Julien believes in constant learning and credits his mentor, Alexis Lorel, for teaching him the rules of pastry and sharing a lifelong passion.

Chef Julien has a hard time picking favorites, but loves baking traditional desserts such as the tarte aux pommes, the fraisier, the opera, the Paris Brest and the Saint Honoré. His favorite meals are nostalgic and include his grandmother’s strawberry rhubarb jam and his mother’s slow-cooked Boeuf Bourguignon.

“Happiness is in the small details you see every single day. You can be inspired by everything in your life – family, friends, nature – to create a dish or dessert.”

Chef Luciane (or Luci) started her career as a lawyer, but she fell in love with the culinary world after realizing the power of food to bring people together. She believes that food is an experience that needs to be shared with others.

In her native Brazil, she joined the Bachelor Course of Culinary Arts at Unisinos, where she learned the foundations of culinary arts and restaurant management. After graduating, she worked in restaurant kitchens and management positions, before deciding that her passion was pastries and viennoiserie. She moved to France in 2016 to attend the Master Class program at Lenôtre Paris, where she focused on developing her pastry skills.

After living in France, she later came to Canada to join one of the most acclaimed restaurants on the West Coast, Hawksworth & Bel Café, where she gained further experience in fine dining, working with Chef Wayne Kozinko.  

Later, at Small Victory Bakery, a coffee chain in Vancouver, she developed her passion for viennoiserie, working with croissants, bread and desserts. In her role, she oversaw factory and storefront production of baked goods. =

Gaining recognition for her work, Chef Lucy then developed a new menu for another well-known coffee chain, Pallet Coffee Roasters, with her baked goods being distributed to seven store locations around Vancouver.  

After working for this chain for two years, Chef Lucy decided that she wanted to again challenge herself further and joined the instructor team at PICAchef. As a chef instructor, she now enjoys sharing her knowledge and learning from her fellow instructors and students.

Outside of school, Chef Lucy enjoys cooking, exploring nature, and spending time with family and friends. She is also a pet lover... Especially dogs!

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