The team here at WanderEater has always stood with Asian and BIPOC communities but it’s more important than ever to use our platform to not only support them but speak out against any injustice. Hate crimes against the Asian community have skyrocketed since the beginning of the COVID pandemic and it’s just, wrong. In addition to following and showing some love toward these mega-talented Asian chefs and foodies, reach out to your Asian friends and neighbours to see what you can do to support them and share their messages. Just like how we all came together at the start of the pandemic, it’s crucial to be in this together and make a difference.
Canada is home to so many people of different backgrounds, races, and nationalities. It’s what makes us so unique to the world and while it can sound corny, it truly is our strength. And while we may be known as the quiet neighbour to the north, according to CTV News, “Canada has a higher number of reported anti-Asian hate crime incidents per Asian capita compared to the U.S., according to Project 1907, with Toronto showing the second-highest rate of cases involving anti-Asian hate crimes among major cities, following Vancouver.”
Chef Trevor Lui
Chef Trevor Lui’s culinary journey kicked off in the kitchen of a family restaurant serving up classic sweet and sour chicken balls and chow mein. Today, he’s highly recognized and revered for developing Toronto hot spots like Kanpai Snack Bar, La Brea Food and Popa to name a few. His debut cookbook, Double Happiness, hit store shelves in January and it’s packed with 80 recipes that you’ll be dying to sink your teeth into when just flipping through the book.
See also: How To Make Chef Trevor Lui’s Taiwanese Fried Chicken
Mijune Pak
In addition to being known as one of the judges on Top Chef Canada, Mijune Pak is also the founder of FollowMeFoodie.com, her uncensored food blog. You can often find her doing regular TV segments and winning countless accolades. Plus in her “downtime” Mijune also launched her own line of chocolate bars which sold out in a flash but are available for pre-order!
Chef Chris Cho
Korean-American Chef Chris Cho is a force to be reckoned with. He has been immersed in the food industry his whole life and now owns his own restaurant, Seorabol Center City, and even a kickass kimchi side-hustle.
Isabelle Cheng
Notable Toronto food and travel content creator Isabelle easily has some of the most gorgeous content in the business. Her photos are true works of art and deserve all the recognition they receive. Once you hit that ‘follow’ button, we’re pretty positive you won’t regret it!
Sabrina Stavenjord
If baking is your thing, then we hope you’re already following Sabrina. If not, there’s still time to fix it because not only is her content top-notch, but she’s so bubbly and joyful that after watching her bake, you’ll feel inspired to get in your kitchen.
Chef Nick Liu
It’s no surprise that Chef Nick Liu is known as being one of the best in the city. His restaurants, DaiLo and Lo Pan, are some of our favourites and his skill is just unparalleled. It’s clear that after just a quick scroll on his IG, that his love and passion for what he does are evident and it’s beautiful to see it come to life.
See also: How to Upgrade Your at-Home Dining Experience, California Style!
Tiffy Cooks
Who isn’t obsessed with Tiktok food videos? We are and one of our faves to watch over and over again is Tiffy. Her videos make cooking Asian food look so simple and not as daunting as it may seem. The flavours, textures, and presentation always look fab and we’ve often found ourselves salivating. True story.
Chef Joanne Chang
Another baker to have on your radar is Chef Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery. Honestly, there’s nothing this fierce woman can’t do. She’s an acclaimed pastry chef, restauranteur and cookbook author. Plus, one look at her IG feed and you’ll be craving pie, cookies, rice krispies, and much more!
Chef Susur Lee
A Canadian icon, Chef Susur needs no introduction. When Chef isn’t playing judge on Chopped Canada, and Wall of Chefs, you might just find him plating at his oh-so-popular restaurant, Lee. Chef Susur has done a wonderful job bringing the flavours of South East Asia to the forefront and we’re forever grateful.
Chef Nuit Regular
Last but certainly lot least is Chef Nuit Regular. As a hardworking mom, restaurant owner, and celebrated chef, Chef Nuit is proof that you can do it all and do it right. Her restaurants Pai, Kiin, Sabai Sabai and sukhoTHAI, are all stars in their own right and yes, you need to order from them all!
See also: #CookbookOfTheMonth: All About Kiin by Chef Nuit Regular
