We are pleased to announce our speakers for FBC 2013, presented by Canada Beef.
Keynote - David Leite
David Leite (pronounced leet) is the author of The New Portuguese Table: Exciting Flavors from Europe’s Western Coast, which won the 2010 IACP First Book/Julia Child Award and for which he received the 2009 National Leadership Award from the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS). When not agonizing over his next book, he writes about everything from champagne to Welsh food to high tea to being a super taster for publications including the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Pastry Art & Design, Food Arts, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, The Washington Post, Charlotte Observer, epicurious.com, and Ridgefield Magazine, where he was the food editor for three years. David is a guest host on the Martha Stewart radio program “Cooking Today,” was a frequent guest on the network’s program Living Today, and is often heard on public radio’s food program The Splendid Table hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper. He’s a regular guest on WTNH-TV, appears on The Today Show, and was profiled on Radical Sabbatical on Fine Living Network.
David won the 2008 James Beard Award for Newspaper Feature Writing Without Recipes for his article, “In a ’64 T-Bird, Chasing a Date with a Clam” and was nominated in 2009 for his article “Perfection? Hint: It’s Warm and Has a Secret,” both from the New York Times. He’s also a four-time nominee for the Bert Green Award for Food Journalism, which he won in 2006. In addition, he was a 2007 and 2006 winner of an Association of Food Journalists Award. His essays have been included in the Best Food Writing series in 2001, and from 2002 to 2012. Leite’s Culinaria, which David created in 1999, won the 2007 James Beard Award for Web Site Focusing on Food, Beverage, Restaurant, or Nutrition and the 2006 James Beard Award for Best Food Web Site, a 2006 Food Blog Award, the 2005 World Food Media Award for Best Food and/or Drink Web Site, and was named Best Writer’s Web Site for 2002 by Writer’s Digest.
Chef Jason Bangerter – Executive Chef O&B Canteen | Luma
Jason began his culinary career in Toronto at George Brown College Chef School, followed by a three-year apprenticeship at Le Royal Meridian King Edward Hotel. He earned a much sought-after position as assistant to John Higgins, the captain of Culinary Team Canada. This role also led him to a short stint at Paris’ Hotel Le Meridian Montparnasse.
He soon headed overseas permanently to join the brigade at Mosimann’s in London. Under Anton Mosimann, one of London’s leading chefs, Jason quickly rose through the ranks joining the opening teams for the Swissôtel Berlin in Germany and later Château Mosimann in Olten, Switzerland. Upon returning to London, Jason often assisted at Mosimann Academy and was next appointed Chef de Cuisine at the Kulm Hotel in the Swiss Italian Alps, where he was responsible for the hotel’s private dining club Dracula.
In February 2002, he returned to Toronto, joining the team at Auberge du Pommier. Long hailed as one of the city’s best restaurants, Bangerter committed to raising the bar even higher. His efforts paid off, earning the restaurant numerous awards and distinctions.
In 2010 Jason took on the position of Executive Chef of Oliver & Bonacini’s two new restaurants at the TIFF Bell Lightbox: O&B Canteen and Luma. Since opening, Luma has been named one of North America’s Top Ten New Restaurants by Frommer’s Travel Guide, as well as one of Toronto’s top ten by local food reviewer James Chatto, and O&B Canteen has become one of the most frequented restaurants of the King West theatre district. Follow Jason on Twitter @chefbangerter
Brian Baas - Bookkeeper, Small Business Consultant and Blogger
Brian Baas is the owner of Baas Tax and Bookkeeping based out of Ottawa where he consults with a number of different bloggers and small business on the importance of keeping track of your finances come tax time. Brian has worked with numerous bloggers to ensure they get the most out of the money they've earned blogging, he has also spoken at multiple blogging conferences all over Ontario. Brian uses his experience with the blogging world and has developed tools specific to bloggers for managing finances. He is dedicated to ensuring that bloggers are ready and able to get the most from their tax return.
In his free time he is the creator of WWAGDo.com where he writes to discover everything there is to know about being a modern gentleman. Brian is a lover of fine wine, scotch, and meat, and he refuses to admit that he is addicted to twitter and loves Instagram. Follow Brian on twitter @WWAGDo @brianofpp
Charmian Christie – Writer, Recipe Developer, Soon-to-be Author
Charmian Christie is a food writer, columnist and soon-to-be cookbook author who puts her journalism training to good use through her love of food. Her first book, The Messy Baker, is due on bookshelves in Spring 2014 via with HarperCollins Canada. When she’s not biting her nails in anticipation, she’s the baking columnist for Recipes.ca and blogging at Christie’s Corner. Her works have appeared in a wide range of magazines and cookbooks including More, The Globe and Mail, Edible Toronto, Natural Health, Canadian Gardening, Relish, Kiwi’s Allergy-Friendly Food for Families and Share: Delicious Dishes from FoodShare and Friends.
When she’s not sharing culinary adventures through her blog, she’s thinking up new entries for her smartphone app, Kitchen Disasters & Fixes. She lives in Southern Ontario in a draughty 150-year old house with one absent-minded professor, two cats and more measuring cups than she cares to admit. Follow Charmian on Twitter @charmian_c.
Dan Clapson – Freelance Food Writer
Dan Clapson is a freelance food writer based out of Calgary, Alberta. His array of published works covers everything from restaurant features and chef profiles to creating recipes and recapping hands-on culinary experiences. He writes regularly for Avenue Magazine, Food Network Canada and Metro News, among others. As well, Dan has spent time learning in the kitchen with some of the country’s top young chefs. He believes a true appreciation of food culture comes by experiencing it from all sides, which is reflected on his popular blog, dansgoodside.com.
Dan is currently in the process of filming his first web series, as well as penning a cookbook. While he’s not writing or eating, you can find him teaching university students how to cook through his non-profit cooking initiative, Start From Scratch. He thinks creme brûlées are overrated, but appreciates a good panna cotta. You can follow him on twitter @dansgoodside
Alexa Clark – Publisher, CheapEats Restaurant Guide
Alexa knows three things really well: technology, food and people. Alexa grew up on an organic farm and in restaurant kitchens which has lead her to have experience working front of the house, back of the house, and from farm to fryer. Her professional career started in interactive tech and after 15 years she deliberately shifted focus to publish the CheapEats Restaurant Guide series. Currently she runs Plethora Press, a publishing company she founded with partner Gerry Thorpe for the CheapEats Restaurant Guide series. CheapEats guides are currently available for Toronto and Ottawa, with Vancouver and Montreal in the works.
Alexa started blogging in 2004 with blogs for CheapEats Toronto and Ottawa, her personal blog unsweetened.ca and a blog about the television show The Apprentice which she sold for a profit after 5 seasons. Alexa is a Founder of HoHoTO, Founder & Editor of FarFromOrdinary.ca, Co-chair of the Communications Committee for Second Harvest’s Toronto Taste, and Founder and Host of one of Toronto’s hottest underground dining experiences the Secret Pickle Supper Club. Follow her on twitter at @alexaclark
Stephanie Eddy - Globe & Mail Columnist and Food Blogger
Stephanie lives in Calgary, AB and is the creator of Clockwork Lemon, a blog dedicated to baking, brunches, and other kitchen adventures. Her recipes and photos have been featured online on Saveur Magazine, Vogue Portugal, America’s Test Kitchen, and SheKnows.ca among others.
Along with sharing recipes and photos on her blog, Stephanie develops recipes for the Globe and Mail. Her column, Icing on the Cake, features easy yet tempting desserts that encourage Canadians to get baking.
Stephanie spends her spare time working on photography, baking bread, and is currently learning how to make cheese. Follow Stephanie on twitter @Clock_workLemon
Alison Fryer - Owner, The Cookbook Store
Since The Cookbook Store opened its doors in Toronto in 1983 Alison has been at the helm, guiding customers through the myriad of choices from around the world. The Cookbook Store is a culinary destination for home cooks and professional chefs. Hosting events large and small, local and international in scope with visiting chefs and authors from around the world. Alison is a frequent contributor and commentator to the media and has been a judge for all the major cookbook awards in North America. She is the recipient of an honoury degree from George Brown College (2012) and is a past winner of the Women's Culinary Network Woman of the Year Award and received a Gold Award from the Ontario Hostelry Institute. You can follow the chatter on twitter @cookbookshop and also interact at www.cook-book.com
Adele Hagan - Food Stylist
Adele styles for magazines, motion pictures, supermarket chains, cookbooks and consumer goods packaging. Before pursuing her career in food she attended the University of Guelph and graduated with an honours degree in geography and a minor in fine arts. She honed her chef skills at Le Cordon Bleu in London (and graduated at the top of her class!) with a Grand Diplome in cuisine and patisserie.
Her most memorable events while living in England were working on the first two Harry Potter films, assisting with the Queen Mum’s 100th birthday cake, and almost running over the Queen herself while working at an estate next to Balmoral. Visit Adele's porfolio
Melissa Hartfiel – FBC Co-Founder | WordPress Web Designer
Melissa Hartfiel is 1/3 of the founding team behind Food Bloggers of Canada where she is the resident design and tech guru. She is also the owner of Fine Lime Designs, a Vancouver based WordPress web and graphic design company. Much of her clientele consists of food, tourism and the arts with a focus on bloggers and small business.
In her spare time, Melissa moonlights as a professional food photographer and writes the food photography blog, Eyes Bigger Than My Stomach where she offers up food photo tips and Lightroom tutorials. She also regularly speaks to New Media students at BCIT on the perils of being a freelance designer and has penned a number of articles with tech tips to get the most out of your blog or website. She lives just outside Vancouver with her goofy lab Sam, an honorary member of the FBC founding team (he attends all the Skype meetings!). Follow Melissa on twitter @mhchipmunk
Dianne Jacob – Author and Food Writer
Dianne Jacob is the author of Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Cookbooks, Blogs, Reviews, Memoir, and More. The first edition won the Cordon D’Or International award for Best Literary Food Reference Book in 2005. The second edition won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award in 2010 for best book in the USA in its category. Her blog, Will Write for Food: Pithy Snippets about Food Writing, covers food writing trends and technique. The New York Times, Publishers’ Weekly, Chow, Eater, BlogHer, and Food52 News have picked up her posts. Dianne is also co-author of the cookbook Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas, with chef Craig Priebe, and she edits cookbooks for national publishers and individuals.
Previously a newspaper, magazine, and publishing company editor-in-chief, Dianne became a full-time writing coach, author, and freelance editor in 1996. She coaches writers and teaches across the US, Canada, Europe and Asia on writing and publishing books, freelance articles, and blogs. She also edits manuscripts and has helped people go through the publishing process. Dianne judges books for the James Beard Foundation and for the International Association of Culinary Professionals annual cookbook awards. She has also been a judge for the Bert Greene Award for Food Journalism. A feature she wrote about food blogs was a finalist for a Bert Greene award in 2007. She has also written feature articles for Salon.com, Sunset, Clean Eating, Gastronomica, and Writer’s Digest. See her website, www.diannej.com, for more information.
Dana McCauley - Food Writer, Product Developer & Recipe to Riches Judge
Dana McCauley remains a change agent in the food business after almost two decades! While becoming publicly recognized as one of Canada’s most popular food and recipe writers, she was also consulting less conspicuously with internationally known food companies to help them develop new grocery store products. Dana is employed full time as the Director of Product Development and Innovation at Janes Family Foods. She is also a judge on the award winning Food Network Canada original series Recipe to Riches which concluded a second successful season in December 2012.
Dana is a polished speaker and engaging presenter who is a frequent keynote and panel participant. Her audiences range from groups at professional conferences and trade shows to more academic venues such as universities and even the Smithsonian Institution. Follow her on twitter @danamccauley for info about food trends, innovation and more.
Mary Luz Mejia - Sizzling Communications
Colombian-born, Canadian raised Mary Luz Mejia is a freelance food/travel journalist, food TV producer and food communications professional. She is a regular contributor to Sympatico.ca ‘s food pages and was the brunch columnist for the Toronto Star’s weekly column “The Morning After” for the last year of its existence.
She started Sizzling Communications, a boutique firm specializing in food and food-related communications three years ago with her husband. Based solely on word-of-mouth recommendations, Mary Luz has created launches, campaigns and events for Christine Cushing, The Stratford Chef School, Menchies Frozen Yoghurt, Stirling Creamery and Fred's Bread to name a few. She keeps her finger on the pulse of what's happening in various food circles and offers a fresh perspective to clients given her multi-disciplinary background. She’s been called “one of Toronto’s most dedicated and passionate food journalists” by Saveur Magazine’s editor-in-chief James Oseland and hopes to master her favourite iconic Latin American dishes one plate at a time. You can follow her on twitter @MaryLuzOnFood
Corey Mintz – Author, Restaurant Critic and Ultimate Dinner Host
Corey Mintz is best known from the dinner parties he hosts in his home for his popular Toronto Star column, “Fed.” Before that he was a restaurant critic and before that he worked for a living, as a cook. In the past two years, he has hosted 150 dinner parties. He began without napkins or stemware, serving wine out of Nutella jars. But after hosting politicians, artists, academics, monkeys, librarians, chefs, sommeliers, cops, lawyers, psychologists, a spy, a forager, a rabbi, a gambler, a drug addict, and a mayor, he’s become a pro. His first book, How To Host A Dinner Party, will be published in May 2013 and it will feature recipes, anecdotes, expert analysis, and an endless bounty of how-to tips. It is the essential guide to perfecting the art of welcoming people into your home. published by House of Anansi Press.
You can check out Corey’s blog Porkosity and follow him on Twitter.
Emily Richards – Professional Home Economist and Cookbook Author
Highly experienced and well-regarded Professional Home Economist, Emily Richards has an extensive know-how in the Food Industry which is strengthened with her Bachelor of Science, Home Economics specializing in Food and Nutrition from the University of Western Ontario and over 15 years experience in the food world.
Emily has authored and co-authored many cookbooks and continues to create recipes for notable magazines, newspapers and companies. Emily also appears across the web presenting recipes that are easy to prepare for busy families and enjoy together.
Emily’s newest cookbook “Get in The Kitchen and COOK!” will get you in the kitchen preparing recipes quickly so you can enjoy time with your family and friends. The book will help families enjoy weeknight meals and also bring the casual kitchen entertaining experience with friends to homes across the country. Emily continues to appear across the country presenting recipes, easy cooking and entertaining ideas, always promoting her passion for food and inspiring people to get in their kitchens and cook!
Check out what Emily’s up to by visiting her website, check out her blog or follow Emily on twitter @ERiscooking
Jan Scott – Freelance Food Writer, Editor and Event Planner
Jan Scott is a food writer/editor, blogger and party planner. Her blog, Family Bites, is a collection of fun party ideas and easy recipes designed for simple family fun. She is the Food Editor for www.savvymom.ca, and in addition to creating the tasty recipes and pretty pictures in the food section of the website, she is also responsible for producing the content for Party Savvy, the website’s popular monthly birthday party feature.
Prior to making the transition to freelance writer, Jan was an event planner for one of Toronto’s top private caterers, and coordinated everything from lavish children’s birthdays and simple weddings, to in-home cocktail parties and corporate events. She lives in Toronto with her husband, Rob, and their two boys, Ben and Jackson. You can follow her on twitter @FamilyBites
Robin Sharp - Food Photographer and Food Blogger
Robin Sharp has been shooting, eating and blogging in Toronto since 2005. In addition to running If Looks Could Fill: A Food Blog, she has shot for Frommers travel guides, Splenda, Cultures, Caplansky's Deli and more than a handful of other Toronto restaurants. She also photographs families, weddings and pets and loves working with natural light.
Her husband and partner in crime Richard Sigesmund also contributes to If Looks Could Fill and in his spare time he's shaking up the beer scene with his unique home brews. You can see their blog and view Robin's food photography portfolio at If Looks Could Fill and you can see Robin's other work at sharp-photo.com. Follow Robin on twitter @sharp_photo
Adell Shneer - Recipe Developer, Culinary Consultant
Adell Shneer started her professional career as a graphic designer, but her love of baking led her to the kitchen. After returning to George Brown College, Adell had a successful career as a recipe developer. She honed her skill as a recipe tester for Today’s Parent Magazine and for Dana McCauley and Associates.
Adell became resident baker and culinary teacher at Dish Cooking Studio and subsequently, a recipe developer, food stylist, and on camera guest chef for Party Dish on Food Network Canada. Adell became a full-time member of the Canadian Living Test Kitchen in 2005. For seven years, she contributed hundreds of “Tested Till Perfect” recipes to the Canadian Living magazine and website and became the Test Kitchen Manager.
Currently, Adell continues to work as a recipe developer and culinary consultant. In her newest endeavour, “Art to Eat-Cookies By Adell” her two passions, art and baking collide in and explosion of colour. Follow Adell on Twitter @adell_shneer
Mairlyn Smith - Home Economist, Food Writer and Cookbook Author
Mairlyn Smith is the only professional home economist and food writer in Canada that is also an alumnus of the Second City Comedy Troupe making her a popular TV and media food personality. Her ability to mix learning with laughter is her forte.
Mairlyn has been seen on every morning show across Canada including BT Toronto and is a regular Guest Expert the popular and award winning CityLine.
In 1976 she graduated with a degree in Home Economics from the University of British Columbia. She then returned to UBC and completed her Teaching Certificate before going on to teach Home Economics and head the Department of Fine Arts at Balmoral Junior High. Unable to shake the acting bug, Mairlyn enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in California. Then, like most Canadian actors in the 1980s, she moved to Toronto to find work. Mairlyn has been seen on over 100 television commercials, performed on live stage including the Second City Comedy Troupe, and has been in many TV shows as well as films. Her versatility in acting and cooking with a comedic flair landed her the job as a host of Harrowsmith Country Life and a subsequent Gemini Nomination.
The author of four best selling cookbooks,Ultimate Foods for Ultimate Health and don’t forget the chocolate! which she co-authored with dietician Liz Pearson, won Gold at the Cuisine Canada Cookbook Awards making it the first healthy book to ever win Gold at these prestigious Canadian Culinary Awards.
Her latest book The Vegetarians Complete Quinoa Cookbook was sold out of its first print run in three weeks! Recipes for this cookbook were submitted by 58 professional home economists and is Mairlyn’s launch into group cookbook development and editing.Visit Mairlyn's website or follow her on twitter @MairlynSmith
Brittany Stager - Marketing Manager, Mushrooms Canada
“Passion. You definitely have to have passion when managing social media. Do I have a passion for it? Yes. I can’t think of anything I would rather do.”
For the past 6 years, Brittany worked as the Marketing Manager for Mushrooms Canada, a role which grew her talents in social media and communications. She has created and executed many different types of campaigns, everything from online video to trade shows, she has experienced it all.
Brittany’s marketing efforts were also recently recognized by the agricultural industry, receiving the ”OMPA Fresh Award” from the Ontario Produce Marketing Association in the Fall of 2011.
Dedicated to charity work and community involvement, Brittany has sat on the Board of Director for the Scleroderma Society of Ontario for the past 4 years, offering her expertise and insight as the Director of Public Awareness.
Her passion for social media and blogging also spills over into her personal life, as she authors her own successful personal lifestyle blog, My Daily Randomness. It is there where she documents and showcases her love for DIY’s, home renovation, food, and of course her family. You can follow her on twitter at @MyDailyRndmness
Heather Travis - Director, Public Relations, Canada Beef
A card-carrying carnivore and voracious vegetable lover, Heather left life in the city for life in the country and now boasts an extensive rubber boot collection. Enjoying food with family and friends is her ultimate pleasure. She talks a lot and smile even more.
Heather spends her days sharing her deep love of Canadian Beef, her nights trying out new recipes, walking her two perfect dogs and enjoying life in the country. Her favourite food is the potato. She displays incredible prowess on the grill. If her house was burning down she would run in to get three things: her dogs, her Dyson and her shoes.
Heather holds degrees in Corporate Communications from Seneca College and Sociology from Queen's University. She has experience developing and implementing public relations and marketing programs for beef and other food product lines at retail, as well as high-end sporting goods and apparel. You can follow her on twitter @heathertravis and @CanadianBeef
Julie Van Rosendaal - Food Writer, Food Blogger and Photographer
Julie Van Rosendaal is the food and nutrition columnist on the Calgary Eyeopener on CBC Radio One, the author of five best-selling cookbooks, food editor of Parents Canada magazine and a freelance writer, contributing to dozens of local, national and international publications.
She is also co-host of It’s Just Food on the OWN television network, and writes and is the photographer for her award-winning food blog, DinnerwithJulie.com, which documents real life in her home kitchen in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband, Mike, and 7 year old son, Willem. Follow Julie on twitter @dinnerwithjulie
Lucy Waverman - Food Author, Editor and Globe & Mail Columnist
One of Canada's favourite culinary personalities, Lucy Waverman brings her sharp wit and mouth-watering recipes to aspiring home chefs across the country as celebrated author, editor, columnist and teacher. Her Wednesday food column "Weekend Menu" and Saturday food column “Fresh Tastes”, both appear weekly in The Globe and Mail, Canada's most read and respected national newspaper. Lucy appears regularly on television and radio shows across Canada and the United States including 12 years with CityTV's CityLine.
Lucy is the food editor at Food & Drink, a magazine published by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. She is the author of nine cookbooks and is the recipient of Cuisine Canada's 2005 gold medal award for A Matter of Taste, which she co-wrote with James Chatto. A Matter of Taste was also a finalist for the prestigious James Beard Entertaining Award. Lucy's Kitchen won the silver medal at Cuisine Canada's 2007 Canadian Culinary Book Awards. Home For Dinner was an award winner too. Her latest book, A Year in Lucy’s Kitchen is a national best seller.
In October 2013 her new book, Flavour Principles, with fellow Globe writer Beppi Crosariol will be published by HarperCollins
In 2005, Lucy was presented with the Gold Award in Food Media/Journalism by the Ontario Hostelry Association for her efforts in mentoring young talent and for educating the public about cooking and world cuisines through her writing and teaching.
Lucy has an Advanced Certificate from the Cordon Bleu, an Ontario Teachers' Certificate and a degree in journalism. From 1972 to 1990, Lucy owned and directed The Cooking School, a school devoted to the teaching of good cooking.
Lucy is involved in volunteer work as the Vice President of Necessary Angel Theatre Company. Previously she was on the Board of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and “Second Harvest’ where she headed Toronto Taste. She helped produce the Chef’s calendar for Bloorview Hospital, edited Impossible Pie for Sick Children’s Hospital and has contributed to many charitable cookbooks. Follow her on twitter: @lucywaverman or visit Lucy's Kitchen.
Aimee Wimbush-Bourque – Freelance Food Editor and Blogger
After ten years of working at renowned institutions such as Toqué! and Épice de Cru, Aimée Wimbush-Bourque left professional kitchens for good in 2004 to start a family and put down roots on her quarter-acre urban homestead. Now she’s a chicken-raising, jam-making, work-at-home mom of three, who freelances as the editor of the popular food blog, Simple Bites. There she manages the creative content and social media for the site, as well as a team of stand-up contributors. In under three years, Simple Bites has garnered a loyal and engaged audience and was named ‘Best New Weblog’ in the 2010 Canadian Weblog Awards, and listed by Saveur.com as one of 50 food blogs you should be reading,
She has blogged at Under the High Chair since 2006, earning a spot in Babble Top Mom Food Bloggers, as well as 3rd best Family & Parenting blog in the 2011 Canadian Weblog Awards. Aimée has also been featured in print magazines such as Working Mother, Pregnancy & Newborn, Parents Canada, and Best Health for her cooking and blogging tips. Time.com recently named Aimée as one of the Top 30 Pinners You Should Follow Now, but she will insist she’s not addicted to Pinterest. Instagram? Probably.
Aimée claims she could never cook without good quality spices, olive oil and sea salt, nor function normally without dark roast coffee or homemade cookies. She lives just outside of Montréal with her husband, Danny, and three beautiful children, and can almost always be found in the kitchen. Follow Aimee on twitter @SimpleBites
David Zille -WordPress Developer and Instructor
Dave Zille is the founder and president of dazil Internet Services Inc, a Vancouver based web development company, specializing in WordPress.
Dave has been in the industry for nearly 20 years and prior to founding the company, worked for a variety of organizations in various capacities – as a developer, project lead, supervisor and manager. He regularly speaks at WordCamps throughout BC.
In his spare time, Dave is a part-time instructor in BCIT’s New Media program, and enjoys spending time with friends and family in his Vancouver area neighborhood. You can follow Dave on twitter @dazil