At The Pass with Jennifer P. Chung
At The Pass is a monthly series showcasing Toronto’s best chefs. You won’t find any celebrity chefs featured here. Perhaps you already know these fine cooks, but maybe not. They’re not famous - yet. But it’s time these talented, passionate, hard-working chefs got a bit of the spotlight.
Currently
Executive Chef, SoSo Food Club
Formerly
Nota Bene, Susur, Lee, The Chase…
Favourite dish to make right now
Octopus!
Last cookbook purchase
Bouchon Bakery by Thomas Keller.
Have you read it/tried any recipes
I have read it, but haven’t tried any recipes yet.
One dish or ingredient you’d like to see gone from menus
Edible flowers just for looks.
And one dish or ingredient that you’re excited about right now and would like to see on more menus
Edible flowers that add flavour and depth to a dish.
Your biggest influences
Chefs Amira Becarevic, David Lee, and Susur Lee.
If you could eat at any restaurant in the world
NOMA.
Last thing you ate
Fried rice <3.
Three must-have ingredients always in your fridge
Eggs, mushrooms, and any Asian greens.
Guilty pleasure
Top 3 favourite Toronto restaurants
Grey Gardens, King’s Noodle, and Famiglia Baldassarre.
Top 3 favourite Toronto bars
La Palette, Bar Raval on a low key night, Terroni’s patio on Queen.
Your go-to drink
Whatever the bartender wants to play around with.
One habit you have in the kitchen you should lose, but can’t seem to shake
Leave a towel unfolded.
One habit you have in the kitchen that will inspire young chefs
Be organized. Always know your pars and know how to make more if you need to.
Name one hidden talent
I can touch my nose with my tongue.
Best career advice you ever received
“Everyone is different and the same approach might not give you the same results.” – Chef Amira Becarevic, Mira Mira
Worst career advice you ever received
“Just send it out.”
Your advice for a young cook starting out in the business
It’s so important to find a healthy outlet because it’s going to get stressful at times.
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At The Pass is a monthly series showcasing Toronto/GTA’s best chefs. You won’t find any celebrity chefs featured here. Perhaps you already know these fine cooks, but maybe not. They’re not famous - yet. But it’s time these talented, passionate, hard-working chefs got a bit of the spotlight.
Know someone in Toronto or GTA who should be featured? Submit their name for consideration.