At The Pass with Eimear De La Rosa-Brazil
At The Pass is a weekly 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.
🕒 4.5 min read
Currently
Operations Chef, Ascari Hospitality Group (Ascari Enoteca, Ascari King Street, Gare de l'Est Brasserie, Hi-Lo Bar, and newly opened Mercatino E Vini)
Formerly
Waterford Castle in Ireland. I worked at a Jewish catering company for three months when I moved to Canada, but other than that, Waterford Castle was my only other culinary job. I was born and raised in Waterford, Ireland and emigrated to Canada in 2015 when I was 21.
Favourite dish to make right now
Anything with pasta! My all-time favourite pasta is the Amatriciana. Over the last years, I fell in love with hot spicy food, so this dish is perfect because you can add so much heat, and for me, it only gets better!
Last cookbook purchase
The Irish Cookbook by Jp McMahon
Have you read it/tried any recipes
Not yet! Two recipes I'm excited to try are the Rolled Pork Belly with Fennel and Apple Cider and the Waterford Blaa recipe, a bread roll that comes from my home city that I haven't made in years.
One dish or ingredient you’d like to see gone from menus
Any ingredient that is irresponsible or unethically sourced.
And one dish or ingredient that you’re excited about right now and would like to see on more menus
Real honey!
Biggest influences
The people I’m surrounded by at work. They’re all such hard workers that it pushes me to do better
If you could eat at any restaurant in the world
Last thing you ate
Chocolate Walnut Maple Cake. Late night baking is my favourite!
Three must-have ingredients always in your fridge
Butter, milk, and eggs.
Guilty pleasure
Neilson chocolate milk.
Top 3 favourite Toronto restaurants
Richmond Station, Mi Mi Restaurant, and Casa Di Giorgio Restaurant
Top 3 favourite Toronto bars
Hi-Lo Bar, The Comrade, Chez Nous
Your go-to drink
One habit you have in the kitchen that you should lose, but can’t seem to shake
Snacking. Normally whatever food is in front of me!
And one habit you have in the kitchen that will inspire young chefs
Making lists and always timing yourself so you are always pushing yourself to be faster and more efficient.
Hidden talent
I used to sing. I sang in the Waterford Institute of Technology Youth Choir from the age of 13-18. We travelled to many places in Europe in that time. We won many Ireland national competitions and came third in two internal competitions in Prague and Kraków. It was an incredible experience!
Best career advice you ever received
No matter how long you cook, you will never know everything. - Michael Quinn, my first ever Head Chef.
Worst career advice you ever received
I was told not to move to Canada to cook. I recently celebrated six years here and five-and-a-half years with the same company!
Your advice for a young cook starting out in the business
Find a job in the industry that makes you happy. Surround yourself with an environment you enjoy and people that push you to do better.
In order to support chefs during this time, the monthly At The Pass series is now WEEKLY. Know someone in Toronto or GTA who should be featured? Submit their name for consideration. And yes, you can nominate yourself.
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