Chef of Chef Works - Chef JW Foster

Each month we feature a Chef of Chef Works®. This month’s feature is brought to you in partnership with Ocean Wise Seafood. If you’re a fan of Chef Works gear and are interested in being featured, email marketing@chefworks.ca. Pictured above is our Chef of Chef Works®, Chef JW Foster, Executive Chef at the Fairmont Royal York, photographed by @davehamiltonphotography in his St. Maarteen Chef Coat

Chef Works: Tell us about your journey of becoming a Chef…

JW Foster: My journey as a Chef began in my Irish grandmother’s kitchen when I was a child. She showed me how food brings people together; it starts conversations, bridges gaps, and finds common ground. She also taught me to make the most of what grew in our garden, and this inspired my passion for local and sustainable ingredients when I became a Chef. Wherever I’ve worked, internationally and here in Canada, I’ve formed partnerships with local producers and craftspeople to showcase seasonal and sustainable offerings.

Chef Works: What does being a member of Ocean Wise mean to you and your business?

JW Foster: I’m proud to be a member of Ocean Wise, as I believe it’s important for people to understand how their seafood choices impact the health of our oceans. At the Fairmont Royal York, we have been an environmental leader for more than 25 years. Sustainability is a vital part of our guest experience, and our Ocean Wise membership plays an essential role in our environmental stewardship program.

Chef Works: How has your business benefitted from a sustainable seafood menu?

JW Foster: An increasing number of our guests and groups of all sizes are looking for eco-friendly options when planning their stays, meetings, and events. By offering sustainable seafood in our restaurant venues and on our banquet menus, we meet and often exceed their expectations for eco-conscience events, resulting in increased awareness among attendees as well as return business for future events.

Chef Works: Tell us about your favourite seafood dish…

JW Foster: One of my favourite seafood dishes is miso-chili roasted sablefish. I marinate the sablefish for 24 hours in a mixture of soy, ginger, sesame oil, maple syrup, and chili paste, and roast it in a cast iron pan. I love to bring this with me when I go camping so I can roast it over an open fire.

Chef Works: What would your advice be to new industry members and others who are contemplating the shift to a more sustainable menu?

JW Foster: With environmental issues like climate change making headlines regularly, more and more guests are looking for ways to reduce their negative impacts on the environment. Shifting to more sustainable menus will attract this growing number of guests who want to support businesses that make sustainability a priority. My advice would be to start small and expand from there because even small changes can make a big difference.

To learn more about Chef JW Foster, visit his profile online:

Website: https://www.fairmont.com/royal-york-toronto/

LinkedIn: (98) jW Foster | LinkedIn

Instagram: @chef_jwfoster

To learn more about Ocean Wise Seafood, visit their social profiles:

Website: https://seafood.ocean.org

Instagram: @OceanWiseSeafood

Meet other Chefs of Chef Works:

Year 2021