Chef of Chef Works – Chef Lenny Chantiam

Each month we feature a Chef of Chef Works®. If you’re a fan of Chef Works gear and are interested in being featured, email marketing@chefworks.ca. Pictured above is our August Chef of Chef Works®, Chef Lenny Chantiam, Executive Director of Culinary Cineplex Entertainment, photographed in his Springfield Chef Jacket.

 

Chef Works: Give us your “a-ha” moment when you wanted to be a chef?

Lenny Chantiam: I didn’t know I wanted to be a chef until I became a chef. My “a-ha” moment was more like a “Wow, I’m a chef and I love it!” In 1998, I graduated with a diploma in Computer Systems Technology just before the rise of the internet, which instantly outdated my diploma. I shifted my focus to become a restauranteur. With student loans to pay off, I looked for jobs within the industry which led me to the kitchen, where I thrived – from dish washer, to line cook, to Sous Chef, to finally running my own kitchen in 2002. Passion for serving great food: this was my calling. Also, connecting with people to teach them life skills even if they decided not to pursue the craft or not.

 

Chef Works: Who was your greatest culinary influence?

LC:  My mother and grandmother who were born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. I spent most of pre-teen years in Trinidad, where food is everything. After we moved back to Canada, I was always in the kitchen with my mother and grandmother, preparing meals. My amazing Grandmother is still alive today (101 years young) and is still the greatest cook in the family where we covet her recipes.

Chef Lenny and his grandma and mother

 

Chef Works: What’s the most rewarding part about your job?

LC: People break bread together as a type of ritual – sometimes for very special occasions and sometimes just to connect on a regular day. Either way, I get to be part of those moments – and that’s the most rewarding part of the job.

 

Chef Works: What’s something about you that would surprise people?

LC: I am nothing like Gordan Ramsey! In all honesty, this is the first question that people have asked me over the years who are not in the industry. Television is not a true representation of the craft. It is teaching, inspiring, creating and leading teams to produce the best food experience possible.

 

Rainbow Bowl by Chef Lenny

 

Chef Works: You can only have breakfast, lunch or dinner food for the rest of your life. Which do you choose and why?

LC: Breakfast. When I was young, I always woke up at 5:00AM to eat breakfast with my family. This was our family time, the most important meal of the day. Before school, church or just getting the day started, it was our time to connect. These memories stick with me today and oddly enough I still wake up this early daily.

 

Chef Works: Best piece of advice for upcoming chefs?

LC: Work in as many places as you can. Learn from everyone, inspire others, strive to be the best, respect the job, big or small. School is important, but to become great, you need to work at it. You need to learn to wash the dishes before you are allowed to cut the lettuce; baby steps before you can run. Creating food and giving great experiences is a labour of love, enjoy every minute of it.

 

To learn more about Chef Lenny Chantiam, follow his social profiles:

Website: cineplex.com

LinkedIn: Cineplex and Lenny Chantiam

Instagram: @cineplexmovies and @lenny_chantiam

Facebook: @cineplexmovies


Meet other Chefs of Chef Works:

Year 2021

Year 2020

Year 2019

Year 2018

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