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Scholarship honours cooking mentor

This week I've had a chance to reflect on why I am a chef. Why I sacrifice my time, body and mental stability to cook food for paying customers. The reasons may be complex, but the answer is simply because I love it.
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This week I've had a chance to reflect on why I am a chef.

Why I sacrifice my time, body and mental stability to cook food for paying customers. The reasons may be complex, but the answer is simply because I love it.

Cooking is therapy for me and the line is my oasis.

There's something so poetic and beautiful about all the chaos, work and love that goes into that single dish set in front of you.

I was very blessed to have strong role models very early in my career who instilled a passion and fire in my soul.

One of my main mentors was a chef named Brad Horen. I joined Brad's culinary team as an 18-year-old fresh out of cooking school.

He was a decorated chef with Culinary Team Canada and I could barely make a hollandaise. Brad pushed me to the brink every day, but that was his way of saying he liked me.

He told me years later that if he didn't like me he would have just left me alone and not bothered teaching me. By pushing me, he was showing me what it takes to succeed in this industry, and ensuring I had the drive and passion to not give up.

We lost Chef Brad suddenly a few months ago. His passing made me realize how precious life is and how much we miss in our personal lives working in this industry that we love.

Condolences for Brad poured in from all over the country and many young chefs expressed gratitude for the same mentorship Brad showed me. The countless hours he put in teaching are going to be felt through multiple generations of chefs.

I decided to honour Brad in his own way and set up a scholarship to benefit cooks starting in the industry.

The Brad Horen Memorial scholarship will be donated annually to a culinary student at the College of New Caledonia deemed the hardest working and most passionate by their instructors. Along with the monetary prize, recipients will be offered a position at Betulla Burning where I will guide them as an apprentice towards achieving their Red Seal.

To Brad and all the other chefs who take the time to teach and mentor those fresh in the industry I am eternally grateful and in awe of your selflessness.

Thank you.

If you wish to contribute to the Brad Horen Memorial Scholarship please speak to the College of New Caledonia or contact me at quarmby_@hotmail.com.