Afrim Pristine
Ontario Cheese Ambassador + Maître fromager at Cheese Boutique
Afrim Pristine is Canada’s premier cheese expert and owner of the Cheese Boutique, with over 23 years of experience in the art of cheese making. From studying with some of the world’s greatest cheesemakers as well as hands-on training from his father and some of the world’s most renowned dairy farmers, Afrim was honoured as one of the world’s youngest people, and only Canadian, to be awarded the title of Maître Fromagere in 2013, by the Guilde Internationale des Fromageres in France. Afrim was also the youngest Canadian recipient of the Chevalier distinction from the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Taste Fromage de France in 2007 and was also named to the Top 30 Under 30 food industry list by the Ontario Hostelry Institute.
Afrim Pristine is Canada’s premier cheese expert and owner of the Cheese Boutique, with over 23 years of experience in the art of cheese making. From studying with some of the world’s greatest cheesemakers as well as hands-on training from his father and some of the world’s most renowned dairy farmers, Afrim was honoured as one of the world’s youngest people, and only Canadian, to be awarded the title of Maître Fromagere in 2013, by the Guilde Internationale des Fromageres in France. Afrim was also the youngest Canadian recipient of the Chevalier distinction from the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Taste Fromage de France in 2007 and was also named to the Top 30 Under 30 food industry list by the Ontario Hostelry Institute.
Betty Shin Binon
Writer + Photographer
Betty Shin Binon is the writer and photographer behind the blog Stems & Forks. Established in 2017, Binon showcases all her creative musings: recipes, photography and botanical sculptures. Betty has built a successful multi-faceted brand after nearly twenty years in the floral design business. She sold the thriving business in 2013 to embrace a balanced lifestyle with more family time and immersion in all things creative. Since the shift in career, Binon’s photography and video is highly sought-after for her distinct chiaroscuro style and visual storytelling. Her global workshops sell out to prominent artists and content creators around the world. Just a few brands and publications Binon has been featured in are CBC Life, Vogue Greece, Where Women Cook, enRoute by AirCanada and KIDS, France.
Betty Shin Binon is the writer and photographer behind the blog Stems & Forks. Established in 2017, Binon showcases all her creative musings: recipes, photography and botanical sculptures. Betty has built a successful multi-faceted brand after nearly twenty years in the floral design business. She sold the thriving business in 2013 to embrace a balanced lifestyle with more family time and immersion in all things creative. Since the shift in career, Binon’s photography and video is highly sought-after for her distinct chiaroscuro style and visual storytelling. Her global workshops sell out to prominent artists and content creators around the world. Just a few brands and publications Binon has been featured in are CBC Life, Vogue Greece, Where Women Cook, enRoute by AirCanada and KIDS, France.
Emily Richards
Professional Home Economist + Cookbook Author
Highly experienced and well-regarded Professional Home Economist, Emily Richards has an extensive know-how in the Food Industry which is strengthened with her Bachelor of Science, Home Economics specializing in Food and Nutrition from the University of Western Ontario and many years of experience in the food world.
Emily has authored and co-authored many cookbooks and continues to create recipes for notable magazines, newspapers and companies. Emily also appears across the web presenting recipes that are easy to prepare for busy families and enjoy together.
Emily continues to appear across the country presenting recipes, easy cooking and entertaining ideas, always promoting her passion for food and inspiring people to get in their kitchens and cook!
Emily's career has taken her from restaurant and hotel kitchens, Canadian Living Test Kitchen and Food Network cooking shows to media and TV celebrity chef. Throughout this time she has always stayed true to her love of good food and getting people interested in cooking and enjoying great flavours.
Highly experienced and well-regarded Professional Home Economist, Emily Richards has an extensive know-how in the Food Industry which is strengthened with her Bachelor of Science, Home Economics specializing in Food and Nutrition from the University of Western Ontario and many years of experience in the food world.
Emily has authored and co-authored many cookbooks and continues to create recipes for notable magazines, newspapers and companies. Emily also appears across the web presenting recipes that are easy to prepare for busy families and enjoy together.
Emily continues to appear across the country presenting recipes, easy cooking and entertaining ideas, always promoting her passion for food and inspiring people to get in their kitchens and cook!
Emily's career has taken her from restaurant and hotel kitchens, Canadian Living Test Kitchen and Food Network cooking shows to media and TV celebrity chef. Throughout this time she has always stayed true to her love of good food and getting people interested in cooking and enjoying great flavours.
Jasmine Baker
Event Producer + Recipe Developer
Jasmine Baker, is a Toronto based Event Producer, Recipe Developer, Culinary Curator and Entertaining Expert. She has spent her career working at top restaurants, with top chefs, and producing some of the City’s most notable events. As the founder of EVNT MGMT, she continues to curate and produce stunning events, work with top chef talent and create thoughtful hospitality experiences for a wide range of clients— Field Trip Music & Arts, Taste of Toronto, WayHome, The Big Feastival, TIFF and The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, just to name a few. Jasmine is an epicurious traveler who is always cultivating lists of the most authentic dining experiences in every destination. When she’s not producing a fabulous event or traveling to some delicious destination, she can often be found playing with food or hosting friends with her husband Leslie in their east end Toronto loft.
Jasmine Baker, is a Toronto based Event Producer, Recipe Developer, Culinary Curator and Entertaining Expert. She has spent her career working at top restaurants, with top chefs, and producing some of the City’s most notable events. As the founder of EVNT MGMT, she continues to curate and produce stunning events, work with top chef talent and create thoughtful hospitality experiences for a wide range of clients— Field Trip Music & Arts, Taste of Toronto, WayHome, The Big Feastival, TIFF and The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, just to name a few. Jasmine is an epicurious traveler who is always cultivating lists of the most authentic dining experiences in every destination. When she’s not producing a fabulous event or traveling to some delicious destination, she can often be found playing with food or hosting friends with her husband Leslie in their east end Toronto loft.
Marcella DiLonardo
Recipe Developer, Food Stylist + Photographer
Marcella DiLonardo is a recipe developer, food stylist & photographer from the Niagara Region of Ontario. She is the author of the cookbook Bake The Seasons and the creator of the lifestyle blog Hey Modest Marce. Inspired by simple living, her recipes focus on local & seasonal ingredients. Marcella's work has been featured in LCBO's Food & Drink, Food Network Canada, The Kitchn and CBC Life. To see her latest culinary creations, follow her on Instagram @modestmarce.
Marcella DiLonardo is a recipe developer, food stylist & photographer from the Niagara Region of Ontario. She is the author of the cookbook Bake The Seasons and the creator of the lifestyle blog Hey Modest Marce. Inspired by simple living, her recipes focus on local & seasonal ingredients. Marcella's work has been featured in LCBO's Food & Drink, Food Network Canada, The Kitchn and CBC Life. To see her latest culinary creations, follow her on Instagram @modestmarce.
Pamela Hamel
Chef, Blogger + Traveller
Chef, blogger, traveller and former executive, Pamela explores trends in curating a sustainable lifestyle. Aka “Martha Stewart” of the North, Pamela takes this as a compliment, but it’s a little too snobbish for this hometown girl. Born, raised and career developed in northeastern Ontario’s Kirkland Lake area, Pamela moved to Toronto to pursue BIG markets for her BIG ideas. With an appetite for adventure, Pamela boasts a biz savvy spirit, eye for design and an incredible talent for turning nothing into something. Search #foodsbynature to discover your next inspired living moment.
Chef, blogger, traveller and former executive, Pamela explores trends in curating a sustainable lifestyle. Aka “Martha Stewart” of the North, Pamela takes this as a compliment, but it’s a little too snobbish for this hometown girl. Born, raised and career developed in northeastern Ontario’s Kirkland Lake area, Pamela moved to Toronto to pursue BIG markets for her BIG ideas. With an appetite for adventure, Pamela boasts a biz savvy spirit, eye for design and an incredible talent for turning nothing into something. Search #foodsbynature to discover your next inspired living moment.
Tawfik Shehata
Chef
Tawfik has cooked in many different restaurants in Canada and the Caribbean and spent time operating a farm. He has a real, hands-on understanding of the amount of work that goes into getting food to the table and an appreciation for those who work incredibly hard for the food we eat.
In many cases the provenance of a product is almost as important as the product itself, and Chef Tawfik feels sourcing product is as important a process as preparing it. He says, “Southern Ontario is a Land of Plenty!” and feels lucky to have such incredible products available locally.
Voted one of the “Top Ten New Chefs in Canada” by enRoute magazine, Chef Tawfik has been featured on Food Network Canada, CBC, SUN TV, Canadian Living, City Bites, Tonic Magazine, Healthy Directions and is the Media Spokesperson for Foodland Ontario.
Tawfik has cooked in many different restaurants in Canada and the Caribbean and spent time operating a farm. He has a real, hands-on understanding of the amount of work that goes into getting food to the table and an appreciation for those who work incredibly hard for the food we eat.
In many cases the provenance of a product is almost as important as the product itself, and Chef Tawfik feels sourcing product is as important a process as preparing it. He says, “Southern Ontario is a Land of Plenty!” and feels lucky to have such incredible products available locally.
Voted one of the “Top Ten New Chefs in Canada” by enRoute magazine, Chef Tawfik has been featured on Food Network Canada, CBC, SUN TV, Canadian Living, City Bites, Tonic Magazine, Healthy Directions and is the Media Spokesperson for Foodland Ontario.