Growing up in a suburb of Vancouver, BC, I had a very diverse introduction to food. My fathers side of the family is Ukrainian and my mother, who did most of the cooking in our house, is Italian. That is where my love for Italian food was born. When I was 17 years old and looking for a way to pay for my first apartment and college tuition, I landed my first job at a restaurant in Victoria, BC. The work was messy, grueling, and fun! I was hooked. It was at that moment that I made the biggest decision of my young life, quit school and put 100% of my efforts into my culinary journey. With 6 years of exhausting kitchen experience in Victoria, I decided to move back to Vancouver, enroll in culinary school, and surround myself with the most talented chefs I could find. I worked in multiple fine dining restaurants across Vancouver, most of them being Italian cuisine, for the next 16 years. My experiences at restaurants such as The Savory Coast, Blue Water Cafe, and Lupo Restaurant had the most positive influence on my career. The Savory Coast had the greatest impact on me, and to this day I can still hear the voice of Chef Romy Prasad, pushing me to be better and better every day. After 22 years of having many great culinary experiences in Vancouver, my journey took me east, to Moncton, NB. That’s where I met my Black Rabbit family. The constant change and creativity at Black Rabbit Restaurant has pushed me professionally and personally like never before. I am forever grateful for the path I have traveled and I’m very excited to share all those experiences and discoveries with you.