Freelance Food, Lifestyle, Shelter and Personal Finance Writing, Recipe Developing, Ad Copy and Editing, Social Media. 2007 – ongoing I currently write or have written for and edited several editorial print and online publications—LCBO’s Food & Drink, The National Post, The Toronto Star, Toronto Life, The Globe and Mail, Zoomer, Canadian Gardening—to name but a few. I also write for branded content publishers.
I have done food and tabletop styling for Reader's Digest and others.
I ghost-write, edit, develop recipes and provide PR for food-focused businesses and other food writers and recipe developers (my lips are sealed).
Cooking
Head Chef, Amber Restaurant, 119 Yorkville Ave. April 2005 – January 2007 Developed upscale seasonal bar, dining room and catering menus Responsible for all kitchen operations: menu planning, food costing, cooking, ordering, stock inventory, accounts payable, training and supervision of kitchen staff.
Head Chef, East Meets West, 744 Gerrard St. E. 2003 – 2004 Developed dinner, bar and brunch menus. Responsible for all kitchen operations: menu planning, food costing, cooking, ordering, stock inventory, accounts payable, training and supervision of kitchen staff.
Co-Owner/Head Chef, Riverside Café, 730 Queen St. E. 1998 - 2003 Developed breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner and bar menus Responsible for all areas of operation: menu planning, food costing, cooking, ordering, stock inventory, training and supervision of staff (kitchen and front of house), décor and design, marketing, customer and media relations, administration and accounting.
Freelance Food Styling and Researcher 2007 - ongoing
Mary Macleod's Shortbread Food styling and ad copy writing Parents Canada Food styling - Winter issue cover Reader's Digest Food and table top styling - Open Kitchen Tetra Pak Food styling - print advertising Premium Plus Food styling - TV Commercial Euoko Cosmetics Food styling - print Advertising O’Doughs Food styling - web site Toronto Life Magazine Researcher - 100 Tastes of Toronto Report on Business Food styling and researcher – The Future of Food Tropical Island Natural Food styling – print advertising
Freelance Catering and Culinary Coaching 2004 - ongoing
Signe’s Kitchen Cooking on- and off-site, sales, proposals, costing, administration
Planet Organic - cooking instructor
Other Experience
Assistant/Consultant to Owner, Wellness Foods 2004 - 2007 Developed diet specific recipes, produced photography for cookbook, sales and marketing, editing copy.
Photographers Assistant Medical Underwriter Art Consultant; gallery and freelance
Volunteering
Cow Ball - event planning, donations Spring for Wildlife - event planning, donations The Malt Exchange - my own project bringing brewers together with farmers Eat to the Beat - Women Chef’s in Harmony; chef and PR Feast of Fields; chef North by North East Music Festival; customer service Bring Back the Don; tree planting The National Party of Canada; assistant campaign manager
Education
George Brown College; Food Writing 1, Food Writing 2, Copy Writing 1, Wine Specialist Certificate University of Toronto; BFA Ontario College of Art and Design; graduated with honours in General Studies Dawson College; Diploma in Fine Arts Smart Serve Training certified
