A Chinese Cultural Dinner

The best lens to understand the culture of any nation is through its food. COOKSCAMP wants to continue celebrating and honoring the cultures that built and added to the extensive culinary fabric of Canada and British Columbia. This year’s opening dinner will celebrate Chinese cuisine with some of Vancouver’s most influential Chefs with Chinese heritage. 

Please see the bios of the chef presenters below.

Alex Chen

Angus An

Chef Angus An is one of Vancouver’s most influential chef-restaurateurs, with six restaurants and eateries comprising his restaurant family: Fat Mao Noodles, Freebird Chicken Shack, Longtail Kitchen, Maenam, Popina Canteen, and Sen Pad Thai.

Chef Angus’s flagship restaurant, Maenam, has received many local and international accolades, among them 2016 Restaurant of the Year (Vancouver magazine), 2018’s Top 25 Restaurants in Canada (En Route magazine), and has been named one of Zagat’s Top 200 restaurants in the world. Chef Angus has also twice been invited to cook at a prestigious culinary showcase at James Beard House. In May 2020 Chef Angus will publish his first cookbook, Maenam: A Fresh Approach to Thai Cooking.

A flavour-driven chef, Angus’s cuisine is rooted in technique; his combined fine-arts and French culinary training allow him to see cooking as a balance of art and science, resulting in recipes built on tradition, innovation and presentation.

Bo Li

Felix Zhou

Chef Felix Zhou is an acclaimed Vancouver-based chef known for his innovative culinary creations and passion for fresh, locally-sourced, and sustainable ingredients. In 2007 he trained under acclaimed chefs David Hawksworth and Warren Geraghty at West Restaurant and MARKET by Jean-George. After obtaining his Red Seal Certificate, he further refined his skills in London’s Michelin-starred restaurants under the guidance of Jeff Galvin and Simon Rogan. Returning to Vancouver, he took the helm as the Executive Chef at various notable establishments showcasing his culinary brilliance. In 2016, he ventured into entrepreneurship, opening successful restaurants, including Heritage Asian Eatery and Bread and Butter Café. Felix’s culinary excellence earned him opportunities to compete in renowned competitions like Curry Cup, Gold Medal Plates, Food Network’s Top Chef Canada, and Fire Masters. Currently, Chef Felix Zhou serves as the Executive Chef at Grand Villa Casino, where he oversees all culinary outlets.

Nicole Gomes

With nearly three decades of professional culinary experience, Gomes has independently owned and operated as chef of her highly successful 13 year old business, Nicole Gourmet Catering, which she sold in 2019. Nicole has been intrigued by the kitchen from a very young age. At the age of 17 she attended one of Vancouver’s premiere cooking schools, Dubrulle French Culinary. Her first exposure to professional cooking came during an apprenticeship in Paris, France. She has since cooked across the globe aside many accomplished chefs, notably in Sydney, Hong Kong, Vancouver’s West and Catch in Calgary before opening Mercato as Executive Chef, one of Calgary’s top restaurants. She also has travelled internationally as a guest chef including the James Beard House, in New York City.

In 2016, Gomes co-founded with her sister to open Cluck N’ Cleaver, a crispy fried and French style rotisserie chicken take out joint, priding itself on all natural, made from scratch menu items that provides good wholesome food, fast. The award-winning chicken eatery remains as busy as ever in Calgary with a second location opening soon.

Crowned as Canada’s Top Chef by Food Network’s Top Chef Canada: All-Stars, a competition that pitched the best of four seasons of Top Chef Canada. Nicole fought her way to the champion spot to become the first female winner of Canada’s most prestigious high-stakes culinary competition. Also, a finalist on Iron Chef Gauntlet, Season 2 has confirmed Nicole’s position as one of Canada’s premier culinary talents. Most recently she represented Canada on Top Chef World All-Stars with an incredible journey alongside some of the worlds top chefs. Currently you can find her as a competing judge on Food Network’s Firemasters cooking show. And don’t forget to watch her episode on Beat Bobby Flay where she takes the title to win!

Nicole donates her time to a large number of charitable causes, such as Vancouver Children’s Hospital, Calgary Health Trust’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Honens International Piano Competition and a large variety of cancer, food security and children related organizations. Collectively throughout her Top Chef Canada charity initiatives, Nicole has nearly $400,000 for a variety of charities close to her heart.

No matter what Nicole is cooking from her large repertoire of culinary experience, this busy chef, entrepreneur and passionate media personality remains committed to innovative, approachable, personalized cuisine served with love and flair. Nothing gives her more joy than sharing her craft by bringing people together to enjoy great food.

Facebook & Instagram: @chefngomes/@cluckncleaver

Vivian Zhang

Vivian Zhang is a Chinese-Canadian restauranter with over 25 years of experience in the foodservice and hospitality industry. Her restaurant, Shanghai Wonderful Restaurant in Richmond B.C. has been a staple in the local community for over 20 years, serving Shanghainese Dim Sum and authentic Chinese fare. Since immigrating to Canada in 1998, she has operated three restaurants and found her space as a food entrepreneur in the Vancouver Chinese restaurant scene. She is passionate about bringing people together and connecting local Asian and Western chefs. Vivian is a board member of the BC Chef’s Association, and an active member of the Chinese Canadian Chef’s Association and BC Asian Restaurant Cafe Owners Association. She looks forward to showcasing Chinese culture through food and meeting everyone at COOKSCAMP 2023.