Celebrating Chef Appreciation Week: A Conversation with Foodbuy Canada’s Executive Chef, Kevin Wong

As we celebrate Chef Appreciation Week, we’re recognizing the talented chefs who inspire, innovate, and support our industry every day. While many chefs are found leading restaurant kitchens, others are making an impact behind the scenes, helping operators, suppliers, and industry partners succeed in different ways. 

At Foodbuy Canada, we’re proud to have Kevin Wong, our Executive Chef, whose role combines culinary expertise with collaboration, innovation, and industry leadership. 

Kevin’s path into the culinary world began long before he stepped into a professional kitchen. Growing up, he was fascinated by food in all its forms, whether it was watching chefs like Julia Child and Michael Smith on television or noticing how food was portrayed in movies and popular culture. One of his earliest memories is watching his mother make tomato sauce, hearing onions and garlic sizzle in olive oil and being drawn to the aromas and sounds coming from the kitchen. For Kevin, food has always represented connection, creativity, and experience. 

Today, his role looks quite different from that of a traditional restaurant executive chef. Rather than running a single kitchen, Kevin works closely with category managers, account managers, suppliers, and chefs across the country. His focus is on building relationships, understanding different business needs, and finding ways to support partners and members in achieving success. 

One of Kevin’s favourite aspects of being a chef is the opportunity to connect with passionate food professionals. Whether it’s speaking with a baker about a signature pastry, a butcher about an underappreciated cut of meat, or a fishmonger about the day’s catch, he enjoys learning from others and seeing the excitement they have for their craft. 

Throughout his career, Kevin has learned that humility is one of the most valuable ingredients in any chef’s toolkit. 

“It’s impossible to know everything about food and cooking,” he says. “The moment you think you have all the answers is the moment you stop learning. It’s okay to make mistakes because that’s often how we grow. Perfection isn’t something you achieve. It’s something you continually pursue.” 

Like many chefs, Kevin spent years working in busy Toronto restaurants, where long shifts, demanding environments, and constant pressure shaped both his professional and personal growth. While the hours were challenging, the experience taught him resilience, teamwork, and the importance of understanding people’s unique stories and experiences. 

His culinary career has also taken him beyond Canada. While attending culinary school, Kevin completed a stage at a Michelin-starred seafood and pasta restaurant in Rimini, Italy. Working alongside talented chefs in a high-performance environment gave him a deeper appreciation for craftsmanship, discipline, and continuous improvement. The experience continues to influence how he approaches leadership and mentorship today. 

When asked what Chef Appreciation Week means to him, Kevin believes it’s an important opportunity to recognize the dedication and resilience of chefs across the industry. 

“People often see the finished dish or the dining experience, but they don’t always see what happens behind the scenes,” he explains. “There are long hours, physical demands, pressure, and challenges that many chefs experience throughout their careers. As chefs move into leadership and corporate roles, those challenges evolve, but they don’t disappear.” 

For Kevin, Chef Appreciation Week is not only about celebrating culinary achievements, but also acknowledging the commitment, perseverance, and passion that chefs bring to their work every day. 

“It’s also a chance to thank the mentors, colleagues, and culinary teams who have helped shape my journey,” he says. “Behind every successful operation are dedicated chefs whose hard work often goes unseen. This week is about recognizing and appreciating them.” 

This Chef Appreciation Week, Foodbuy Canada extends its gratitude to Kevin and to all chefs across the country who continue to inspire, innovate, and elevate our industry. Your passion, leadership, and commitment make a lasting impact every day.