Okanagan Chef Association ‘Chef of the Year’.
Always inspired. It’s a shore thing.
Chef Bernard Casavant - Executive Chef
Born and trained in British Columbia, Chef Bernard’s cooking career began with the encouragement of his grandmother and was further nurtured by a career guidance counselor in Grade 9. Torn between a career as a soccer player or a chef, Chef Bernard chose the career that would ensure he would never be hungry. His grandmother instilled a strong work ethic in the young chef, along with “the passion for respecting the food and the people who produce it”.
Chef Bernard received his Certified Chef de Cuisine certification in 1986; one of the inaugural chefs in Canada to complete the exam. He is a member at large of the BC Restaurant and Food Association, and sits as Director of BC Culinary Tourism Society that promotes true dining experiences in the province.
Although Chef Bernard has cooked for prime ministers and movie stars, a prince and princess, celebrities and business tycoons he feels strongly about mentoring young talent and inspiring young chefs to fulfill their dreams. Sharing his love of fresh, locally rooted cuisine, Chef Bernard takes great pride in seeing his protégés thrive. He continues his commitment to the growth and enrichment of the next generation of great chefs by working with ITA (Industry Training Authority), traveling the province inspiring the youth in the industry and regularly serving as an Assessor for the BC Apprenticeship Trade Certification exams.
Chef Bernard Casavant is currently the Executive Chef at Manteo Resort Waterfront Hotel & Villas and brings his creative talent to both the Wild Apple Restaurant and the resort catering department with a menu he has christened “wine country cuisine”. He defines wine country cuisine as “one that is rooted in the traditions of the past, with a modern twist; lots of great food and wine that sparks good times and builds memories.”
Living and working in the Okanagan, Chef Bernard and his entire kitchen team support a large number of local charities, such as the Pink Party raising funds for Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Nature’s Trust who work to conserve BC’s natural beauty, Ballet Kelowna, the Okanagan Symphony and other worthy community efforts.
When not in the kitchen, you can find Chef in his workshop at home making wood furniture, serving platters and wine staves that he creates to serve his innovative dishes. His woodworking efforts began when he became a father, producing “Rustik by Design by Dad” gifts for his children.
Although an accomplished Chef, his “off-duty” tastes are simple. Monday mornings find him
playing old-timer hockey, and a big cold glass of beer and a tasty charcuterie plate will always bring a smile to his face.
Chef Bernard is a member of the Okanagan Chefs Association and the Canadian Culinary Association.
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On the shores of beautiful Okanagan Lake
Kelowna, BC