A self-taught chef with no formal training, Chef Derek spent nearly eight years cooking in cities across the country, including Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa. After settling in Toronto in 2008, Chef Derek spent four years managing the kitchen at The George Street Diner, a beloved neighbourhood gem.

Over the course of the last six years, Chef Derek has successfully executed barbecue and smoked meat at Cherry Street Restaurant; fine French bistro cooking at La Société; and hearty gastropub fare at Batch. Most recently, Chef Derek found his niche executing proper pub food for True Brit Pubs. More concerned with how food tastes, Chef Derek’s main focus is creating robust, flavourful, and layered dishes for his guests.

Now, as Chef de Cuisine at Bannock, Chef Derek is excited to bring his cross-country travels and 20 years of cooking experience to the kitchen. Inspired by the diverse spirit of Toronto, Chef Derek looks forward to applying a few multicultural twists to classic Canadian comfort food, all while using the best locally sourced ingredients.