Ever since I was a young boy growing up in sun-kissed Jamaica, food has always been the glue that brought every one together. Whether it was in the meticulous preparation or the merriment that accompanies mealtimes, for me, food has always been and always will be a symbol of joy and family togetherness.

After immigrating to Canada and settling into a small apartment in Toronto’s Regent Park, my mother, Emily, was determined to succeed in fulfilling her dreams. She loved to cook, so she wasted no time in enrolling in the Chefs course at George Brown College. After successful completion, she landed a position at the CN Tower’s 360 Restaurant, becoming the restaurant’s first female Sous Chef. My mother is a true culinary master and my mentor. I am very proud of her.

Every trip to the Tower’s restaurant had me exploding with excitement. I remember the aromas, the different nationalities, the presentation, the orchestration, the precision, the professionalism, and the respect. I watched the Chef float through that kitchen as if he was a winged soldier. The authority and respect he commanded without even saying a word had me in awe. When he did speak - even before the first words left his lips - the entire kitchen staff stopped to listen.

These trips to the Tower were fundamental in shaping my future. The Chef and his brigade awakened my curiosity for the art of hospitality and gastronomy. I was 10 years old at the time, and I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life... More at anthonymair.com