We’ve kicked the idea of guest chefs around for awhile and we’re happy to say we’re finally doing it! Richard Julien, from Chef Live! will be in The Carleton kitchen on Tuesday, August 2nd and Wednesday, August 3rd. We’ve had occasion to eat some of Richard’s creations in the past and cannot wait to see what he can come up with for us during his short, but quite likely sweet, residency!
About Richard!
Richard began his culinary adventure in 1988 working in a local dinner theatre during high school. After graduation, he made the commitment to culinary arts, graduated in the top of his class in culinary school and has spent much of his time in top maritime kitchens.
In the mid 90’s Richards participated in many regional and national culinary competitions. Among some of his accolades are gold medal member finishes as a member of Culinary team Nova Scotia and had the honour of representing his home province in National competition twice and as an apprentice received the coveted “apprentice of the year award two years in a row.
Heavily influenced by his mentors, coaches and the rare honour of assisting with Culinary Team Canada in 1996 in fundraising efforts for the Culinary Olympics; Richard has an enormous respect for regional food and the partners who all play a role in bringing the harvest to the table!
In 2004 Richard became a full time member and Corporate Chef with the Loblaw’s culinary team. Part of his daily routine consisted of developing recipe and programming for cooking schools with Loblaw’s Atlantic and has hundreds of cooking shows in many Loblaw’s grocery stores to his credit. In addition Richard worked with National programs developing President choice brand recipes for the popular Loblaw’s insider’s reports a national recipe and new listings catalogue for Presidents Choice brands.
Now with over 20 years in the Hospitality Industry. Chef Richard is the founding member and owner of Chef LIVE! A Halifax based catering and culinary entertainment company where he and his staff perform food network style cooking shows in the comfort of guest’s homes. In addition to the home chef program Chef Live offers custom catering for high end event ad well as recipe development and trade show performances to corporate clients.
Richard has created his niche as the go to Chef in the Maritimes for Culinary Entertainment experiences! Some of these experiences include being the featured Chef with the prestigious By the Glass Wine tours in Italy, creating meals for the group using local ingredients. His travels were documented in the January 2012 issue of Optimyze Magazine. His recipes have received critical and popular praise in the Occasions lifestyle magazine where he has paired his creations with the Molson-Coors portfolio of beer, Jackson Triggs wine and other fine festive beverages. In April 2012 Chef Richard showcased a variety of his favorite Rhubarb recipes for East Coast Living Magazine and in May 2012 performed a live cooking show for the 900 delegates at the Rendez-Vous Canada Tourism trade show for his home province of Nova Scotia! He is also a regular guest on CTV Morning Atlantic and Canada Am as well as Global Mornings Halifax where his fun approach to cooking has become a regular segment. His easy going and approachable style has also drawn the attention of many national clients one of which with feature his talents on an upcoming episode of a brand new Cooking show starring Steven Page of Bare Naked Ladies fame called The Illegal Eater, which showcases the talents of local chefs in unusual eating environment such as pop-up restaurants. The results from the show were so positive, requests for more pop ups were overwhelming which led to a dinner/music event company called Underground Halifax. The Underground as it is called hosts bi-monthly pop up dinners in untraditional venues (a highlight was the mystery bus – where guests were picked up at a set location and transported to the venue – a warehouse on the outskirts of town!) featuring the best of local food, guest chefs and musical entertainment.
Chef Richard opened his first restaurant, a new eat in/take-out food eatery in Dartmouth Ns, the sister city of his beloved Halifax. Named, Eats Urban Lunch counter, the concept will specialize in Smart Comfort Food relying on local and seasonal as much as possible. Think Deli smashed with bistro hit with a food truck. In addition Chef Richards’s team will provide various charcuterie, preserves, salads soups and full hot meals made with the love instilled by our mothers and care givers!