The GOODS from The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

Vancouver, BC | Former two decade long Executive Pastry Chef for Vancouver’s illustrious Pan Pacific Hotel, Chef Toshitsuga (Ted) Hara is a welcome addition to Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts’ (PICA) Professional Baking & Pastry Arts program.  “We could not have found a better combination of experience, passion and prestige to complement our existing team of internationally trained faculty members” adds Executive Chef and newly elected Chefs’ Table Society of BC President, Julian Bond…

Chef Hara was born and apprenticed in Kyoto, Japan where for 15 years he successfully owned an acclaimed pastry & café.  Horizon before him Chef Hara relocated to Canada where soon after he graced the kitchens of Vancouver’s Pan Pacific Hotel to oversee the pastry operations for this 504-room Five Diamond Hotel and Five Diamond restaurant.  Successfully managing the pastry department of one of the largest hotel banquet facilities with 42,000 sq/ft of catering venues and 20 function rooms Chef Hara was still hungry for a challenge.

Chef Hara then went on to represent Canada in numerous international pastry competitions as well as, an appearance at the acclaimed James Beard House, NYC.  Competing aside, Chef Hara began to lend his industry prowess as a judge and mentor for the World Pastry Championship, the American Culinary Classic & the World Culinary Olympics as the Canadian National Team Pastry coach.

Passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience, Chef Hara recently joined PICA as a full-time Baking & Pastry Arts Instructor because in his words, “Pastry is a wonderful and creative art. Taste, aesthetic and overall wow factor can be achieved freely if you have the passion and proper foundation of skills.  Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is your play ground to start creating your dream. I love contemporary art, fashion and architecture which is expressed in my artful pastry creations. With my expertise and experience working abroad; I am excited to move into this next phase of my pastry career to create and share my experiences with the next generation of chefs.”  With worldwide accolades and memberships under his well tempered toque Chef Hara’s knowledgeable expertise and gentle but firm appreciation for the pastry arts is most certainly welcome to the teaching kitchens of Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts.

About PICA

PICA, founded in 1997, is one of Vancouver’s first accredited private culinary institutes to provide diploma programs in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts. As a designated WSET® provider PICA offers Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced Wine Certificate programs; visit PICA Wine Education. PICA also operates an award winning Bistro 101®, a 52-seat on-site fine dining restaurant, as well as, a bustling bakeshop; Bakery 101®. Keeping PICA even busier are professional Catering and Cake departments. Completing this unique culinary centre is an ever changing array of Short programs that has made PICA Vancouver’s original hands-on cooking class purveyor. PICA is of elite status among culinary institutions in Canada and in being such continues to raise the bar.

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts provides top-calibre instruction in an intimate and interactive environment; drawing an international attraction. Utilizing the finest facilities, PICA’s dedicated Chef Instructors are seasoned professionals trained in classic French and International cuisine. PICA is situated at the gateway to Granville Island at 1505 West Second Avenue, Vancouver, BC. To contact please call (604) 734-4488 or visit PICACHEF.

———————————————————————-

In addition to providing daily editorial, Scout is dedicated to supporting and promoting cool, interesting, and independent British Columbian businesses through the publication of their press releases and event info. To learn how to get your news up on our front page, check out our supporter details page here.

———————————————————————-