Yes Shef! Returns for Another Round on November 6th, 2024

Chef Meeru Dhalawa & Chef Shira Blustein of Lila. Photo courtesy of Yes Shef!

On Wednesday, November 6th a lineup of BC’s most talented women working in the hospitality sector will be coming together in a singular room (the Star Sapphire Ballroom at the Fairmont Pacific Rim) in support of an extraordinary cause, at the WORTH (Women of Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality) Association’s Yes Shef: Elevating Women in Food & Beverage event. This is a big deal, folks!

One of the main reasons that, time and again, we get stoked on this particular shindig is because of the mentorship program driving it, which sees seasoned chefs being paired with budding culinary students from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA). Together, they create a single menu with a double-whammy reward: a fantastic spread of food for Yes Shef! guests; plus, the opportunity for students to chart their career paths by fostering seminal relationships and receiving the support of women in the hospitality sector, assuming leadership roles, and tackling challenges head-on, knowing that other strong and experienced women in the industry are looking out for them.

As for the event itself: the night kicks off with a Welcome Reception at 5:30pm, followed by the food and beverage tasting stations (20+ of them in total) opening shortly thereafter, at 6pm. The night then reaches its pinnacle at 8:15pm with an Awards Presentation, and concludes at 9:30pm. Tickets aren’t cheap ($200 each; $175 if you can snag an Early Bird one), but if you can finagle it, we suggest locking your spots in HERE now, because they will sell out! Besides access to all of the aforementioned goodness, guests also get to enjoy performances by an all-women lineup, a “wall of wine” (we don’t know exactly what that is, but it certainly can’t be bad), and the chance to participate in a silent auction for some stellar experiential prizes. Yup, Yes Shef! is about so much more than just food (albeit, delicious food) – it’s a winning combination of highly lauded chef talent, some of the finest local quaffs, entertainment, and room packed with rad women. How refreshing!

Check out the so-far announced roster of participants – including three first-timers! – and our gallery of photos from the 2023 event below; and then see you in November…

Participating Chefs / Restaurants:

Ying Ying Gao, Araxi
Nutcha Phanthoupheng, Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine
Eleanor Chow Waterfall, Cadeaux Bakery
Tia Kambas, Chambar
Marisa Gonzales, Hawksworth
Kaeli Robinsong and Berenice Balbuena, Tacofino
Stacy Johnston and Minette Lotz, The Restaurant at Poplar Grove
Cactus Club Cafe
Fairmont Hotels
Tasha Sawyer, Growing Chefs (new for 2024)
Brittney Lygo, Homer St. Cafe (new for 2024)
Meeru Dhalwala and Shira Blustein, Lila (new for 2024)