Ambassadors

Taste Canada Ambassadors

Taste Canada’s Ambassadors are individuals who have an incredible passion for Canadian cookbooks and a love for all things Canadian cooking. Follow along as they’ll share their thoughts and enthusiasm for Taste Canada, its chefs, and authors. Each chosen member represents a different province within Canada to encompass best the vast variety of creative culinary minds this country has to offer. Learn more about the 2022 Taste Canada Ambassadors and how they bring people together through their love of food.

Lee Capatina, Quebec

Nutritionist, Author and Chef

Lee is a chef, cookbook author, entrepreneur, and registered holistic nutritionist residing in Montreal, Quebec. She is the founder of Lee’s Provisions and a Gold Winner in the 2019 Taste Canada Awards for her book, Eat Good Fat: Nourish Your Body with Over 100 Healthy, Fat-Fuelled Recipes.

Nicole Harling, Sask.

Blogger, Photographer, Recipe Developer

Nicole is a food blogger, food photographer, and recipe developer from Regina, Saskatchewan. She is most in her element when she is in the kitchen experimenting with new flavours, ingredients, and recipes. Her true passion is cooking meals from scratch, using local ingredients, and sharing food inspiration on her blog and social media accounts.

Michael Howell, Nova Scotia

Chef, Cookbook Author

Michael is a chef, cookbook author, and culinary film advocate from Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He is the Executive Director of Devour The Food Film Fest, and the consulting Chef at The Green Turtle Club and Marina in Abaco, Bahamas. His cookbook, Atlantic Seafood, was runner up in the 2010 Taste Canada Awards and was re-released in an updated edition last year.

Lauren Klukas, Alberta

Cookbook Author

Lauren is a certified personal trainer, wife, mother, student, and cookbook author from Calgary, Alberta. After an unexpected diagnosis of ARVC in 2013, Lauren was inspired to create a cookbook focused on long-term and sustainable meals for a healthy lifestyle. In 2019 her book The Complete Plate was shortlisted in the Taste Canada Awards.

Irene Matys, Ontario

Recipe Developer, Food Stylist and Farm to Table Advocate

Irene is a farm-to-table advocate, recipe developer, content creator, food stylist, and food photographer from Oakville, Ontario. She contributes to Food & Drink magazine and The Marilyn Denis Show. She also hosted the Taste Canada Awards Gala in 2020.