About

Dawoon Chae

Growing up in Seoul, South Korea, Chef Dawoon Chae inherited a strong passion for food from his mother. Her freshly baked breads, homemade stocks and soup, and use of seasonal vegetables and fresh fish all inspired a young Dawoon to become a professional chef. When he was 21 years old, Dawoon made the move to Toronto to study culinary management at George Brown College. Following apprenticeships at George under Chef Lorenzo Loseto, and Scaramouche under Keith Froggett, he found a job as a cook at O&B Café Grill Bayview Village, where he spent two years developing his skills.

After a brief stint at Vancouver’s renowned C Restaurant, where Chef Dawoon worked extensively with sustainable seafood, he returned to Toronto to take a Chef de Partie position at Marben. Mentored by Top Chef Canada winner Carl Heinrich as well as Chef Misha Nesterenko, Chef Dawoon crafted delicious Canadian comfort food. In 2011, Chef Dawoon took the next step into a leadership position at Simple Bistro. As Sous Chef, Dawoon expanded his knowledge of butchery and modern French technique. He was eventually promoted to Head Chef, and exceled in creating upscale French dishes with a hint of Korean influence.

Chef Dawoon served as Chef de Cuisine at Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill in Toronto’s historic Distillery District, where he focused on serving quality seafood and oysters. Most recently, he lead the kitchen at Luma, where he focused on bringing global flavours, fresh fish and seafood, and seasonal vegetables to the forefront of the menu.

Now, as Chef de Cuisine of Canteen, Dawoon is excited to balance healthy, fresh fare with hearty comfort food on Canteen’s new Eat to Live, Live to Eat menu.