ReRoot

Chef Heat Laliberte (@onearrowyvr ) is a Déne-Métis chef whose culinary journey is one of full circles and deep roots. With 20 years in professional kitchens, his well-rounded experience ranges from culinary teams at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, to the 2016 & 2018 Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and founding the successful artisanal bacon business, One Arrow. But it’s his home at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre (@vafcs_ ) that means the most. As both a graduate of VAFCS’s ACCESS Trades Culinary Apprenticeship and Indigenous Entrepreneurship programs, he is now Head Chef of Friendship Catering. Heat’s work is about more than food — it’s about giving back, lifting up traditional Indigenous ingredients, and feeding the community that helped shape him. We are honoured to have him at A Night of Too Many Chefs. Have you got your tickets yet? Join us June 3rd! Link in bio #anightoftoomanychefs

Chef Meeru Dhalwala (@meerudhalwala ) is one of Vancouver’s most beloved and quietly revolutionary culinary figures. As co-founder of the world-renowned @vijsrestaurant — hailed by the New York Times as among the finest Indian restaurants in the world, author of three award-winning Vij’s cookbooks, and co-founder of @lilavancouver — her impact on how this city eats and thinks about food runs deep. But Meeru’s work has never stopped at the kitchen door. Holding a Master’s in Development Studies and honorary doctorates from both UBC and SFU, she brings an unwavering commitment to humanity into everything she does — championing independent business, women in food, and sustainable and healthy cooking with the same passion she brings to every plate. A proud recipient of the 2024 Restaurants Canada Award for Culinary Excellence and recognized at the recent @vancouvermagazine Restaurant Awards, Meeru doesn’t just cook for people, she builds systems that nourish them. We are honoured to have her at A Night of Too Many Chefs. Don’t miss out! June 3rd is coming fast. Get your tickets. See link in bio. #anightoftoomanychefs

Chef Tushar Tondvalkar (@chefttushar ) of Kavita (@restaurant.kavita ) carries the flavours of India and the ambition of a true culinary journeyman. Kavita was recently recognized by @vancouvermagazine Restaurant Awards and we’re so honoured to have Chef Tushar at A Night of Too Many Chefs on June 3. Trained in Mumbai and forged across kitchens on three continents — from Busch Gardens in Virginia, to the Red Jacket Resort in New Hampshire, from Blue Water Café and Bauhaus in Vancouver to a coveted stage at Chef Gaggan’s two Michelin-starred restaurants in Bangkok. Tushar has spent his career in relentless pursuit of craft. Since arriving in Vancouver in 2013, he’s brought that global perspective to some of the city’s most respected tables; including Fish House, West Oak, and Blue Water Café. Now, with Kavita, he’s doing something deeply personal — introducing Vancouver to the regional and diverse flavours of India he grew up knowing, in new and creative ways. Named after his mother, Kavita is his love letter to a cuisine too often flattened into a single story. Like poetry, he wants each dish to spark a conversation — and we cannot wait to taste what he has to say. Tickets are going fast! Get yours at the link in bio #anightoftoomanychefs

Introducing Chef Javier Blanc (@chefjavierblanc )! Born and raised in Madrid, Chef Javier’s culinary journey began in his family kitchen, where assisting his mother sparked a lifelong passion for Spanish gastronomy. This early inspiration led him to become a successful restaurateur in Spain, opening five locations of his tapas concept, Más Que Pintxos. In 2017, Chef Javier moved to Vancouver with a mission to bring an authentic paella experience to Canada. He launched @paellaguys in 2018, a premier catering service showcasing the rich diversity of Spanish tapas and paella dishes. His expertise earned global acclaim in 2023 when he was awarded “Second Best Paella in the World” at the prestigious Concurs Internacional de Paella Valenciana de Sueca. Building on this international success, in 2024 Chef Javier opened @casamolina.ca in the heart of Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. Here, he offers a modern yet casual take on the soulful, home-cooked Spanish meals of his youth, continuing to share Spain’s vibrant flavors with his new community. We’re so excited to welcome him on June 3rd for #anightoftoomanychefs . Get your tickets! Link in bio

Welcome Chef Benedict Lim (@cookingwithben_ ), Executive Chef of award-winning restaurant, @thelunchlady , joining us at A Night of Too Many Chefs on June 3rd! ⁠ “My relationship with food started over 20 years ago. My journey has led me from peeling cases of potatoes, serving at a steak house, slinging poke at a night market, cooking for private events, and ultimately finding my place here at The Lunch Lady. ⁠ ⁠ Through the good days and the bad, my passion and love for this industry have allowed me to continue learning and growing.⁠ ⁠ At The Lunch Lady, we make every effort to pay homage to where this food is from in both ingredient and technique, but at the same time, we are pushing the boundaries to reinvent dishes to the next level. ⁠ ⁠ Every bite you take will remind you of something familiar yet have an essence of something new at the same time.” - Chef Benedict Lim⁠ Congrats on your recent @vancouvermagazine Restaurant Awards.👏👏 Get your tickets! Link in bio #anightoftoomanychefs

We’re so excited to have Chef Billy Nguyen (@chef.billyboi ) — Executive Chef of award-winning @rabbitrabbitwinebar in Victoria and Chef/Owner of @barsodalite — join the incredible line up at A Night of Too Many Chefs on June 3rd! Billy Nguyen is the Executive Chef at Rabbit Rabbit in Victoria, where they have gained national acclaim for a signature “comfortably unexpected” culinary style. Marrying French-Asian roots with a British twist, Billy’s cooking is defined by a deeply personal approach that transforms nostalgic childhood flavors through progressive techniques. Billy’s inspired journey includes a standout performance as the runner-up on Top Chef Canada Season 9 and collaborations with Michelin-starred talent across the country. Under their leadership, @rabbitrabbitwinebar recently earned a Silver award for Best Restaurant in Victoria from @vancouvermagazine and was named a finalist for Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2025. Billy remains a bold force in the Victoria food scene, known for their infectious energy and fearless creativity. Get your tickets! Link in bio #anightoftoomanychefs

Meet our first featured chef for A Night of Too Many Chefs, Chef Akira Takaki (@akiratakaki ). Born and raised in Bali, Indonesia, Akira comes from a Japanese-Indonesian background. His passion for cooking began at a young age, inspired by watching his mother run her small restaurant in Bali. He studied Culinary Arts and Management at the Bali Tourism Institute and built his foundation working in five-star resorts and fine dining restaurants in both Bali and Miami, USA. In 2019, he worked alongside and trained under Chef @reijiyoshizawa in Miami, further shaping his culinary style and discipline. Akira is currently the Chef de Cuisine @torafukuyvr , a Michelin-recommended restaurant on Main Street in Vancouver, under Executive Chef and Owner @kuansteve . Alongside his role, he runs his own Indonesian pop-up series, Cuisine by Genki (@cuisinebygenki ) dedicated to introducing Indonesian food and culture to Vancouver and across Canada. In 2025, he collaborated in Montreal at Satu Lagi with @chefpradana , and in 2026, Akira plans to expand his vision with an Indonesian pop-up tour across Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary. Get your tickets! And tickets for your mom, too! 💕 Link in bio. #anightoftoomanychefs

It is with deep gratitude that we are partnering again with the incredible team at the Museum of Vancouver and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. Without the advocacy and support of Lorraine Lowe, Ryan Hunt, Brendan Brooks, and their team—A Night of Too Many Chefs wouldn’t be the success it is.  @museumofvan and the @spacecentreyvr are two distinct but interconnected cultural and educational institutions, housed within a single iconic architectural complex.  Every guest of A Night of Too Many Chefs will have the opportunity to explore the exhibits at both the Museum and Space Centre!  Join us June 3rd, ticket link in bio. #anightoftoomanychefs

What just happened?! Honoured and humbled to receive the inaugural “Chef with Heart” award today from @vancouvermagazine . I share this award with all the inspiring, community-minded people who do this work with me - business partner @sean.a88 LunchLAB cofounder @brent.mansfield and the ReRoot team @generuse1 @lj.quinto @jizo_studio @jld1331 If you’re looking for a way to give back, and enjoy delicious food too, tickets are on sale for A Night of Too Many Chefs on June 3, our annual event that raises funds to sustain our community meals program. Link in bio! Thank you 🙏🏽

A huge moment for one of our own 👏 Chef TJ Conwi, Education Co-Chair of Chefs’ Table Society of BC, has been named “Chef with Heart” at the @vancouvermagazine Restaurant Awards, and if you know his work, this one hits deep. Named in memory of Claudio Ranallo, the award honours chefs who show up for their communities with generosity, humility, and heart, often behind the scenes. In the wake of the Lapu Lapu Day Festival tragedy in 2025, TJ did exactly that—stepping in without hesitation to cook for families in need. It’s the same spirit he brings to everything he does, from @reroot.kitchen and LunchLAB to his work at @onovancouver . This is what leadership in our industry looks like. We’re incredibly proud to have TJ helping shape the next generation of chefs in BC. Massive congratulations, TJ—this is so, so well deserved! 👏

We’re back! Tickets are now on sale for “A Night of Too Many Chefs” on June 3 — an evening of food, music and community. See link in bio. It’s a big year. The team at @reroot.kitchen and @onovancouver are celebrating 500,000 meals donated to non-profits in Vancouver since 2020 using surplus food. Funds raised through this event keep the community meals program going. Help fight food waste and feed the community. Thanks to event sponsor and co-organizer @walrushome @cdboquist for partnering with us again this year, and our venue sponsors @museumofvan and @spacecentreyvr . �Can’t wait to see you there!