Here at Food Network Canada, our women-led team is always looking for new ways to celebrate and highlight women in the food space. In honour of International Women’s Day, here are some of our favourite women-owned Canadian restaurants and cafes to support today and every day.
Baccanalle
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Chef Resa Solomon-St. Lewis is bringing a taste of the Caribbean to the nation’s capital with her award-winning dishes. On the Baccanalle menu, you’ll find reimagined classics like jerk chicken with red velvet waffles and a dedicated vegan menu featuring curries, patties and more.
Beaucoup Bakery
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Founded by powerhouse entrepreneur Jackie Kai Ellis and now owned by masterful pastry chef Betty Hung and her brother Jacky, Beaucoup Bakery is creating exceptional French-inspired pastries. While there’s always a fresh batch of croissants and kouign amann available, we especially love their inspired seasonal creations, like their Lunar New Year Peking croissants.
Cluck n Cleaver
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Owned and operated by sisters Nicole and Francine Gomes (the former also happens to be the first ever female winner of Top Chef Canada), Cluck n Cleaver is widely acknowledged as Calgary’s best fried and rotisserie chicken. All of their menu items are made in house from scratch with no preservatives, and their chickens are 100% certified humane, antibiotic free, and halal.
Related: Black Canadian Women Chefs and Foodies to Follow Now
Feast Café Bistro
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Featuring modern dishes that are rooted in traditional First Nation foods, Wall of Chefs judge Christa Bruneau-Guenther created Feast Cafe Bistro with the goal of creating a community hub of Winnipeg’s West End. Menu standouts include the bannock pizzas and the shredded bison bannock burger.
Gusto
Location: Toronto, Ontario
This list wouldn’t be complete without mention of powerhouse restaurateur (and Top Chef Canada judge!) Janet Zuccarini‘s Gusto restaurants. With two Gusto restaurants in Toronto and several others under the Gusto umbrella (incuding Trattoria Nervosa, Chubby’s, and Kiin to name a few), Janet has steadily built a seriously admirable food empire. Gusto is known for its laidback Italian vibe and counts many celebrities as patrons (it’s where Sophie Trudeau took Michelle Obama when she visited Toronto!), but we especially love their mushroom truffle pasta and by-the-ounce wine.
Jenna Rae Cakes
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Best known for their gorgeous pastel cakes and confections, sisters Jenna and Ashley have quickly made a name for themselves in the competitive world of cake making. Their Winnipeg storefront Jenna Rae Cakes offers playfully pretty cream puffs, custom cakes, cookie sandwiches, and even their own line of apparel. You can also catch these talented sisters as judges on Wall of Bakers.
Mandy’s
Location: Montreal, Quebec
No trip to Montreal is complete without a bountiful salad from Mandy’s, owned by sisters Mandy and Rebecca Wolfe. Best known for their vibrant, tangy dressings that pull together their colourful creations, the sisters have made a name for themselves in the Canadian food scene, with restaurants in Quebec and Ontario, a cookbook, and their own line of signature Mandy’s products of teas, cookies and more.
Mary’s Brigadeiro
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Mary’s Brigadeiro creates beautiful chocolates based on Mariane Oliveira’s family recipes from her native Brazil. Most notably, their eponymous brigadeiros (similar to a chocolate truffle) come in a wide array of mouthwatering flavours, including Brazilian cappucino, honey and jasmine, Mexican spice and more.
Related: Black-Owned Canadian Restaurants You Need to Try ASAP
Pai Northern Thai Kitchen
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Together with her husband Jeff, Chef Nuit Regular is credited with bringing the distinct flavours of Northern Thailand to Toronto (and beyond!). Designed to bring the city of Pai, Thailand directly to you, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen showcases the vibrant Northern Thai flavours that are near and dear to Chef Nuit’s heart. With other restaurants Kiin, Sabai Sabai, Selva, and Sukho Thai all across the city each showcasing a different aspect of Thai cuisine, Chef Nuit is regularly featured as one of Canada’s most notable chefs. When she’s not busy at one of her many restaurants, you can catch her as a judge on Wall of Chefs.
Vij’s
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Critically acclaimed as one of Canada’ best restauraunts, Vij’s mixes Indian flavours with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients for seriously delicious results. Together with Vikram Vij, Chef Meeru Dhalwala has built a restaurant described as “Easily among the finest Indian restaurants in the world” by the New York Times. It’s no wonder she’s a judge on Wall of Chefs!