Chef Tanya Skeates

Chef Tanya Skeates, a native Montrealer, is a graduate of l'Institut de Tourisme et d'Hôtellerie du Quebec, and has apprenticed at Toque and Helene de Champlain in Montreal.

In 1997 she traveled to London , England, and worked under Chef Anton Mosimann at his Belfry Private Dining Club. Her experiences included preparing receptions and dinners for international celebrities and dignitaries and catering prestigious events, including Cartier Polo at Windsor Castle and the Queen's 50th Wedding Anniversary.

In St. Moritz, Switzerland, she gained further experience as chef de partie tournant at the five-star Kulm Hotel.

Upon returning to Canada, Tanya rounded off her experience as Pastry Chef in the kitchen at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. She has also worked at the National Arts Centre under Chef Kurt Wadele.

In 2000, Tanya became the Chef at the Black Cat Café in Ottawa's historic Byward Market, where her kitchen was awarded a "Star of Excellence" in the Where to Eat in Canada Guide.

Following up on her interest in international cuisine, Tanya traveled to Thailand and attended cooking classes there. In 2002 she went on to head the kitchen at the popular Manx pub in downtown Ottawa. For the next 3 years she managed the kitchen there, worked in private catering and taught cooking classes at Algonquin College, LCBO and Loblaws and the Urban Element.

Her dreams were realized when she got a call that her friend was selling his restaurant in Wakefield, Quebec. Tanya jumped at the opportunity to live and work in the country. So, after almost 7 years of working, creating and teaching Tanya has decided it was time to move on and fulfill new dreams. Some of these new dreams include traveling to visit friends in Japan, China and Australia, where she hopes to sneak into a few kitchens to get inspired by new foods or at the very least eat her way through these places!