Joel Lafond started in the industry at the age of 15 washing dishes at Smitty’s Pancake House in Dauphin, Manitoba. Within the space of a year, he was managing the kitchen while still completing high school. Joel worked there for four years before going to Humber College in Toronto to study music. When Joel moved back to Winnipeg, he worked in various restaurants while singing in a rock band.

 

Deciding that if he was going to cook for a living, he would do it right, Joel enrolled at Red River College. From there he worked at Between Friends and was part of the opening of Green Gates. After a couple of years, he moved to Glendale to become Shelley Martin’s Banquet Chef and eventually Sous Chef. Shelley left Glendale at the time Joel attained his Red Seal and received the Apprentice of the Year Award. Joel moved on to work at Le Beaujolais as Chef Costa’s Sous Chef. 

 

For some time Shelley had been asking Joel to join her at the Shaarey Zedek as her Sous Chef once again. He took up the challenge that has allowed him to make the most of his talents and creativity. In 2006, Shelley moved to be with family and Joel, having worked in the industry and with Shelley for years, was ready to step into the Executive Chef position. Shaarey Zedek's kitchen has come a long way and Joel is proud to have been an integral part of that.

 

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