Montgomery Lau representing BC for title of Canada Chef of the Year

Montgomery Lau has come a long way from shopping in the local fresh foods markets in Hong Kong with his mother to representing BC and contending for the title of Canada’s Chef of the Year at this year’s National Chefs’ Conference.

Lau grew up in Hong Kong, where weekly dim sum outings made up a huge part of his childhood memories. The appreciation for food was a regular part of his life. He still remembers the live fish and chickens from the local produce markets he used to visit with his mother.

Lau later moved to Vancouver and grew up around the diversity that the city has to offer. This exposed him to foods from around the world. He started cooking at home, where his interest in the culinary arts peaked. You could often find him hanging out in the family kitchen.

Montgomery decided to turn his passion into a career and enrolled at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. This led him to working under Chef Jean Yves Benoit at his first culinary job at French restaurant L’Emotion. He then did six years at the Diva at the Met, working with some of the best chefs in the city. He worked every station at the hotel and eventually worked his way up to Sous Chef.

Lau joined the opening team for the Market by Jean George at the Shangri-La Hotel after completing his apprenticeship. While preparing for the Winter Olympics of 2010, Executive Chef Hamid Salimian recruited him for the opening of the new Westin Wall Centre at the Vancouver Airport.

Today, Lau is an Executive Sous Chef at the Apron restaurant at the Westin Wall Centre hotel. His restaurant has adopted the philosophy to use sustainable and local produce. They often push the boundary on modern cooking techniques.

Montgomery Lau’s success and passion for quality food and contemporary cooking has led him to winning the Roasted black box competition two years in a row. This year, he earned the prestigious title of BC Chef of the Year.

Lau will be taking his well-earned title to the next level by competing for the title of Canada Chef of the Year at this year’s National Chefs’ Conference in his hometown Vancouver.

To find out how you can watch Lau represent BC at the competition, visit www.ccfcc2011.ca or the Facebook fanpage 2011 National Chefs’ Conference.