Suzanne BarrSuzanne Barr

Suzanne Barr has become one of the most respected and beloved chefs for her flair for fresh comfort food and also her passion for local community, food security, and advocacy. Chef Suzanne’s career as a chef, author, social activist, and culinary mentor is inspired by both her mother and father, two novice chefs, who instilled a lifelong passion to cherish the role that food plays in both nourishing the body as well as the soul. Chef Suzanne’s expansive culinary career includes her role as the inaugural Chef-In-Residence at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, Canada, owner of the former Saturday Dinette, and head chef and owner of True True diner, a diner concept that paid homage to the sites of many civil rights sit-ins and the history of the diner in breaking down segregation. What is most impressive, however, is Suzanne’s relentless advocacy for food security, marginalized communities, mental health, pay equity, nutrition literacy, and food source sustainability. Her truest form of self-expression is empowering and mentoring other women chefs. Earlier this year, Suzanne published My Ackee Tree, A Chef’s Memoir of Finding Home in the Kitchen, which takes readers on a personal journey of food, family, soul-searching, self discovery, and even motherhood that lead Suzanne home...in the kitchen closer to her Jamaican heritage.

Suzanne’s food philosophy is simple: to create nutritious, flavorful, and comforting foods made with local, accessible ingredients.