Deseree "Dez" Lo is known well for her electric personality and equally dynamic approach to cooking.
Formerly an investment banker in New York, Dez wound up leaving the world of banking for her love of all things food. She studied at The French Culinary Institute in New York, afterwards working in the city, followed by L.A. before finding her way to Vancouver in 2016.
She spent time working as the Executive Sous Chef of the Italian institution CinCin for some time, but left the "traditional kitchen" to work as an executive chef and sales manager at a major seafood company for two years. Now, she's back on the line as Catering Chef at Blank Canvas Catering.
Proudly dubbed "The Dragon Lady" by her colleagues, it's clear that Deseree Lo is in it to win it when it comes to Top Chef Canada X. With Lo's pals Billy Nguyen and Andrea Alridge doing a formidible job throughout Season 9, we think that this chef is going to be fierce competition.
In anticipation of the season 10 premiere airing on Monday night on Food Network Canada, we chatted with Lo about where to eat in her home base of Vancouver.
Breakfast
Good bagels are hard to come by...especially if you had lived in NYC for as long as I did! The fact that Siegel’s Bagels have Montreal smoked meat bagel sandwiches? Say no more!
Lunch
Chosun Korean BBQ in Burnaby, B.C. has unbeatable lunch specials, and the kimchi chigae is my absolute favourite. The BBQ combos are so good and include so much meat!
Dinner
My version of dinner on my days off is at 4 p.m. because my mom likes to dine early. Since I love spending time with her, I eat early too.
Did someone also say Happy Hour? You can't go wrong with all the freshly shucked oysters, good wine selection and the truffle fries at Fanny Bay Oyster Bar.
Drinks
Give me some sake and beers and I am good to go.
The Guu Izakaya locations on Thurlow and Waterfront were both of my staples after work when I used to work downtown. I like to eat while I drink, so Izakayas are perfect because you get the best of both worlds.
Watch: The Top Chef Canada Trailer Season 10
Top Chef Canada Season X premieres on September 26 on Food Network Canada.
