Member Profile: The Orient
Earning many prestigious accolades in his career Chef Ivan Chan is now embarking upon yet another new challenge. As the head chef at The Orient he shares they are expanding from traditional restaurant activities to also include catering and in house dining opportunities.
The Orient Chinese Cuisine is an authentic Chinese restaurant located in Bedford Nova Scotia where they feature traditional and fusion created dishes. Known for creating unique Asian flavours not commonly found in Canada, Hong Kong born Chef Ivan grew up with cuisine that was a blend of Cantonese with British influence. As he began cooking in Canada he brought those distinct tastes with him to make his highly praised dishes. He shared that he has even been told by customers who also moved from Hong Kong that they hadn’t tasted the unique flavours in decades since moving. He also offers the opportunity to email ahead of time to the restaurant for an off the menu chef inspired meal when you visit for an extra unique experience!
Chef Ivan is an adamant advocate for supporting local and leads the way with a farm to table approach, working with local farmers and fishermen to supply his menu. Resulting in approximately 80% of products are sourced locally! As a continued local support, The Orient exclusively serves Nova Scotian wines. Chef Ivan proudly acknowledges his stubbornness in standing behind what he believes in and that is the importance of supporting local.
In addition to regular dining at The Orient, Chef Ivan is growing into the catering space. Outside of booking the restaurant for private events he is also offering his expert services from your own kitchen. In house service is growing in popularity as a way for clients to host guests at home in refined luxury, but not have to worry about the cooking and clean up. Chef Ivan shares that his focus is on a bespoke experience centered around each client. It’s because of putting the client first and his immense attention to detail, that truly sets his services apart as an in house Chef fine dining experience. Chef Ivan’s decadent flavours and flair are perfect for celebrating special occasions or just indulging in culinary splendor.
Chef Ivan and his team arrive to the location early with all the supplies and equipment they need to cook and set up your dining room for the perfect gourmet atmosphere. He then gets to preparing the decided upon menu and working his magic in the kitchen. Guests can settle in as he guides through each course sharing the inspiration behind every dish. Afterwards his team cleans up the kitchen and table to be squeaky clean, with the only evidence of their presence being a full stomach and happy taste buds!
Chef Ivan Chan relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1993 with his family, and has since devoted his culinary career to elevating Cantonese cuisine while preserving its authentic essence. Although Asian dishes are his forte, Chef Ivan has spent many years in the hotel industry cooking French and Italian recipes, rounding out his abilities. With years of varied experience Chef Ivan shares he “can provide a lot of items and cooking that usually you don’t see around here.”
It is because of his extraordinary talent and ability to think outside of the box that he was chosen four times to attend the Canadian Culinary Championship Nova Scotia, an invitation only competition where seven to ten of the best chefs are asked to compete. He made history as the first Chinese Chef in Canadian history to be invited in 2016, and later win gold in 2020. Chef Ivan shared his strategy for his winning dish, The Peking Duck Supreme, was what he calls “picking the extreme.”
If you’re ready to have your mind blown with vibrant imaginative flavours, visit Chef Ivan at The Orient or invite him to cook in your home! Either way you can expect an awe-inspiring culinary experience that will stay with you for years to come.
More of Chef Ivan
Chef Ivan Chan wants to change how Haligonians view Chinese food by CBC: YouTube
Food from childhood used to welcome in Chinese New Year by CBC: YouTube
Chef Ivan’s Master Class Podcast: YouTube
2020 Canadian Culinary Championship Nova Scotia Final Gold Medalist
2018 Canadian Culinary Championship Nova Scotia Final Finalist
2017 Canadian Culinary Championship Nova Scotia Final Bronze Medalist
2016 Canadian Culinary Championship Nova Scotia Final Finalist
For more information on The Orient and their dining opportunities, visit their website at theorientns.ca or follow them on Instagram.
Photo Credits: Michelle Doucett (East Coast Food Stories)
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