Restaurants Canada Show Honors Three Leaders

Three leaders and innovators from Canada’s foodservice industry were recognized with a Restaurants Canada Award of Excellence at the association’s recent show in Toronto.

The Leadership Award went to Mohamad Fakih, President/CEO of Paramount Fine Foods, for his humanitarian efforts as well as his business success. Fakih committed to hire 100 Syrian refugees at his restaurants and is more than 80% to that goal. He also donated funds to cover the cost of funerals for the six victims of the Jan. 29 shooting at a Quebec mosque, and to assist with refurbishing the mosque.

Food Supplies, a Concord, Ontario, supplier of equipment and ingredients for foodservice and retail market, was given the Innovation-Food Supplies Award recognized for its Fornoteca Duetto pizza oven. The portable unit, designed for outdoor patios, cooks a pizza in 90 seconds.

The Culinary Excellence Award was presented to Chef Robert Belcham of Vancouver’s Campagnolo restaurant. He was recognized for his outstanding culinary skills, pioneering restaurant concepts, commitment to local Canadian ingredients, and mentorship of up-and-coming culinary talent.

More than 16,000 industry professionals attended the three-day Restaurants Canada Show, which also celebrated Canada’s culinary past, present and future in honor of Canada’s 150th birthday.