Chef Donna Dooher, celebrated cookbook author and restaurateur, is one of North America’s leading advocates of the return to the table. After graduating from the Culinary Arts Program at Ottawa’s Algonquin College and pursuing further studies at the University of Guelph’s Hospitality Manager’s Development Course, Chef Dooher established herself as a prominent figure in the Toronto hospitality community. With over 25 years of professional experience in the kitchen, Donna expanded her successful catering business Avant-Goût in 1990 to create an intimate restaurant called Mildred Pierce. Built in the west end of Toronto’s warehouse district, Mildred Pierce introduced its guests to a unique dining experience and established brunch as a culinary trend in the city.

In 1998, Chef Dooher founded The Cookworks cooking studio, which offered entertaining and informative workshops focused on practical cooking. The popular concept of the kitchen table proved worthy for the boardroom table and evolved into corporate team building for the business community of Toronto. Her hit Food Network show The Cookworks grew out of this initiative and is currently aired in over 120 countries worldwide. In addition, Donna has served as Food Editor for WISH magazine, and authored the best-selling Market to Table cookbook, adding to her previous triumph with Cuisine Canada’s award-winning Out to Brunch with Mildred Pierce.

Chef Dooher’s newest venture is Mildred’s Temple Kitchen in the heart of Toronto’s Liberty Village and reflects her commitment to providing locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, simply and sumptuously prepared. Donna sits on the Board of Directors for The Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association, is the Co-Chair of the Yes Chef! Campaign at George Brown College, is an active member of Slow Food, and a self-proclaimed ‘fork hugger’ dedicated to supporting Ontario farmers and local agriculture.

Her motto is ‘cook with love and reckless abandon!’