With a diploma from the prestigious Montréal culinary institute, Institut de Tourisme et D’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) under her belt, she has established herself as one to watch in the food and hospitality 1 realm. Vanessa can be recognized as the resident chef on Montreal’s #1 morning show, Breakfast Television Montreal providing a variety of recipes and meal ideas to viewers all across Québec as well as on the hit Gusto television series One World Kitchen where she covers Italian and shares her love of cooking, zest for life and her unique viewpoint on the cuisine. Most recently, Vanessa was named an expert on CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show where she shares her delicious original recipes and food-related tips.
Vanessa is also the founder and creator of the lifestyle website Cooking With V dedicated in honor of her love and passion for food. Most recently added to her budding resume is a published cookbook in conjunction with her show One World Kitchen. One World Kitchen: The Cookbook is authored by president and CEO of Gusto Chris Knight and Vanessa’s mouthwatering recipes are featured in the book, available for purchase at Chapters, Indigo Books and Music and Amazon Canada. Vanessa’s recipes can also be found monthly in Panoram Italia, Canada’s largest magazine dedicated to Italian-Canadians. Currently, Vanessa is the executive chef, instructor and general director at Chef En Vous.
Understanding the importance of philanthropy, Vanessa supports causes that are close to her heart such as SPCA de Montréal, Montreal Leukemia, and Lymphoma Society and the Ronald McDonald House.
Vanessa has become an in-demand ambassador and has partnered with major brands including Walmart Canada, Dole Canada, Barilla Pasta, Becel, Butterball Turkey Canada, California Prunes, GoGo Quinoa, Halo Top Creamey, Casper, Reitman’s Canada, Call It Spring, and much more.
Outside the world of culinary, Vanessa enjoys, entertaining, home decorating, gardening, making flower arrangements, hot yoga and of course, her second passion, traveling.
We had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Chef Vanessa Gianfrancesco. Check it out below.
Hi, Vanessa! Thank you for granting the interview. Your career is soaring, and we’re excited to speak with you about. You’re best known for being on Gusto TV’s One World Kitchen, the resident chef on Breakfast Television Montreal, and the cooking expert on the Marilyn Denis Show on CTV in Canada. What do you enjoy most about being a chef?
One of the things that I have always loved to do was cook for people and watch them enjoy the food I prepared for them! Growing up, food was always the center of family night dinners, celebrations, and gatherings. I’ve always associated it with such a beautiful and positive thing that I felt super lucky to be able to find a career that was connected to food so closely!
Over the years, I am grateful that I found what I really love, which is teaching people how to cook for themselves and the ones they love – be it through TV, classes or books. I always say that I feel blessed to be able to have this huge microphone that allows me to connect to so many people and all through the love and passion I have for food!
Has cooking always been your passion?
I always say that I got my big break at 18 months old alongside my Nonna who would make me roll out pasta dough with her. It truly was something that I loved to do from such a young age. When I was a kid I would beg my mom to stay home with my grandmother because we would go to the market, or in her garden and prepare meals from the things we gathered. She was the one who really allowed me to be autonomous in the kitchen and try out new things. As Oprah once said, “Follow your thread” and when I look back and follow my thread, cooking has always been such a big part of me!
What are your favorite cuisines to prepare?
It would be hard for me not to gravitate towards Italian, it truly is what I know best! But I also love all Mediterranean cuisines because they all use the simplest most beautiful ingredients and transform them into something delicious!
On top of being a television personality, you’re also the founder and creator of the lifestyle website “Cooking With V,” which is dedicated in honor of your love and passion for food. Tell us more.
After going to culinary school, I decided that the day after I would e-mail the Food Network and put in the Subject line: YOUR NEXT FOOD NETWORK GEM! When I think back I am not too sure what I was thinking! But I ended up getting the best advice from the person who wrote back. She said we love you, but we need you to show us that you have a following. From there, I decided to work on the brand which I call CookingwithV today. It took two years and it was not easy, but I did it and I was blessed because I launched it on October 1st, 2014 and on October 2nd Gusto TV called me and asked me if I wanted to go for an audition. The rest is history!
Are you planning any new expansions?
In the next couple of years, I plan to write a couple of cookbooks and continue television because it is a job I just can never get enough of!
How do you come up with new cuisines?
I love to read and travel! These two things are what really inspire me to try new cuisines and put my spin own spin on it! I always say it takes me 15 minutes to book a flight to a destination, but it takes me 15 hours to research which restaurants I will be trying!
What are your favorite wine pairings with your cuisines?
One of my favorite wines is Amarone! It is rich in flavor and has cherry notes in it that go so well with pasta and meats. I have even enjoyed it with chocolate!
How has social media helped you spread the word about your career?
Social media is one of those things that IF used in the right way can be powerful and amazing! I love it because I can connect to people who are looking to see what I’m cooking up that night or it allows them to connect with me when they are having a cooking disaster! One of the tips that I can give to anyone using it is to always make sure that what you put out there you are doing for the right reasons. Intention is huge for me and I always ask myself if my intentions are right before posting something.
Are there any projects you’re working on that you can share?
YES! I am currently working with Gusto TV on a new cooking show! It is an exciting one and I cannot wait to share more details about it!
Could you share some inspiring words with aspiring chefs?
Do not listen to the noise around you. This industry is so cutthroat that you need to follow your heart and remain focused even though people around you may not be encouraging you! Stay true to YOU.
If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose this career? Would you do anything differently?
I am someone who would not change a thing, I live in the present, and would never turn back. I believe that everything happens for a reason.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
One of the things that people do not know about me is that I was studying to be a lawyer in university before making this big life change. I took the leap of faith and listened to the small voice inside and I did not stop until I got to where I wanted to be. Each day is another day to be better and I try to make each one count…it is all about seizing the moment!
Follow me on social media at @cookingwithv and visit my website at www.cookingwithv.com.
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