If you've turned on the TV and watched shows like Top Chef or if you've travelled through Calgary in recent years, you've heard about Connie and John - and/or their restaurants CHARCUT Roast House, charbar with The Rooftop . DeSousa was a finalist at the Top Chef Canada contest on Food Network Canada. DeSousa attended Canadian schools. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?In a general sense, Id like to be a role model for young women in this industry. Four years ago we implemented a new scheduling system in our restaurants to give all of our cooks three consecutive days off at CHARCUT Roast House and created a more balanced lifestyle for our teams. And others, in a good way. And despite his attitude at times, I will admit I melt as hes reunited with his son after hes declared the winner. Working internationally, staging at well- known restaurants around the world, mastering nose-to-tail butchery, cultivating relationships with farmers and artisan producers, and challenging the social norms of women in the professional kitchen Connie has dedicated countless hours to her craft. Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. She was one of only three women out of 16 competitors who were selected to take part. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Graduating from the top of her culinary class, she met her mentor, John Jackson, and instantly she knew they had a partnership for life. Connie Desousa. Please try again. ^Note 2: Although in the bottom, Chris had won immunity in the quickfire challenge, so he was not eligible to be eliminated. They know the place Cal, Regardless, Jackson says it wasnt long before he was learning as much from DeSousa as she learned from him. We encountered an issue signing you up. Then she selects Perrin to work with Rossi and puts together former roommates MacKay and Gallagher. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. My earliest influence came from my parents. Now shes one of three women turning up the heat on Top Chef Canada. DeSousas age is estimated at 31 years as of 2023. knife, which gave him automatic immunity for the Elimination Challenge and exempted him from participating in the Quickfire Challenge. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Connie is happily married to Jean Francois Beeroo. Join Facebook to connect with Connie Desouza and others you may know. The women, they need to stick together. Influenced by working at Chez Panisse in California, with Alice Waters at the helm, Connie's cooking focuses on locally grown food, nose-to . But the Top Chef Canada finalist is also a fan of lesser-known cuts that are usually more affordable than their popular counterparts. . Click here formore interviews and storiesfromthe women who took part. Connie Sousa in California. The four partners are into their third year with Charcut and have garnered an impressive list of awards over that time, including a number six position on enRoute Magazines top new restaurants in Canada in 2010 and DeSousas finishing in the top three on Top Chef Canada in 2011. Chef DeSousa began her culinary career after earning a Le Cordon Bleu Paris certificate in Ottawa and graduating on the Deans List with honors from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Culinary program. An avid runner, Connie recently completed the NYC marathon and achieved her personal best as she sprinted across the finish line. DeSousa feels especially bullish on the East Village, where she now has two restaurants. Please read our Commenting Policy first. Facebook gives people the power. Her body measurements are 34-25-35 inches. View the profiles of people named Connie DeSousa. Therefore she has a mixed ethnicity. native Jean Francois Beeroo, while Jackson is married to Carrie and is father to their baby girl, Frances. Press alt+ /to open this menu Facebook Email or phone Password Forgot account? . Then came another opportunity in California: a stint with Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley. I remember really taking a serious interest in this class; often studying harder for it than the rest of my academics. Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites. Connie DeSousa is feeling confident about Calgarys economic future and Calgarians spending habits. The Rules To Building The Perfect Sandwich, FDL+ Im just as uncomfortable watching the last three chefs in the pantry/waiting area sweating it out. My mom is Irish-Canadian and my dad is Portuguese, so Id have amazing lamb stews and soda bread one night, then a seafood dish with fermented red-pepper sauce the next. $48k AVERAGE INCOME Our wealth data indicates income average is $48k. Its a constant adrenalin rush. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. At the peak of her career, Connie will continue to challenge herself to achieve new goals and continue to be inspired by the food and community that surround us all. Cooking was infused into a young Connie as was her love for sausage making and large family get-togethers where food was what brought them around the table. He saw my competitive edge and inspired me to compete in my first culinary competition. Born in Canada, Connies father is Artur Jos de Sousa. Hes not just fancy pants, hes cranky pants. I plan sharing a few of the tricks Ive learned throughout my years of competing and coach him on public speaking skills and presentation to help him strive to be a great Canadian ambassador. Now, a mother, co-owner of several successful restaurants and businesses, mentor to young chefs and women in the industry, as well as a fitness advocate, and community ambassador, Connies success relies on finding absolute balance. We have a lot of new retail and food and beverage development in the East Village and we are excited for more to come., READ MORE: She is much more than just a chef and restaurateur. Namely, the pork-centric challenge. WINNER: Black Team. Updated September 27, 2016, Connie DeSousa "Anger greets 'Top Chef' episode featuring horse meat", "Vancouver chef Dale MacKay named Top Chef Canada winner", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Top_Chef_Canada_(season_1)&oldid=1139692643, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Guest Judge: Julia Rogers (Elimination Challenge). While Charcut's Connie DeSousa did not claim the title of Top Chef Canada losing out to Vancouver's Dale MacKay in the final challenge her stint on Food Network Canada's top-rated . The Grand Finale of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef cooking competition will now take place in Milan, from 28-30 October, 2021. Countless speaking engagements have taken Connie and her partner all over the world, representing Canada on the larger culinary stage, promoting our regional cuisine, history and culinary traditions. The culinary world is evolving and adapting to a more responsible and sustainable lifestyle. If youre craving comfort food, what do you make in your kitchen?I always keep my fridge well stocked with unpasteurized and stinky cheeses. What will fill the big mall vacancies left behind? The Elimination Challenge is a more complex challenge that determines who goes home. The first season of the Canadian reality competition show Top Chef Canada was broadcast on Food Network in Canada. Chef Connie DeSousa took third place on Top Chef Canada. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. In the first season, 16 chefs competed against each other in weekly challenges. I was the only woman among seven guysand I beat them all. FDL+ Username. St. Joseph Communications uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. Connie is driven to succeed. She was born in 1992. I got into competing early in my career, signing up with Team Alberta. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. What qualities do you need to succeed in the industry?So many people want to be executive chefs right out of culinary school, or to become these Food Network stars, but in reality its a very cutthroat environment. Cookbook', David Ljungqvist: "Spread the knowledge of Sustainability". Rafael is an incredible chef and culinarian. She has also worked in Taku Restaurant in Koln, Germany, helped open the Mobil 5-Star St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco, and trained and staged at restaurants including three-Michelin-Star restaurant Jean Georges and Chef Michael Tusks Quince Restaurant. Photo courtesy Food Network Canada. Skirt steak, from a cows diaphragm, is one example of a butchers cut going mainstream. Francois pulled a "Hog Wild!" But neither of the boys are best at barbecue as the judges give the win to DeSousa for her Rickards white chorizo burgers with chutney and Rickards dark back ribs. We definitely hope to start a family, but were so busy, especially with our plans for expanding the restaurant. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Portuguese Canadian Chef, Connie DeSousa, was a finalist at the Top Chef Canada contest on the Food Network Canada. Connie DeSousa is the co-executive chef and co-owner of upscale Charcut Roast House in downtown Calgary, open in 2010. Like many couples who have been together for a long time, Connie DeSousa and John Jackson disagree about the exact date their paths first crossed. I think theres a certain culinary touch that women have and men dont, and its important to draw that out. It was recently named by enRoute Magazine as one of Canadas Best New Restaurants in 2010. In the 2019-2021 edition of S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, for the first time the S.Pellegrino Award for Social Responsibility was awarded to the signature dish that was able to show that principles of sustainability enhance food. Born in Canada, Connie DeSousa is a Canadian chef, reality TV star, and entrepreneur. She is one of Canadas most celebrated female chefs with both an empathetic, yet fierce, approach to her work, life and fitness. Statistics for all 12 Connie Desousa results: 63 yrs AVERAGE AGE 62% are in their 60s, while the average age is 63. We can now work together as co-chefs. At the start, one of her goals was also to show women can perform just as well in the male-dominated culinary industry -something she feels she accomplished during her time on Top Chef Canada. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. If youre after something tender, sort of like a filet mignon, you might want to try the cheaper alternative to this costly cut: the petite tender. How do you integrate sustainability in your kitchen? 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What ignited your love of food?In Grade 10, I took my first food classit was a program to teach students about nutrition, but we touched on professional cooking as welland I fell in love with it. Seems a bit arrogant as he tells the judges he just couldnt convey himself in only three plates. But when I actually cook at home, it tends to be a lot of slow foodlong-braised meats, soups and stews. Then, in 2006, I was asked if I wanted to open the St. Regis hotel in San Francisco, which is where I eventually met my husband, Jean. Shes the hometown hero known for her charcuterie, not to mention her ability to debone a pigs head in under three minutes. At present, the occupation is Craftsman/Blue Collar. With meat scraps at home, DeSousa suggests using them to make meatloaf or bolognese because spending a lot at the butcher becomes a lot more economical if you make the most of what you get. Why did you turn your back on the barre?I started dancing when I was five, and it consumed a lot of my time, especially when I began competing. DeSousa is married to Mauritian native Jean Francois Beeroo, while Jackson is married to Carrie and is father to their baby girl, Frances. Straight out of culinary school, Connies competitive spirit was unstoppable taking her to Germany to compete in the World Culinary Olympics, then onto the prestigious Chane De Rotsseurs in South Africa, and most recently, Top Chef Canada: All Stars. Delivered a couple of times a week. Competitions challenge you, bring you out of your element and allow you to grow as a chef. I dont plan on leaving my work at the restaurant behind, though! Another business feeling optimistic about Calgarys recovery is the Alt Hotel, which opened this past winter. Over the winter, we were busier than I thought we would be, especially opening a hotel during the winter can be sometimes a bit difficult.. Chef Connie DeSousa (Photo credit: Colin Way). The chef from CHARCUT restaurant in Calgary has made her name in the industry mastering nose-to-tail butchery, cultivating relationships with farmers and artisan producers, and challenging the social . The spouses are also partners in Charcut, with Beeroo handling the service and Carrie, a lawyer, taking care of bookkeeping and legal matters. MacKay and DeSousa are all business, but Rossi is drinking more beer than hes putting into his dishes. Connie DeSousa is on Facebook. Copyright 2021 RedPoint Media Marketing Solutions. Menu. Connies ambition stems from her humble roots, growing up in an immigrant community in SE Calgary with her Irish mother and Portuguese father where cooking was infused into a young Connie as was her love for sausage making and large family get-togethers. Jean Beeroo is a Mauritian native. But now that weve kind of pulled through and come out of it, its really refreshing to see new restaurants opening up. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Full Name: Connie DeSousa Nationality: Canadian Gender: Female Age: 31 years old as of 2023 Date of Birth: 1993 Zodiac: Not Known Height: Not Known Weight: Not Known Marital Status: Married Husband: Jean Francois Beeroo Children: Under review Mother: Under review Father: Artur Jos de Sousa Siblings: Under review Salary: Under review Her mother is Irish-Canadian and has roots in the Azores. Speaker, TheBig Dish Interview. Connie is driven to succeed. Includes Address (10) Phone (2) Email (1) See Results. Chef Connie DeSousa, who co-own Calgary's Charcut Roast House and Charbar, is known for featuring prime cuts of meat at her two restaurants. With a final challenge that allowed him to do just that, he was able to put together a well-thought-out menu. Whats your proudest career moment?One of the biggest milestones happened in 2003, when I was competing in a national contest held by La Chane des Rtisseurs, a very reputable culinary organization that was founded in 1950. Its a big vision they have for the East Village and its coming along very nicely, Telford said. street, Ex-husband of Edmonton soldier who tried to kill their children plans to sue Canadian military, Milton, Ont. Want to discuss? The thrill is what drives me, and its so gratifying when I get a moment to look out into a room full of people eating my food and see a bunch of smiling, laughing faces. How did your parents react?They were disappointed. Each week of season one featured a guest judge or special guest, such as Dan Aykroyd, Susur Lee, Daniel Boulud, Rob Feenie, and recurring judge on the American version, Gail Simmons. The four partners are into their third year with Charcut and have garnered an impressive, Get Tickets to Avenues 2023 Best Restaurants Tasting Experience, 31 Best Things to Eat and Drink in Calgary 2022, Sign-up: Avenue Home & Shopping Newsletter. Save this content and enjoy it whenever you want. An avid runner, Connie recently completed the NYC marathon and achieved her personal best as she sprinted across the finish line. By Amy Grief There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. ^Note 3: Although in the bottom, Dustin had won immunity in the quickfire challenge, so he was not eligible to be eliminated. They know the place Calgarys Owls Nest restaurant in the Westin Hotel. I'd finally discovered my passion and knew what I wanted to do. Instead of throwing meat scraps or undesirable cuts in the trash, butchers and chefs strive to utilize the whole animal Charcut has mortadella made with pig head skin on its menu (apparently, its one of the restaurants most popular items). We also came up with an unusual mortadella dish flavoured with spices, truffles and pistachios. They wanted to see our true personalities, so what you see is pretty raw and authentic. Connie is a mentor to young chefs and women in the industry, an avid runner and fitness advocate, as well as, a community ambassador, reaching out to support many important social issues that . 2023 Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Albertas rate is stalled at 6.6 per cent. I was incredibly nervous and jittery on my first day, but once I started cooking, I got more comfortable. Rather than just being faux-meat, Mamu is different. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Biography. But some things do stick out. The first season of the Canadian reality competition show Top Chef Canada was broadcast on Food Network in Canada. Dale MacKay, who won over Toronto chef Rob Rossi (second place) and Calgary chef Connie DeSousa (third place), earned the title and a prize of $100,000, a GE Monogram kitchen worth $30,000 and the right to call [] Before you trained as a chef, you took ballet. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. #butcherscut #primerib #charbroil #rotisserie #smokers #charcuterie #albertabeef #eatlocalyyc, A post shared by charcut (@charcut) on Apr 14, 2017 at 4:59pm PDT. They know the reason DeSousa was placed as a SAIT apprentice under Jackson when he was the Owls Nests chef de cuisine. Delivered a couple of times a week. Updated May 9, 2011. Log In or Sign Up Connie de Sousa See Photos Connie De Sousa See Photos Connie Desousa See Photos Connie Desousa See Photos Download 'The Why Waste? Connie turned 52 years old. The Char in Charcut stands for the custom built Rotisserie and Charbroiler, while Cut stands for the vintage-style slicer and hand-crafted charcuterie eating bar, recently named by enRoute Magazine as one of Canadas Best New Restaurants in 2010. Its commonplace south of the border, but DeSousa doesnt think its as prevalent in Canada. It's going to be a sizzler! On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Downtown Calgary101, 899 Centre Street SWCalgary AB Canada403.984.2180, Curbside Pickup:Every day: 11am-10pmWeekends: 12pm-10pm. We cant fool Calgarians. My mom and dad are really great cooks too. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. [1] In the order eliminated: .mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}^Note 1: Eliminated by placing last in the Quickfire Challenge. Skirt steak works well in salad (with blue cheese dressing and crispy onions, according to DeSousa) or in tacos or fajitas. How important are competitions such as S. Pellegrino Young Chef Academyfor young chefs? I walked away with the relationships I built with (them).. The same advice I give to all young culinarians:travel while you can when you are not tied down with greater responsibilities. Then he gets miffed that Rossi is chugging beers with the judges. 75% MARRIED 75% of these people are married, and 25% are single. Join Facebook to connect with Connie DeSousa and others you may know. This was a real turning point for me. Find out how to prepare it and when it is best to serve it. Anyone can cook, but to be a great chef you need to be passionateit has to come from your heart, from your soul. Regardless, Jackson says it wasnt long before he was learning as much from DeSousa as she learned from him. I remember when I told my dad I wanted to quit, he said, If youre not going to be a dancer, youre going to be a flight attendant, which sounds funny, but I think after Id spent my childhood in Calgary, he wanted me to see the world. Connies ambition stemmed from her humble roots, growing up in Erin Woods community in SE Calgary with her Irish mother and Portuguese father who worked hard to achieve success. We asked Calgary's most prominent chef/restaurateur duo John Jackson and Connie DeSousa five questions to know them better. 154 records for A Desousa. Trending. Cooking was infused into a young Connie as was her love for sausage making and large family get-togethers where food was what brought them around the table. But you realize early on whether youre going to be a prima ballerina or not, and I knew I wouldnt be one. What was Chez Panisse like?In every restaurant, it all depends on whos running the kitchen. Her empathetic, yet fierce, approach to her work allow her to strike balance, stay driven and defy the odds of women in the professional kitchen.