The Waterford senior living community is pleased to welcome the newest member of the BriaCuisine™ team in South Delta, Matthew Baryluk.
Trained on the East Coast
Originally from the East Coast, Matthew attended St. Francis University where he received a BA in Political Science. While going to university, he spent his summers working in the hospitality industry, which is when he decided he wanted to become a Chef. In 2005 Matt graduated from Nova Scotia Community College with a Diploma in Culinary Arts. He followed this by obtaining his Red Seal in 2014.
Shifting to Retirement Communities
Throughout Matthew’s career, he has worked in many fine-dining restaurants on the East Coast, receiving mentorship from two excellent Nova Scotia chefs: Brad Wammes and Jay Stuckless. He moved to the West Coast in 2012 to continue with his culinary career. In 2016, he started work as an Executive Chef within a senior living retirement community in Metro Vancouver.
Inspired by his Grandmother
Matt was inspired to cook as a child in Sidney, Nova Scotia, by his Grandmother Blanche. Now, as he works with his team to prepare delicious meals for seniors, she is always on his mind. “I think about how I’m cooking for someone like my Grandma,” says Matt. “I think about what she liked and what she expected.”
“The most important thing is that residents feel like their opinions matter,” he says as he describes his resident-first approach to running his kitchen. “They like to know their voice is heard, and I value their input.”
Executive Chef at The Waterford in Tsawwassen
The Waterford GM, Matthew Jackson, has high confidence in Chef Matt’s ability to handle the role. “The Waterford has both independent senior retirement living and a Licensed Care Centre, so there are a lot of demands on the chef and his team,” he notes. “Residents have high expectations of meals that are home-cooked, fresh, and delicious. At the same time, we must meet the requirements of our Registered Dietician and the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. Chef Matt has a reputation for running a kitchen smoothly and producing delicious food; he’s an excellent addition to our team and will be a BriaCuisine™ champion.”
Outside of work, Matthew’s life is centred around his wife, also a Chef and two-year-old daughter. Their favourite meal to cook at home is pasta and fresh seafood. Matt is a costal-dweller at heart, and the move to Tsawwassen brings him back close to the ocean.
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