I came to Canada in May 1980 as a refugee from Vietnam. I started to work after 2 weeks in Calgary at Swiss Chalet Restaurant as a kitchen helper. After 7 months I got a new job at Marco restaurant, which belong to Westin Hotels. At that time my title was cook helper. In 1983 the recession in Alberta came, Marco restaurant’s leasing was going to expire and I decided to become an apprentice. I was fortunate that Executive Chef Fred Zimmerman accepted me. I worked all the areas of the kitchen and each year I spent 2 months at SAIT. I graduated at the end of 1986 and continued to work under Chef Zimmerman. In October 1989 I joined the culinary team at the Westin Hotels under Chef Zimmerman for a culinary competition held at the Stampede grounds and received a silver medal on my buffet platters. I then took a position with Westin Hotels in Orlando, after a year and a half I returned to Calgary and continued to work under Chef Zimmerman as a morning supervisor and quickly became Sous chef. In 1995 I accepted a new opportunity as banquet chef with the former Marlborough Inn, now Best Western Calgary Plaza, and become Executive Sous Chef. In 1998 I became the Executive Chef and have stayed on to this day. I am a proud member of the Canadian Federation of Chefs and Cooks. In my spare time I love fishing and to travel. I am married with a beautiful wide and have a pretty lovely daughter named Sophia who is now 8.