Christine Catering Co Inc

Her culinary talents began long before Christine Irvine opened her namesake business, Christine Catering Company, in Port Moody. Born in Alsace, France, Christine got a taste of what it was like to cook for a lot of people early in life, preparing meals for her parents and seven siblings.

Growing up in a large family, Christine learned how to cook from her mother; her recipes were always from scratch and with natural ingredients. She was taught the importance of economically mastering the traditional staples — everything from bread, pâté and sausages to chocolate cake. (Merguez sausages remain one of her go-to favourites).

A Red Seal chef, Christine cut her teeth at such beloved Vancouver eateries like The Cannery, Joe Fortes, Bridges and CinCin before changing into a chef's jacket with her own logo. "People started asking me to do parties for them and it just grew from there," says Christine. "I started out renting commercial kitchens and opened Christine Catering Company in 2003.