Since the School’s beginning in 1983, our intensive, entrepreneurial program has provided grads like Mike a solid foundation to pursue opportunities in diverse areas of the Hospitality, Food and Beverage industry, and beyond!
Congratulations to Stratford Chefs School Alumnus Mike Lurz (Class of 2009) (pictured above centre), who recently joined The Local Community Food Centre in Stratford as the new Community Chef and Volunteer Coordinator. After more than a decade working in restaurants and running his own food business in Kitchener-Waterloo, Mike now leads the community meals program. In these very challenging times, Mike has led the kitchen and volunteer team at The Local in preparing and distributing approximately 700 meals per week to the community, through safe parking lot pick-up and delivery.
A professional chef for over a decade, Mike believes that using the best possible ingredients is as important as how and why we cook them. He has worked in the kitchens of restaurants such as Bijou and The Common in Stratford, and most recently owned, operated, and was chef for Breadbaron Sandwiches, inside downtown Kitchener’s farmers’ market.
Read Mike’s 5 steps to make a great sandwich!
Mike Lurz
Stratford Chefs School, Class of 2009
About The Local:
More than good food | The Local Community Food Centre in Stratford, Ontario, empowers those with barriers to accessing and benefiting from good healthy food by offering opportunities to cook, grow, share, and advocate for good food for everyone in our community. The problems of poverty and food insecurity are approached as justice issues rather than acts of charity, knowing that access to good food is central to health and should be treated as a basic right. The Local‘s programs empower people to advocate for themselves and assists them in building kitchen and gardening skills that help alleviate their food insecurity in a dignified and non-stigmatizing way. While their emphasis is on empowering our low-income neighbours, the whole community is welcome to access The Local‘s services and programs to promote connectedness and enhance belonging as we work together to build a stronger, more resilient community for everyone.
