Announcing the winners of the 2025 foodism ICON Awards

It’s been another milestone year for Toronto’s food scene. The Michelin Guide returned with fresh stars and a changing of the guard, including a different restaurant laying claim to the GTA’s only two-star crown. The inaugural edition of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants North America also shone a spotlight on the city, with three local dining rooms breaking into the top tier.

And it wasn’t just food — Toronto’s mixology credentials hit the global stage as the city hosted the 2025 World Class Global Final, the world’s most prestigious cocktail competition, where top bartenders from around the globe faced off in high-pressure challenges. Through it all, Toronto’s hospitality heavyweights did what they do best: opening bold new restaurants, refining beloved favourites and serving up dynamic menus the length and breadth of the province.

The annual foodism ICON Awards returns for its second year to celebrate the talent behind it all. Across 10 categories, we honour the chefs, bartenders, restaurateurs and innovators pushing the city’s dining and hospitality culture forward. Let’s raise a glass to this year’s winners, and to this incredible city we call home.

CULINARY ICON

The chef known for consistently making inventive and authentic dishes we crave.

Winner: Zach Smith

Executive chef & co-owner, Fat Rabbit, Les Incompetents

Zach Smith has already made a significant impact in St. Catharines with Fat Rabbit, which has earned national recognition and gained a Michelin Guide recommendation. His newest venture, Les Incompétents — a French-inspired concept which recently opened in St. Catharines — continues Smith’s ethos of ethical sourcing and creative boldness, marrying food, wine and cocktails in a space that nods to French tradition but is Canadian, through and through.

Smith isn’t just opening restaurants; he’s redefining the culinary landscape in his region with a commitment to humanely raised meats and a willingness to push boundaries. Smith’s commitment to excellence has not only strengthened the local food scene but has also drawn new attention to the region.

INNOVATION ICON

The hospitality guru who is pushing our industry forward and making it more dynamic.

Winner: Chris Bryson

Founder and CEO, New School Foods

Chris Bryson knows a thing or two about seeing the future. After selling his first company, Unata, to Instacart, he turned his attention — and his own investment — to alternative proteins. Frustrated by the industry’s lack of breakthroughs, he funded six university research projects. One hit the jackpot, and Bryson ran with it, founding New School Foods to bring the innovation to market.

Today, his startup is at the cutting edge of sustainable protein, reimagining how we eat in a world that desperately needs plant-based solutions. It’s not just theory anymore — New School’s potato protein salmon is turning heads on menus across Toronto, from Stefano’s Diner to One Restaurant, giving diners a taste of what the future of food could look like.

MIXOLOGY ICON

The bartender renowned for shaking up creativity and innovation with every sip.

Winner: Hugo Togni

Founder, Mirabelle Consulting; Co-founder, Bar Pompette

At Toronto’s Bar Pompette, cocktails aren’t just drinks — they’re stories told in liquid form. The chief storyteller was Hugo Togni, a mixologist with a deep respect for the classics and an artist’s flair for invention. His menus shimmer with elegance and originality, often built around seasonal, locally sourced ingredients that ground each sip in a time and place.

During his time with the team, Bar Pompette has earned international acclaim, landing on North America’s 50 Best Bars list and cementing its reputation as one of the continent’s top cocktail destinations. Now moving on from the bar he helped create, Togni remains a driving force in Canadian mixology, exploring new projects and mentoring the next generation while continuing to set the national standard.

RISING STAR ICON

The chef who is lighting up the dining scene and creating the menus of tomorrow.

Winner: Eva Chin

Culinary director, Hong Shing

Chef Eva Chin has a gift for turning tradition on its head — and winning accolades while she’s at it. As culinary director for Hong Shing, she oversees Yan Dining Room, which has been recognized among Canada’s best new restaurants. With numerous industry honours highlighting her creativity and leadership, Chin has carved out her place as one of the country’s most exciting culinary voices.

At Yan Dining Room, she honours traditional Chinese cooking techniques while utilizing fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Her food is innovative yet rooted, personal yet expansive, with flavours that push the boundaries of Asian cuisines in Canada. We look forward to seeing what she’s cooking up next.

WINE ICON

The wine expert who is inspiring vino lovers and shaping the industry.

Winner: Christopher Sealy

Wine director, Alo; Founder, Parcelle Wine Studio

If wine is a conversation, Christopher Sealy is one of its most captivating speakers. As wine director at Toronto’s Michelin-starred Alo, he curates a program that’s as thoughtful as it is acclaimed, earning him the 2022 Michelin Sommelier Award. His exceptional pairings elevate an already renowned menu, but Sealy doesn’t stop at Alo’s tables — he shares his expertise in publications like Quench, and through Parcelle Wine Studio, the new platform he launched to bring wine lovers together.

From intimate dinners to salon-style tastings, he creates spaces where food, culture and wine intersect. With a glass in hand and a story to tell, Sealy is redefining what wine culture looks like in Canada.

SUSTAINABILITY ICON

An eco-conscious leader who is inspiring us to do and care more for our planet.

Winner: Charlotte Langley

Founder and CEO, Nice Cans; VP Brand Development and Marketing, Fieldless

Charlotte Langley has always been ahead of the curve, and now she’s making sustainability downright delicious. As the founder of Nice Cans, she’s breathing new life into tinned seafood, elevating it into a premium product that celebrates responsibly sourced, traceable ingredients.

At Fieldless, she’s helping rewrite the rules of agriculture with local, indoor-grown produce that cuts down food miles and waste. Langley’s approach blends the practical with the poetic: championing the planet while creating food that sparks joy. Whether she’s reimagining farming or redefining what ‘canned’ means, she proves that sustainability isn’t a compromise — it’s the future.

DEI ICON

The individual who puts diversity, equity and inclusion at the core of their business.

Winner: Mohamad Fakih

Founder and CEO, Paramount Fine Foods

When Mohamad Fakih arrived in Canada as an immigrant, he probably never imagined he’d build one of the country’s largest Middle Eastern food empires. As CEO of Paramount Fine Foods, he’s done exactly that, but his true legacy extends far beyond delicious shawarma and hummus.

Fakih, now an appointed Member of the Order of Canada, has redefined what leadership looks like in Canadian hospitality, weaving compassion and inclusion into the very DNA of his business. His kitchens and dining rooms open doors for newcomers, refugees and marginalized groups who are often overlooked. Outside the company, he’s an outspoken champion for anti-racism, interfaith understanding and community empowerment.

LOCAL ICONS

The ambassadors who are committed to showcasing the best of Ontario’s bounty.

Winner: Ricky Casipe, Olivia Simpson and Adrian Proszowski

Co-owners, Ricky + Olivia

The team behind Ricky + Olivia — Ricky Casipe, Olivia Simpson and Adrian Proszowski — have become champions of Ontario’s culinary identity, showcasing local producers and winemakers with creativity and respect. Their seasonal menus and curated all-Ontario wine program celebrate the province’s terroir, highlighting relationships with farmers, foragers and vintners.

Whether hosting pop-ups or collaborating with community partners through their Meet the Makers series, they make local food and wine approachable, exciting and deeply rooted in place. With a passion for storytelling through ingredients, the trio exemplifies what it means to build a cuisine of belonging and proves that supporting local is not just a choice but a community builder.

MENTORSHIP ICON

The hospitality leader committed to educating and raising the next generation.

Winner: Cheryl Appleton

Founder, Canadian Women in Food

Cheryl Appleton has dedicated her career to opening doors for others and showing what’s possible when mentorship leads the way. Known for her sharp business instincts and fearless advocacy, she is the founder of Canadian Women in Food, a national community she created to amplify the voices of women entrepreneurs and expand opportunities across the industry. What began as a way to bring people together has grown into a powerful network that champions collaboration, visibility and growth for women who are serious about food, from makers and chefs to producers and executives.

Through CWIF, Appleton has built platforms for connection and exposure, from pitch events to industry partnerships, ensuring women gain access to the opportunities they deserve. Along the way, she has sparked success stories like Lazy Daisy’s line of buttermilk biscuits and GoodPud, both of which landed on a Dragon’s Den–style stage. Her mentees aren’t just thriving in leadership roles and launching companies — they’re carrying forward the same spirit of generosity she’s modelled.

LEGENDARY ICON

The iconic culinary champion with a long-standing contribution to the Ontario food scene.

Winner: Jen Agg

Owner, General Public, Bar Vendetta, Grey Gardens & more

There’s no talking about Canadian dining without mentioning Jen Agg. From pioneering restaurants like The Black Hoof to her newest venture, General Public, Agg has consistently reshaped the industry with her bold vision and relentless pursuit of excellence. Beyond the dining room, she is a trailblazer for equity and accountability, using her platform to advocate unflinchingly for better working conditions and a more inclusive culture in hospitality. Fearless, outspoken, and always ahead of the curve, Agg’s impact extends far beyond her own venues. She is a true legend whose legacy and voice continues to shape Canadian dining.