Cedar Feast House Catering Ltd

Good day I would like to introduce myself as Chef Theresa Contois. I am a part of the First Nation of Turtle Island, a direct descendant of the Lakota Sioux with an ancestry of Anishnabe and Lakota origin. I took up the Culinary Arts Program at Vancouver Community College in January of 2008. I graduated top of my class and I followed that up by getting my hospitality management degree with a red seal certification from VCC.

I have always advocated that “Food is Medicine” and it is armed with this firm belief that I have started my own catering company - Cedar Feast House Catering, Ltd. What started as a small kitchen with one employee has turned into a bustling business with thirty employees. We are a 100% Indigenous owned catering company that has been operating since 2011. Our company primarily employs people with disabilities, women who need second chances, single mothers and Indigenous people.

Being indigenous, I believe that all things come from the great creator and that we all have a role to play in his design. We must honor him by being good stewards of his creation and not abusing the gifts we have been given. It is this cultural belief that brings about something unique that I believe my company can provide. Our food is best described as a fusion of Traditional Aboriginal Cooking with modern culinary techniques. Using traditional aboriginal ingredients such as salmon and bison as healthier alternatives that are lower in saturated fat and cholesterol we can offer cuisine that is both nutritious and delicious and at the same time honor our heritage and culture. We also believe that this fusion of two different ideologies brings about novelty and creates a lasting impact on our customers.

For the market location, our food trailer theme would be to provide food that can be enjoyed immediately after it has been prepared. With the advent of summertime having good weather we want to serve traditional comfort food such as burgers and tacos with an aboriginal twist. The comfort food is something that will resonate with customers from all ages like children, teenagers and adults. It is also food that can be enjoyed sitting down or by walking around the market with food in hand so the customers can enjoy the wonderful sights and make new experiences. This is a great way to share our culture and forge connections.