Chef Grace Di Fede, a proud honors graduate of the George Brown College Culinary Arts - Italian Program (2001), passed away on January 22, 2024 after a brave and courageous 2.5 year long battle with stage 4 Neuroendocrine Cancer. She was 44 years old.
An exceptional talent, Grace enrolled at George Brown College, where she was able to merge her artistic and culinary skills, further igniting her passion for food. In her second year of studies, she was accepted into the externship program and spent a semester working abroad in Marsala, Sicily. She learned many details about the fast-paced restaurant industry and applied those skills to kick off her culinary career in Toronto.
During her impressive 18+ years as a Chef, Grace worked for several hotel chains like The Hilton and The Sheraton Hotel. She then held positions as Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine, and Executive Sous Chef with the InterContinental Hotel Toronto Centre. In her last role, she had reached the career title of Corporate Executive Chef in April of 2021, working for GoCart.city, by Primo Jardin. In addition to her experience, she received several accolades, most notably the Chef de Cuisine Certification (CCC), sanctioned by the Canadian Culinary Federation - one of the highest achievements for a Canadian Chef.
To say Grace was passionate about food and cooking was an understatement. She lived, breathed and even dreamt about food! Determined not to let her diagnosis limit her passion and abilities, she continued to document mouthwatering recipes and bring these dishes to life with her sous chef mother by her side. She went on to publish and sell 2 cookbooks with the help and support of her loving family.
To honour Grace’s memory at George Brown College, a scholarship has been created in her name. This scholarship will support students enrolled in the Chef School at the Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, who exude academic excellence and a passion for food just as Grace did. Carrying on her legacy of culinary achievement and perseverance, we hope that this scholarship will help young chefs feel proud of their hard work and accomplishments.
100% of your donation will go to George Brown College students, no processing fees or administration fees will be applied to your gift. You will receive a tax receipt by email for donations made over $20.
For additional information, please contact Gabriella Goutam at the George Brown College Foundation at gabriella.goutam@georgebrown.ca or 416-415-5000 ext. 3289.Thank you for your generous support.
