Chef Adam Shannon is Head Chef at Cactus Club Café. Born and raised in Kelowna, he returned to the Okanagan after spending 15 years in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
His culinary career began in 2005 as a dishwasher where he fell in love with the industry, the atmosphere and ultimately decided to pursue it as a career.
Adam is first time father to a three-month old son and is loving every minute with him and is looking forward to teaching him about cooking and gardening.
What is your favourite locally-sourced food?
With the long list of options we have available to us here in the Okanagan, my #1 favourite is simple – apples!
My family has an apple orchard in Oliver and there is nothing more I love than walking through the rows of trees and picking a fresh ripe apple and eating it right there.
If you were a vegetable, what would you be?
If I were a vegetable I believe I would be kale – strictly based on the fact that I eat so much of it I am surprised I haven’t turned into it yet! I use Kale daily in smoothies, salads, sautéed as a side dish, in tomato sauce, curry – it is so versatile and can be added to almost anything to add delicious flavour, bright colour or an awesome crunch!
What’s something you’ve learned from Chefs in the Classroom?
I know that Chefs in the Classroom is all about the kids and teaching them edible education, however I take so much away from the program and learn so much about myself during every session. I never knew how much I actually enjoyed teaching the youth and sharing my passion with them.
Do you have a favourite kid-friendly recipe you’d like to share?
My favourite kid-friendly recipe is Make Your Own Pizza night. Whether you make your own dough or use a store bought it’s an awesome time for kids to get involved with the process from start to finish. It is often the first time kids are allowed and encouraged to explore their creative side in their food and given a change to make their own meal.
What makes volunteering with Chefs in the Classroom awesome?
Everything about it! This program has helped me learn so much about myself, contribute to my community, meet so many new amazing people and feel like I have a chance to give back through my career which is a very fulfilling experience.
Anything else you’d like to share with the class?
I look forward to a time when we are able to be back in the classrooms and working through the recipes side by side. Thank you so much to Debbie and the Chefs in the Classroom team for your endless work and making this program a success!