JOSHNA MAHARAJ
CHEF | FOOD ACTIVIST
Joshna Maharaj possesses a unique ability to inspire people from both sides of the dining table. She is equally talented a chef as she is a food activist with an authentic goal to improve everyone’s relationship with food. Joshna is unapologetic in her strong belief in chefs and social gastronomy to bring values of hospitality, sustainability and social justice to every dining table.
A powerful and engaging speaker, Joshna is a two-time TEDx speaker and oft-sought after voice for business spectrums of all genres. She hosts “Kitchen Helpdesk, a weekly food column on CBC Radio and also co-hosts a food podcast, “Hot Plate.”
In addition to supporting an array of food driven, community causes, Joshna also dedicates her time to educating post-secondary students and industry peers alike.
Joshna has just released her first book “Take Back the Tray” (ECW Press) about her work building new models for institutional food procurement, production and service. The book is a movement to reconnect food with health, wellness, education, and rehabilitation in public institutions around the globe. It is a passionate story about how a chef tried to disrupt the institution in hopes for systemic change.
Joshna has represented and produced notable work for major brands and be seen highlighted on mainstream medium from editorials on Chatelaine to the critically-acclaimed national program Fridge Wars.
"Hospitality allows us to see each other's humanity. Our relationship with food is about staying alive. For me, the honour of being a cook is connecting people to this life force. " - Joshna Maharaj
Joshna speaks in Ireland at the 2018 Food on the Edge conference on rethinking institutionalized food.
Craft beer and Sensory expert Mirella Amato and Chef-activist Joshna Maharaj turn over current trends, news, controversies, tastes, and tactics of the food and beverage world.
Chatelaine takes a peek into Joshna's kitchen in their Kitchen Crashers series
Chef and food activist Joshna Maharaj is passionate about using food to combat climate change and get us more connected to the world around us. Joshna joined the Ontario climate action movement because she believes that together we can build a cleaner future
In Joshna's second TEDX talk, she takes the audience through her personal journey with food, educating them on how to connect with food in a wholesome, sustainable, and raw manner. She teaches them how to have a personal relationship with food, in a way that benefits themselves and the community.
