The Author's Page

Caren McSherry’s professional training began at the Cordon Bleu in London, England. Her culinary education continued throughout the world, including the Culinary Institute of America, The Thai Cooking School in Bangkok, Japanese Food Art in Tokyo as well as work opportunities with various hotel chefs around the globe.

In 1978 she founded Caren’s Cooking School, which now is one of Canada’s longest running, privately owned schools. In addition to teaching, she hosts The Sunday Morning cooking 101 and “Ask An Expert” on GLOBAL TV’S weekend news. She is a regular guest with The Bill Good Program on CKNW/98 and writes a weekly column for TV Week magazine.

She wrote and published her first cookbook, “Vancouver Cooks” in 1990, and has co-authored 3 more Canadian Best Sellers with female colleague chefs, called “The Girls Who Dish.” “More Than Salt & Pepper” celebrates 25 years of spicing up the kitchen, published by Whitecap Books, and just-released “In a Pinch” published by Whitecap, would mark number 6.

She has created and prepared the launch dinner of the Napa Valley Wine Auction for Flora Springs Winery, a 9-course meal for 100 in the newly opened caves of the prestigious Napa winery.

Caren’s love of good food inspired the innovative concept of, “THE GOURMET WAREHOUSE.” The first store of its kind in Canada to offer gourmet specialty foods, kitchenware and supplies at substantial savings everyday to the public, it’s success has been runaway.

Dedicated to helping others in the business, she co-founded the BC Chapter of Les Dames D’Escoffier, an international organization that promotes the professionalism of women in the culinary industry. A true believer in giving back, Caren supports more than 20 charities that hold children as the benefactors. THE CHOCOLATE CHALLENGE is a joint charity effort with Callebaut/Cacao Barry to foster not only imaginative recipes dedicated to chocolate, but at the same time giving the proceeds to the Strathcona Backpack Program in the hood.

Caren has recently been inducted into the BC RESTAURANT HALL OF FAME, and has been included in Business in Vancouver’s top 25 preforming businesses in British Columbia owned by women. Her professional life balances itself with her adult children; daughter Christina and son Jason.