Chef Ric's

08/28/2026

Your student ID just became a lunch discount.

Back-to-school season brings enough expenses with it, so we’re helping make breakfast and lunch a little easier.

Students receive 10% off at Chef Ric’s with a valid student ID.

Whether you’re stopping in before class, grabbing lunch between lectures, or meeting up with friends, you can enjoy a fresh meal while keeping a little more in your budget.

Bring your student ID and stop by either Chef Ric’s location to save 10%

08/26/2026

Summer isn’t done with us yet.🌞

There’s still time to enjoy lunch outside before September routines settle in.

Our patio is open, so if you’re nearby, stop by Chef Ric’s, grab lunch and make the most of the sunshine while it lasts.

Sometimes the best part of the workday is simply getting outside for a little while.

08/24/2026

This plate represents months of work.

Students in The Food Services Training Program recently completed their final practical cooking examination, putting their training to the test through technique, timing, organization and presentation.

The finished dish is only part of the story. Behind it are months of hands-on learning, repetition, problem-solving and growing confidence in the kitchen.

Reaching the final practical is an important milestone, and we’re proud of the progress our students have made as they prepare for their next steps in the culinary industry.

08/21/2026

Some of the best work happens because people keep showing up for each other.

Behind every event, service and opportunity are people working together, students gaining experience, chefs sharing their knowledge, team members keeping things moving and partners helping make it possible.

Moments like this are a reminder that none of it happens alone.

We’re grateful for everyone who teaches, encourages, collaborates and helps create opportunities for people to learn and grow.

Thank you for being part of The Ottawa Mission Chef Ric’s community.💙

08/19/2026

Some lessons only make sense when the room is full.

Catering events give students in The Food Services Training Program (FSTP) the chance to experience something a classroom can’t fully recreate: timing, teamwork, presentation, communication and the pace of serving real guests.

Working alongside the experienced Chef Ric's team, students help prepare and present food while learning what it takes to keep service moving when every detail matters.

These moments are more than event experience. They’re part of building the confidence and professional habits students will carry into their culinary careers

08/18/2026

What an awesome feature to be part of! 😊
We were so happy to see Chef Ric’s included in Apt613 latest Best Bites in Ottawa, alongside Casa Verde Latin Kitchen and La La Noodles.

Thank you to Apt613 for stopping by and sharing some love for Ottawa’s local food community.

Every meal enjoyed at Chef Ric’s also helps support training, employment, and meals through The Ottawa Mission .

Take a look at the full feature below 👇

📍Best Bites in Ottawa this week - three spots that are definitely worth checking out this summer:

- Self described as “plantain-powered,” Casa Verde’s menu does feature the versatile fruit in nearly every item, giving us the opportunity to try it in all its glorious forms.🥑The Verde Platter with perfectly crispy and succulent pork belly and the saucy Loaded Patacon are must-haves.✔️
thewayofthenoodle - on George Street made huge waves when they first opened for their hand pulled traditional Chinese noodles a few years ago.🍜While the hot dishes are what they are known for, we found a perfectly refreshing Thai noodle salad in the middle of a heatwave during a sweltering summer, that was bursting with freshness and flavour.✔️

- has two locations downtown, built on the social enterprise model that is helping our neighbours gain skills and independence, while also serving up hot, tasty meals starting at only $7.99 for lunch and dinner!🍟 A recent fish & chips lunch at the YMCA location has made our Best Bites list for its crispiness, freshness and shocking affordability.✔️

Have you already been here?👀 Let us know where else we need to try in the comments!

Read the whole piece at the link in our bio🔗

📝: Kiersten Vuorimaki
📸:

08/17/2026

Bluesfest. Four summers. One very busy kitchen.
For the fourth year in a row, Chef Ric’s had the privilege of serving as the catering team for the VIP tents and backstages at Ottawa Bluesfest.

While the music was happening just outside, our team was busy preparing, plating and serving food for guests throughout the festival. From individually prepared bites to full platters ready for service, events like Bluesfest bring together everything our catering team does best: planning, teamwork, timing and a lot of attention to the food leaving the kitchen.

We’re proud to have been part of one of Ottawa’s biggest summer traditions again this year and grateful for the team that made it happen. Planning an event of your own? Send us a message to learn more about Chef Ric’s catering

08/14/2026

Before the final plate, there’s a final test.

Students in The Food Services Training Program are putting months of learning into practice during their final practical cooking examination.

It’s a chance to demonstrate the skills they’ve been building throughout their training from preparation and timing to technique, organization, presentation, and working with confidence in a professional kitchen environment.

This evaluation is about more than one dish. It’s about showing how far they’ve come and how ready they are to take what they’ve learned into the next stage of their culinary journey.

Stay tuned we’ll be sharing the final dishes our students created as part of their practical examination.

08/12/2026

Sometimes the lesson that sticks isn’t the one on the schedule.
One of the most valuable parts of The Food Services Training Program is the chance for students to learn from people who have spent years working in professional kitchens.

Guest chefs, instructors, and industry professionals bring techniques, stories, standards, and real-world perspectives that can completely change how someone approaches their craft.

Those moments help students connect what they’re learning in the kitchen with what will be expected of them in the workplace. It’s one more way FSTP helps emerging culinary professionals build confidence before taking their next step into the industry.

08/10/2026

What employers see in five minutes took months to build.

The Food Services Training Program (FSTP) gives students the chance to develop real workplace skills through hands-on experience in a commercial kitchen. That means learning how to prep efficiently, communicate with a team, work safely, stay organized, and keep pace when the kitchen gets busy. Those skills matter because many of our emerging culinary professionals are preparing for externship placements across Ottawa.

This is the part that happens before the résumé reaches an employer: repetition, discipline, confidence, and a lot of practice. We’re proud of how far they’ve come and excited for what comes next.