Anna Olson keynote speaker

Celebrity chef Anna Olson is host of Food Network Canada’s Bake with Anna Olson, following on the heels of the successful series, Sugar and Fresh with Anna Olson all of which have aired in 40 countries worldwide.

She has authored seven bestselling cookbooks including her most recent, Back to Baking. Two of these books were written with her husband Michael, a well-noted chef and culinary instructor and together they have recently launched the Olson Recipe Generator App for iPad, iPhone, Android and Blackberry with critical acclaim.

While originally born in Atlanta, Georgia, Anna grew up in Toronto. Olson earned a degree in political studies and sociology from Queen’s University in Kingston. She also worked for a time in a bank in downtown Toronto. During her lunch breaks, Olson wandered the St. Lawrence Market searching for different ingredients and inspiration for her next dinner party. Olson then enrolled in the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Colorado. Upon her graduation from the university, Olson traveled across the United States. She would eventually find her way to Niagara Falls. She is proud to call Niagara home and has lived and cooked here for 15 years.

Originally trained in the world of savory cooking, Anna is equally recognized for her abilities in the pastry kitchen, and values cooking with locally-sourced ingredients.

Anna’s culinary philosophy is based on a common-sense approach of cooking and baking with the seasons as well as respecting the ingredients, the technique and the process of sharing with others through food. Most of all, cooking and baking should be fun!