Chef Darren MacLean is one of Canada’s most acclaimed and outspoken chefs, restaurateurs and environmental advocates. MacLean is recognised for his national award-winning restaurants SHOKUNIN (2015), NUPO (2020) and EIGHT (2020). Most Notably MacLean is known as a finalist on the hit Netflix series THE FINAL TABLE as the only Canadian contender he brought his love of “Canadiana” and opened doors for Canadian chefs everywhere.

MacLean is passionate about sustainability and the food building community. While he regularly participates in events as an educator, speaker and culinary judge in Canada and abroad, he is happiest in his kitchens. When not on a cultural chef exchange, MacLean is executing and serving his guests in EIGHT, Shokunin or NUPO.

MacLean is a lover of craft brew so much so that he also created the world’s first sake kasu-infused beer called Okami Kasu TM in 2016.