buddy wolfe

Instructor in Culinary & Hospitality, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo

Buddy finished his five years at Brentwood in Privett house and set off in the world to make his mark. He always wanted to be a chef since he was a child but a University degree was on the horizon first so he set his sights on the University of Oregon. Four years in Eugene, OR earned Buddy a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature. He never gave up on his love for cooking though. Buddy found restaurants to work in and gain knowledge throughout his time at University.

After Oregon Buddy returned to his spiritual home of Honolulu, Hawaii where he could finally pursue his classical training in culinary arts. Two years at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiolani Community College earned Buddy his Associates Degree in Science and it was time to move again; next stop, New York. He quickly landed a job at a chic French bistro in the Lower East side called Le Pere Pinard. Buddy was soon promoted to sous chef and then headhunted to run his own restaurant; Yamato, the French Japanese fusion restaurant in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Pretty soon though Buddy got restless again. Vancouver had won the bid for the Olympics. Buddy had been away from home for a decade. It was time to return to Canada.

Buddy quickly found work as a sous chef at Kerrisdale mainstay Coco Pazzo where he learned and grew under executive chef Ken Bogas. His time there would be short though as he left to join the Sequoia Company of Restaurants. Working through all four restaurants Buddy finally landed as Executive Chef at Seasons in the Park where he stayed until it was time to move again. This time…. Vancouver Island.

Buddy has come full circle and lives now in Duncan, 20 minutes from where his journey at Brentwood started in 1990. He started consulting. Opened Jam Café in Victoria to rave reviews and a TV Food Network spot. He wrote food articles for YAM magazine and then came up to Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo to see what they were doing.

Buddy always wanted to be a teacher and to share his knowledge and so this is where he has been for the last 5 years. A lifelong passion for wine led to more studies and certification in WSET 2. Learning. Teaching. Enjoying life. Buddy resides in the Cowichan valley with his wife and three children, the eldest is currently attending grade 11 at Brentwood as a second generation Brentonian.

Find Buddy on Brentonian Connect

https://www.linkedin.com/in/buddy-wolfe-5a702427/