Adrian Forte; It’s not all about making money, it’s all about Love!

BY NOEL CUNNINGHAM

“Your only competition should be yourself. You shouldn’t get distracted by looking at whatever people are doing. You should only want to be better than you were last time… that’s how I manage to keep climbing.” Adrian Forte (Executive Chef/owner of Chef De Jour)

This week I had the opportunity of sitting down with one of Toronto’s top chefs who is taking the scene by storm. Many of us are familiar with the quote, “Work in silence and let success make the noise.” This is exactly what restaurateur, consultant, and food stylist Adrian Forte is all about.

When my editor asked me to do this week’s Classic Man Feature, the first person I could think of was Adrian Forte. Not because his birthday is in February, but because I know Adrian is a true classic man. If at some point you have dined at Dirty Bird or AF1 canteen in Toronto, you would have tried Adrian’s creations.

Known for his inventive take on Canadian cuisine, as well as on classic Jamaican dishes, Adrian is the Executive Chef/Owner of Chef De Jour, a chef consulting company.

When it comes to the spotlight Adrian is no stranger. Adrian has been featured in international and local publications, as well as on television shows. He has worked with several top brands and celebrity chefs.

Born and raised in Cooreville Garden Kingston 20, Jamaica, Adrian attended George Headley Primary and then went on to Calabar High school.  During this time, Adrian would be traveling to the US to visit his beloved grandma. He also had the privilege of visiting his dad in Canada. Adrian moved to New York City at the age of 12. Two years after his grandma passed away from cancer, he moved to Canada to live with his father. His dad encouraged him to stay and study in Canada because it would be more profitable, and he did just that. “My original plan was to be a professional footballer,” Adrian tells me during our talk.

“Finding a passion for culinary was a no brainer” said Adrian because he grew up in a family of cooks, almost everyone is a good cook. He decided to make it a career.

“In order to know where we are going, we must remember where we have come from.”

Cooking was a way to tip a hat to his grandma, one of his biggest personal influences. She was a chef at Adrian’s school cafeteria back in Jamaica. His earliest memories of cooking are with his grandmother in his family’s kitchen. She taught him fusion cooking long before fusion cuisine was a thing. Back then he thought it was weird cooking. When I asked Adrian about his earliest inspiration for culinary, he quickly answered his grandmother. He has no qualms telling anyone that he is a grandma’s boy. He credits his style of cooking to his grandma.

After migrating to Canada, Chef Adrian completed his high school diploma. He has never looked back and has been in the culinary industry since then. He later went on to further his education at George Brown College in Culinary Arts.

In 2015, Adrian appeared on the Food Network hit TV show, Chopped Canada Season 2, Canada’s Chef in Your Ear, Chef in Your Ear Junior, Hogtown BBQ on Bell, as well as several noted national television appearances demonstrating his culinary skills and creativity. Some of his work was featured in the Toronto Star and Toronto Life. Along the way, he has also won numerous awards such as: Best New Restaurant Openings in Toronto on blogTO, Voted NOW Magazine’s Toronto’s Best Fried Chicken, named Best Sandwich Shop in Toronto by Notable.ca, and chosen as Best New Restaurant for Fried Chicken in Toronto by blogTO.

“Life is a lesson and experience is the teacher.”

The 32-year-old chef opened his first restaurant at age 24. Gangster Burger has satisfied A-lister celebrities such as Drake and Iggy Azalea. It was the hot spot when celebrities came to town. Things didn’t work as planned and that was closed. Chef Adrian being determined started doing pop up dinners, then he opened his Dirty Bird food truck; that was doing well, he then opened the Dirty Bird restaurant in 2015 then AF1 Canteen in 2017. Things still didn’t work as planned and they all closed down. Which leaves me with the question how do you handle the loss? “It’s a loss when you didn’t learn, I’m not scared to fail. You must make the mistake early and learn. Door A, B, then C people are too scared to fail,” explains Chef Adrian.

“It’s not just a profession; it’s a lifestyle.”

Any advice for young chefs? “Have a thick skin and be a sponge, have heart and passion. It’s not all about making money it’s all about love; money will come after. Do it for love and not fame.”

If you are wondering what’s next for Adrian, then I have some news for you. You can say that Chef Noel dropped it here first. Adrian is eyeing his first cookbook titled “Forte Feeds.” This book will showcase Adrian’s traveling, eating and incorporating different country’s cuisines with his own contemporary style.

Chef Forte’s future is a promising and exciting one. He has boundless energy, passion and drive. Alive with fresh ideas. A unique and diverse bounty from every corner of the earth, the sky’s the limit.