Ask chef Chanthy Yen about his career, and he'll take you on a whirlwind journey from his grandmother's Windsor, Ont., kitchen grinding peppercorns, aromatics, and kroeung (Cambodian spice paste) to working in Michelin-starred restaurants in Spain and Sweden. But it doesn't end there.
He'll meander as he reminisces about his experience as the personal chef to a Canadian prime minister, opening a noodle pop-up in Montreal during the pandemic, earning multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand awards. And becoming the first queer person to win Top Chef Canada. Then, he'll bring up his latest venture: Vancouver-based Touk.
Touk is a culmination of Yen's storied career. It's a love letter to his grandmother and the flavours of his childhood.
Locally sourced ingredients shine on the restaurant's menu alongside European techniques to create a contemporary Cambodian restaurant unique to Vancouver, and quite possibly, Canada.
A place of his own
For Yen, Touk is deeply personal.
His family came to Canada from Cambodia as refugees. As a child, Yen would cook alongside his grandmother, and their time together proved formative. It's what pushed him to pursue a career in the culinary arts. Like many chefs, Yen cut his teeth cooking in European kitchens.
Now, he's getting back to his roots, while highlighting many facets of his career. Since winning Top Chef Canada season 11 in 2024 while cooking Cambodian food, he's been inspired to share this cuisine more broadly. Touk is where Yen can showcase his deep love of Cambodian flavours, with Canadian and European twists that are completely his own.
The restaurant represents a major milestone for him, too. A chef might be the face of a popular restaurant, but, Yen says, there are actually very few opportunities for chefs to open and run a restaurant end-to-end, from developing the concept to leading the kitchen and front-of-house teams.
As a leader in his own kitchen and in the Canadian culinary industry, Yen hopes to use his platform to help create welcoming spaces for all, including 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
“It means the world to me that I am part of this community and have this major platform to create safer spaces for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and allowing people to really be their authentic selves,” said Yen.
A long-term relationship
When Yen was conceptualizing his business and deciding whether a new restaurant would be feasible, it was a no-brainer for him to turn to TD for trusted financial advice and business banking solutions. He's been a TD client since he opened his first bank account as a child.
While the relationship has deep roots, Yen continues to appreciate the Bank's support of 2SLGBTQ+ programs nationally, including Pride festivals, and its dedication to helping break barriers for 2SLGBTQ+ clients.
That includes the TD 2SLGBTQ+ business development team, made up of regional managers who offer dedicated support tailored to the unique needs and experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ clients looking to start or expand a business.
“Helping entrepreneurs from communities access the support they need to grow sustainable, impactful businesses is both a privilege and a responsibility I take great pride in, especially when those businesses create spaces where people feel seen and welcomed," said Michael Yusuf, Regional Manager, 2SLGBTQ+ and Black Community Business Development.
With his banking taken care of, Yen can focus on what truly drives his career: making and sharing good food.