After a successful career as a textile designer, OCAD U alum Jo Notkin shifted to the culinary world and now runs the high-end catering company Zoe Ford Catering in Montreal, Quebec. She’ll be competing on the new season of Top Chef Canada premiering Monday, April 13 on the Food Network!
First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions! How was your experience here at OCAD U?
I loved OCAD U. Initially, I just took a few classes but then I enrolled, studied on exchange and graduated with a super creative project that lead to a really wonderful part of my career by creating looolo textiles.
Can you talk a bit about your transition from successful textile designer to cooking?
I designed for years but ultimately the US financial crisis was the end of my business. It also became more challenging to manufacture in Canada - all the textile mills were closing! I had always cooked but was dating a chef at the time who worked at the infamous French Laundry. We started a little catering company and then I took it over when he moved back to California. My philosophy on food has always been based on my love of design - no matter what the product, we eat with our eyes!
On the surface textile design and cooking seem like two very different careers. How do you use your design background in your cooking?
Cooking and design are actually exactly the same. You have to think about colour, texture and pattern not only in the food but in the plates and table setting as well. I have always said that I’m still a designer... but now food is my medium
We’re rooting for you on the new season of Top Chef! How did that come about and what can we look forward to seeing on the show?
I cannot reveal too many show secrets so you’ll have to tune in to find out! But I ended up on the show by total fluke. If you can believe all that’s said about your phone overhearing you, I had a friend talk about his colleague wanting to go on the show and I said I would never go on. The next day I saw an ad on Facebook to apply. I did it sort of as a joke and then they called me!
You have quite an entrepreneurial background. Can you tell us about some things that motivate you?
I’ve been entrepreneurial since I can remember. My first business was selling fabric covered close pins at my parents dinner party. Ten cents each! I then designed jewelry for Aldo shoes and manufactured it out of my dorm room at York before coming to OCAD. I’ve just always needed to constantly create and always wanted to contribute in a bigger way. I’ve always taken part in giving back to the community and have been heavily inspired by socially conscious businesses like Ben and Jerry’s and the like. Working to be a part of something bigger and creative on a wider scale.
What’s your favourite thing to cook for yourself?
I actually have quite simple taste and our motto is “Classic with a twist”... so in general I want the perfect brownie or a piece of super fresh salmon cooked just perfectly with some fresh herb sauce. Most days I want to sink my teeth into our focaccia breads but luckily those involve work so I rarely make it at home. If I’m letting you in on my secret favorite thing to eat, it’s bowl of Rice Krispies with very cold milk and a fresh Ontario peach sliced into it. Must be eaten while standing over the sink ;)
