christabel padmore

Christabel is the co-owner and chef of Little Piggy Catering at the English Inn Resort and Chuleta Restaurant in Victoria.  Together with her chef-husband Patrick Simpson, Little Piggy Catering has been supporting local and sustainable food since its inception in 2004.

A red seal chef, Christabel is currently working toward the Certified Chef de Cuisine credential. Prior to launching Little Piggy Catering, Christabel was a culinary vocational trainer with the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

Having grown up in Victoria in a family of food enthusiasts, the movement to promote local agriculture and sustainable eating came naturally.  Her commitment to those principals is a central tenant of her corporate policy and she is similarly an active member of the Island’s Chef Collaborative.

Christabel and Patrick annually travel to her family’s home in the Auvergne region of France to develop new recipes in what’s become the Little Piggy research kitchen. In addition to her time in France, Christabel attributes much of her culinary creativity to time spent studying and living in the Middle East, as well as travelling in Europe, India, East Asia and Central America.

A compliment to her cooking education and experience Christabel also holds a M.Ed in adult education from UBC, a B.A. in Political Science and a French Language Diploma from UVic.  She has also completed level 1 and 2 of the International Sommelier Guild’s wine education program, as well as training from the Society of Wine Educators.