Chef Jordan Wagman
About
Meet James Beard nominated Chef, bestselling author, philanthropist, sales leader and Psoriasis warrior– Jordan Wagman. He wears each title as a badge of honour and takes on each role with precision and tremendous passion.
Jordan’s unique culinary journey began over camp fires in Northern Ontario and progressed to the kitchens of some of the top chefs in the culinary world.
At the age of 12, Jordan was diagnosed with Psoriasis, an often debilitating autoimmune disease. He was hospitalized numerous times and took medication that would have lasting negative side effects. He even spent a year of his life in Israel, living in a tent at the Dead Sea, suntanning for 13 hours each day seeking relief from his disease.
Sunshine has always brought Jordan comfort from his symptoms though the benefits were never sustainable.
Fast forward to 2014, Jordan finally found the second piece to his puzzle. After one meeting with a naturopath, he removed gluten, dairy and refined sugar from his diet and began taking natural supplements and CBD. Jordan’s life changed forever and he began to live a much healthier existence.
Today, Jordan has a renewed focus on food, health and wellness. Jordan helps others find health through an anti inflammatory diet and proves great, healthy, food can taste incredible too. Jordan is a cannabis advocate and cites the use of THC and CBD as a pillar for his health.
Jordan offers chef table experiences in his home which are sold out months in advance. The demand is real.
Jordan is most proud of his philanthropic endeavours advocating for mental health, Psoriasis and his involvement with Sick Children’s Foundation.
The Story
I am chef, author, sales leader, philanthropist, proud father and husband.
In my teens and early twenties, I fell in love with cooking for others while running a canoe tripping program in Northern Ontario. It was the instant gratification of seeing smiles on the children’s faces after serving an amazing meal in the middle of nowhere.
My career began in Florida and took me to Toronto, California and eventually Colorado only to end up where it all began, back with my family in Toronto.
I was taught classical French techniques and used an abundance of butter, cream and sugar.
Times have changed.
I found my health five years ago after changing my diet and today that decision has led to cooking an entirely new cuisine, without gluten, dairy and refined sugar.
Philosophy
I buy the best seasonal ingredients available; I apply simple techniques to very recognizable flavours and serve to clients and loved ones. Creating restaurant-quality food is easy when you start with amazing ingredients.
I want to educate those looking to make dietary changes and demonstrate that food can taste great and be great for our health.
Mission
I struggled as a child; I suffered with mental illness and had a chronic, at times debilitating, disease, Psoriasis. I spent a year of my life in the hospital over a four-year period while in high school. I spent another year of my life sleeping in a tent at the Dead Sea, in Israel, while receiving Psoriasis treatments (sun tanning). The sun provided temporary reprieve from my symptoms. I was on methotrexate and cyclosporine before the age of 16. In my early twenties, when I moved to the United States for culinary school, I was ineligible for health insurance due to the effects those medications had on my body.
In the 11th grade, I transferred to a school of thirty students. The Jerome D. Diamond Adolescent Center is for children having social, behavioural or educational challenges, unable to succeed in the mainstream school system. I credit the JDD with helping me integrate back into the public system, giving me the necessary tools to become the man I am today.
I spent years searching for a relatively permanent solution to my physical and mental health and yet both evaded me for most of my life.
Five years ago, I sought the help of a naturopath and after one meeting I removed gluten, dairy and refined sugar from my diet. Shortly after, I began incorporating supplements and CBD and roughly eight weeks after that one meeting with the naturopath, my Psoriasis started to go away and I lost 30 lbs.
So, here I am, sitting on the board of directors, for the foundation overseeing the school which was instrumental in changing my life and I am living a relatively healthy life with my Psoriasis under control.
Today my mandate is simple; give back to a world that has been very kind and tolerant. I found my health and I want to help others find theirs through food. People believed in me and I want children to know I am here to believe in them. I want to be a role model for children suffering from mental health or disease.