TORONTO, May 27, 2013…  Chef Tallis Baker-Voakes has joined Paintbox Catering & Bistro Inc.
Paintbox’ Executive Chef and Owner Chris Klugman said, “Tallis’ offerings reflect his feeling that food doesn’t need to be serious or limiting, but rather playful and creative.”  Said Baker-Voakes, “the dining experience itself is what good food is all about: service is as important as the food”.
A graduate of Ottawa’s Le Cordon Bleu, Chef Tallis worked in Ottawa at The Wellington Gastropub under Chef Chris Deriache. He has cooked in London, England at NOBU, Arbutus, KPMG Fine dining, and ROKA. He also worked under Jason Atherton of Pollen Street Social, Fergus Henderson of St. John and Michael Roux Jr. Many of these are Michelin Star restaurants. He has also cooked for the Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Governor General David Johnston and Her Majesty Queen, Elizabeth II.
Chef Tallis was a 2011 Gluten-free Chef of the Year finalist in the UK. He plans to incorporate his talent in a Gluten-free dining experience that will soon be well known at Paintbox Bistro.

CHEF TALLIS BAKER-VOAKES

About Paintbox Catering & Bistro Inc.
Located at 555 Dundas St. East, Toronto, Paintbox Bistro is open for lunch Tuesday to Friday, from 11:30am – 2:30pm; Dinner 5:30 – 10:30 pm; Brunch Saturday and Sunday 10:30 – 3:30 pm. Paintbox is a social enterprise located in the heart of Regent Park –where Regent Park meets the broader Toronto community. Its cuisine is a playful celebration of local abundance, full of inspiration from the community – a balance of complete culinary technique and whimsy, featuring strong, earthy flavours and naturalistic presentation. Paintbox Bistro and its Catering division prides itself in being innovative, offering a level of food and service that is unfamiliar to Toronto, and truly thinking outside of the box! Paintbox doesn’t aspire to be “trendy”; but a high volume restaurant that produces beautiful dishes while maintaining a strong social mandate. Tucked into the corner of the Daniels Spectrum – the new cultural hub in Regent Park – Paintbox Bistro offers a fun and welcoming environment to dine and dish with friends, or relax with cocktails and live entertainment.
 
Paintbox provides employment, training, and career development to residents of Regent Park and other close-by marginalized communities. Almost all of the charming staff are from the neighbourhood or other close by marginalized communities and have been offered the opportunity to study at George Brown College, one of North America’s top 10 culinary schools, in the Chefs program.
Paintbox is a true expression of what is going on in Regent Park – offering compassion and empowerment to those within the community who have become isolated. A restaurant that strives to sustain a community’s hopes. www.paintboxbistro.ca
Reservations at Paintbox Bistro are recommended by calling (647) 748-0555.
 
Contact:        
David Eisenstadt / Sohini Bhattacharya
tcgpr (The Communications Group Inc.)
deisenstadt@tcgpr.com / sbhattacharya@tcgpr.com
416-696-9900 ext. 36 / 24