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Cooking for reconciliation: Chef Rich Francis tackling catering company, restaurant and TV shows

Life is serving Rich Francis a busy schedule. Along with his newly-launched catering company, Francis has written a cookbook, has a TV show debuting in the spring, has two more TV projects in the works and will be opening a restaurant.

Saskatoon chef aims to open new restaurant in spring 2018

Courtney Markewich · CBC News ·
Rich Francis prepares a salmon for a dish inspired by what his grandmother used to feed him for breakfast. His cooking includes both contemporary and traditional Indigenous dishes and methods. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)

Chef Rich Francis says he wants to make sure he's doing something with the torch he's been passed – and that's keeping him pretty busy these days.

It's been three years since the Indigenous man placed third in Canada's Top Chef.

Now based in Saskatoon, he's continuing his mission of cooking for reconciliation, and using a number of methods to do so.

Along with his newly-launched catering company Seventh Fire, he has written a cookbook called Closing the Gap: Truth and Reconciliation Through Indigenous Foods, has a TV show called Red Chef Revival debuting in the spring, has two more TV projects in the works, and will be opening a restaurant – also called The Seventh Fire – in Saskatoon next spring.

The challenge for Francis, he says, has been presenting Indigenous food in a contemporary way. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)

"It's food. It's all I know. Food has saved my life more than I care to admit," Francis said. "And this next chapter of my life is no exception. Indigenous food has given me a remarkable life, in terms of healing, contribution and solidarity."

Francis's menu includes both contemporary and traditional Indigenous dishes and methods of cooking — some of which is actually illegal, such as whale and seal hunts.

The challenge for Francis, he said, has been presenting Indigenous food in a contemporary way.

Rich Francis was a steelworker before he became a chef. He said food has saved his life more than he'd like to admit. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)

When he first starting cooking for reconciliation, Francis said he found he was failing as he tried to reach a large number of people.

"And I took a step back and I started to make it more personal to myself. And then that's when I started to make connections, because it was coming from me."

The work he does has some calling him a cultural ambassador – which Francis said is hard to hear sometimes.

Francis said he is doing what he does to leave a legacy for his kids, but also for kids like his own father, who was removed from his parents' home when he was four or five years old.

"It's that little boy that I'm cooking for, who's now my dad."

Francis was named a CBC Future 40 winner this week, which recognizes people who are making a difference in Saskatchewan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Courtney Markewich

Journalist

Courtney Markewich joined CBC News in 2016 after working in radio for five years. She is based in Saskatoon. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Markewich is passionate about sharing stories of the province's people. Her focus now is bringing these stories to social media on CBC Saskatchewan and CBC Saskatoon's platforms. Her work on The Pit was recognized by the RTDNA Canada National Awards for Excellence in Social Media in 2020. You can contact her at courtney.markewich@cbc.ca.

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