A November tasting night pairs culinary talent with mentorship—and early-bird tickets are available until October 8.
There’s a good reason to make November dinner plans a little early. Yes Shef returns to Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim on Wednesday, November 18, bringing together women chefs and beverage makers for an evening of tastings that helps support the next generation of hospitality talent.
Presented by WORTH Association, the sixth annual event features 15 culinary stations, drinks and live entertainment. Guests can move between stations, sample dishes and meet the people behind them, with an online auction and raffle adding to the fundraising.
Who’s cooking at Yes Shef 2026?
The announced lineup stretches from Vancouver and the North Shore to Whistler, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan. Among the participating chefs are Dawn Doucette of Douce Diner, Shira Blustein of Lila Restaurant, Yuki Aida of Sushi MAHANA, Berenice Balbuena of Tacofino and Tamam Qanembou-Zobaid of Tamam: Fine Palestinian Cuisine.
Also on the list are Eleanor Chow Waterfall of Cadeaux Bakery, Calia Pacle of Selene Aegean Bistro, Marissa Gonzales of Hawksworth, Olya Karpova of Atlas Steak + Fish, Vanessa Lin of Wild Blue Restaurant and Minette Lotz of The Restaurant at Poplar Grove. Malindi Taylor of Fanny Bay Oysters, Roop Toor of Moxies and Cheryl Chang of Nourish Kitchen are taking part, too.
Fairmont’s participating team includes Suzannah Yeung and Kate Remegio from the Pacific Rim, Annie and Ayu from Vancouver Airport, Isabel Chung from the Empress and Selivia (Yingzhen) Hu from the Waterfront.
On the beverage side, the release names Sheereen Price and Gabrielle Mustapich of 1983 Espresso Martinis, Valli Manickam of Plenty Real Brews and the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association. More participants are still to be announced; check the Yes Shef lineup for updates.
Mentorship is part of the menu
The evening supports training and mentorship for 15 women studying culinary arts at Vancouver Community College. Through WORTH’s mentorship program, students can gain hands-on coaching, regular meetings with mentors and experience at leading restaurants.
“It brings together top women chefs, sommeliers, brewers and mixologists with emerging culinary talent for a vibrant walk-around tasting experience,” says Joanna Jagger, WORTH Association’s founder and executive director.
“Plus every ticket sold supports mentorship and creates opportunities for the next generation of culinary leaders.”
Proceeds fund scholarships, mentorship and leadership development for women in recreation, tourism and hospitality. WORTH’s broader work supports self-identifying women and gender-diverse people across those industries through advocacy, professional development and community connection.
Yes Shef Vancouver tickets and event details
Early-bird tickets are $185 plus GST, with a limited allocation of 100 available until noon on October 8. General admission is $220 plus GST.
The ticket includes food tastings, wine, beer and cocktail pairings, live entertainment and access to the auction. This is a cocktail-style reception with some seating available, rather than a seated dinner.
- When: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Where: Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
- Tickets: Early bird $185 plus GST; general admission $220 plus GST
- Age: 19+
