Paolo Vasapolli, executive chef in Food and Catering Services, is one of six culinary artists featured in an event today — Thursday, Feb. 25 — hosted online by the Art Gallery of Windsor.

The gallery’s Lightning Talks series introduces local creators presenting an overview of their work.

Vasapolli has more than 20 years of experience within fine dining, high volume restaurants, à la carte, buffet, casino operations, banquets, catering, and university work. He started in the kitchen at the age of 15 and has served as head chef in some of Windsor’s finest dining establishments, including Chef de Cuisine for Caesars Windsor. He has showcased his culinary skills on local and national television, and specializes in Italian, Canadian, and fusion cuisines.

Joining him on the menu are:

• Howard Hyman, executive chef of Exquisite Events Catering in Windsor. He has opened more than 25 restaurant venues throughout his career of 38 years and has served celebrities in entertainment, politics, and philanthropy during his 20-year-long career at Caesars Windsor.
• John Alvarez, co-owner of F & B Hospitality Group, which operates several local restaurants: the Grand Cantina, Slices Pizza, and Taloola Café —with Funky Chow Kitchen opening soon. Alvarez has competed on Chopped Canada as well as in several local cooking competitions.
• Gabby Bleyendaal and Quinn Taylor of Bad Witch Bakery. The business specializes in cheesecakes and cookies and opened in summer 2020 facing the challenges of an unprecedented year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Julie Myers, owner of Thyme To-Go, a catering and prepared food outlet in Walkerville; the Thyme Kitchen restaurant in downtown Windsor; and the soon-to-open Thyme Café, bringing healthy and delicious foods to South Walkerville.

The live, interactve program will begin at 7 p.m. on the video conferencing app Zoom. Register here to receive the necessary information and details about how to access the event.