Hello - I’m Sonia! Chef + Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.

Ever since I was a kid I was very hyper and couldn’t sit still (and still am🤣). Something I have always been drawn to is working with my hands. It naturally calms me. That’s one of the reasons that I got into cooking.

My passion for cooking started at a young age - growing vegetables with Nonno, cooking with Mom and Nonna - there was always a fascination around food. Every meal I ate, there was love and a story behind it.

I further pursued my passion in 2009 attending George Brown College, receiving my Diploma in Culinary Management with Honours, which lead me to work in some of the top restaurants in the city. In 2016, at the age of 24, I opened my first restaurant - Pray Tell. As an award- winning chef, my passion for food soared, but my mental and physical health did not. While working endless hours, I realized the importance of health, wellness and time in my daily life. Once I gradually started making changes to my lifestyle, my life truly changed for the better. Mentally, physically, at home, at work... overall. It's very easy to "push past" those feelings of stress, exhaustion, unhealthy eating/ extracurricular habits, lack of sleep but really is it sustainable?

Seeing how being “healthy” isn’t just the food you consume but your life as a whole, lead me to further study another passion of mine - Integrative Nutrition with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. I’m truly passionate about helping people create a stronger connection with ones health and wellness in an approachable way.

Since graduation, I’ve shifted gears into focusing on (some of) my passions. Making cakes, facilitating art wellness experiences and building awareness towards health and wellness within the hospitality industry.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey!

❤️

Sonia Mondino