Behind every great meal is a story; our chefs bring their whole selves, their cultures, and their creativity to every dish they serve. This International Chef’s Day, we’re celebrating three of our talented chefs, Daisy Smith, Shannon Talbot-Bennett, and Andre Alto, whose passion for food embodies our catering brand promise: for the love of food.
Cooking from the heart
For many chefs, a love of food begins long before their first job or professional qualification. For Daisy Smith, it started in the kitchen at home.
“My love for food all came from my dad,” Daisy shares. “He had me cooking with him from about three years old. He’s definitely my biggest inspiration and one of the reasons I wanted to get into catering in the first place. I have so many fond memories of us cooking together growing up, and that’s definitely why I’m so passionate about what I do.”
That early inspiration led Daisy to turn her childhood dream into a career. Today, she’s part of the OCS catering team, bringing fresh ideas and flavour to every service. Her story, from kitchen helper to professional chef, was featured in our TRUE Story series, where she shared how OCS has supported her to grow and thrive in the industry.
Confidence on a plate
For Shannon Talbot-Bennett, food is a way of expressing identity and connecting across cultures. Originally from South Africa, Shannon’s passion for cooking was born from time spent with her dad in the kitchen and around the barbecue.
“My love for food started when I was a child,” she says. “Being from South Africa, we used to do a lot of outdoor cooking. Then moving to the UK, I’ve enjoyed learning different cuisines and ways of cooking.”
That openness to new flavours and techniques has helped Shannon carve out her own success, including taking home a trophy at the 2025 StrEAT Food Awards. Her winning dish combined her roots and her creativity, earning praise from judges for its bold taste and presentation.
A family legacy
For Andre Alto, food has always been part of family life.
“My love of food comes from my mother and family,” he says. “It’s been a huge part of my life since childhood. We were always encouraged to try new things and eat everything that was put in front of us. If I were ever asked about my love of food, it would be because of my mother, and then it stems into my wider family.”
That sense of curiosity and respect for food has guided Andre’s journey as a chef. His dishes are rooted in family traditions, but he’s also passionate about innovation, blending classic techniques with modern flair. He brings that kitchen-savviness to his role as catering manager at King Norton Girls’ School, where he has transformed the kitchen into a nutritional and cost-effective machine.
Our Culinary Classroom 2024/5 cohort
For the love of food
We believe great food starts with passion. Our chefs cook with care. They bring joy to our customers, colleagues, and communities through every plate they serve.
Whether it’s a large-scale catering event or a freshly prepared meal in one of our customer restaurants, our teams make food an experience, one that connects people, cultures, and stories.
This International Chef’s Day, we’re proud to celebrate Daisy, Shannon, and Andre and every OCS chef who brings our “for the love of food” philosophy to life every day.
Their stories remind us that food is more than just sustenance. It’s love, memory, creativity, and connection all shared in one bite.
Happy International Chef’s Day to all our chefs across OCS. Thank you for everything you do to make a difference through food.
