OC alumnus announced as one of Kelowna Chamber of Commerce’s BDO Top 40 under 40 honourees
Adam Relvas, who took Professional Cook Apprenticeship, level 2 and 3 at the College in 2006, grew up in the South Okanagan and gained a passion for food through many food-focused family events.
After graduating, Relvas worked as a line cook for Waterfront Wines in Kelowna, Sous Chef at Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen in Lake Country, Sous Chef at the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna, and later Executive Chef at Monashee’s Bar and Grill and The Kal’s Sports Bar in Vernon.
Now, the certified Red Seal Chef is the Chef and Owner of Relvas Catering and The Sandwich Company by Relvas Catering in Kelowna, which was voted as one of the top 3 caterers in the Central Okanagan by Okanagan Life Magazine’s Best Restaurant Edition in 2017.
Relvas was also voted top chef in the North Okanagan by the same magazine in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Most recently, he was voted the 2018 Chef of the Year by the Okanagan Chef’s Association.
Relvas is passionate about lending a hand and has had the privilege of being a part of many different charity events across the city from the Dream Rally raising money for Ronald McDonald House, Food Bank fundraising dinners, events for Kelowna Hospice, JoeAnna’s House, as well as Christmas Day Dinner at Parkinson Recreation Centre, Back to School Bash and Easter Pancake Breakfast events with Victory Life.
Right now, many local restaurants and businesses are struggling due to the impact of COVID-19, Relvas included.
“We are currently doing our best to adapt to the ever-changing demands and requirements of COVID and doing our best to stay positive through it all,” he says. “We have transitioned from a la carte service to pre-made meals that guests can pick up and take home to have at a later date. We thought with the craze in grocery stores and limit of available products, why not try and provide something that allows people to have restaurant quality food in the comfort of their own home whenever they want to?”
“Catering is non-existent at this time with gathering restrictions but we look forward to working with our amazing clients when this is all over and being there to cook amazing meals for all their parties, weddings and celebrations.”
This year marks the 6th annual BDO Top 40 Under 40 with Relvas being one of six who were honoured this year. Ross Derrick, OC Culinary Arts instructor, was also recognized in this category. Derrick has extensive experience throughout the valley and is the owner/operator of The Table Cafe and Broken Anchor Food Truck and general manager of Codfathers Seafood.
For more on Adam Relvas, Ross Derrick and the Top 40 Under 40, visit .
Professional Cook Apprenticeship
Professional Cook apprentices perform all phases of kitchen activities including the preparation and presentation of vegetables, soups, sauces, meat, fish and poultry, cold kitchen items; desserts, baking, pastry; basic menu planning/costing as well as knowledge of safety, sanitation and food storage, and who has a knowledge of human and customer relations.
Culinary and Pastry Arts
Grow your culinary career in the heart of the Okanagan Valley. Programs focus on a farm-to-table approach, exploring fresh local products. Commercial kitchen spaces allow students to learn the latest techniques from Red Seal-certified chef instructors.