ABOUT CHEF DARREN MACLEAN
Chef Darren MacLean is one of Canada’s most acclaimed chefs, restaurateurs, and environmental advocates.
MacLean is recognized for his award-winning restaurants Shokunin (2016), NUPO (2020), and EIGHT (2020). In 2016, he also created the world’s first sake kasu-infused beer, Okami Kasu.
In 2021, MacLean became the first chef in Canada to have three restaurants simultaneously ranked on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list, with Shokunin, NUPO, and EIGHT all recognized on the prestigious national ranking.
Since opening in 2016, Shokunin has consistently ranked among Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants for nine consecutive years.
As Chef MacLean’s flagship restaurant, Shokunin presents contemporary Japanese-influenced cuisine that highlights exceptional Canadian ingredients, including seasonal produce sourced directly from MacLean’s own garden and farm.
By combining Canadian terroir with the philosophy, techniques, and flavour profiles of Japanese cuisine, Shokunin delivers a distinctly modern Japanese dining experience.
Continuing his spirit of innovation, MacLean introduced Calgary’s first 15-course Yakitori Omakase Experience at Shokunin in 2023. Guests dine at the Chef’s Bar in front of the grill, where the team prepares rare and traditional cuts of chicken, including chicken oysters and other prized selections.
In 2020, MacLean opened NUPO in Calgary’s East Village in partnership with Le Germain Hotels.
The restaurant is a plant-forward Japanese kappo-style sushi concept with a strong emphasis on innovative vegan and plant-based cuisine.
NUPO is also committed to sustainable seafood. Its six-seat, 20-course Omakase Sushi Experience explores the intersection of vegetables, seafood, and Japanese technique in Canada. Central to the restaurant’s approach is a specialized fish dry-aging chamber, designed to enhance flavour and texture while reducing waste.
Due to strong demand, NUPO has expanded its offerings with a daily-changing tasting menu presented tableside, allowing guests throughout the dining room to experience the restaurant’s evolving culinary program.
EIGHT is MacLean’s most intimate restaurant, an eight-seat counter dining experience that explores the idea of modern Canadian cuisine.
The Canadian Reflection tasting menu examines Canada’s culinary identity through the diverse cultural influences that shape the country.
Guests are seated around the counter as the kitchen prepares and presents each course, creating a form of immersive culinary theatre where diners witness the entire process firsthand.
Inspired by Canada’s cultural diversity, MacLean believes the country’s cuisine must reflect the many communities that shape its identity.
“As one of the most ethnically diverse nations in the world, any definition of Canadian cuisine must acknowledge the contributions of all Canadians to what our national food culture will become.”
MacLean’s appreciation for cultural exchange has led him to travel extensively, particularly in Japan, where he studied the cuisine that continues to inspire his work. Believing strongly in food as a cultural bridge, he regularly hosts international chefs in Calgary and collaborates with leading culinary figures around the world.
Chef Darren MacLean is also an engaging public speaker who frequently shares his culinary philosophy and perspective on sustainability, culture, and the future of Canadian cuisine.
He is available for interviews, media commentary, conferences, panel discussions, and private events.