inspired by excellence, driven by passion
chef alex chen
about chef alex chen
Chef Alex Chen is known for his tireless dedication to culinary excellence, drawing from time-honoured family traditions and a passion for high-pressure cooking competitions. These key ingredients have contributed to his recipe for success in the culinary world.
With an impressive background, Chef Alex has worked at prestigious establishments like the Beverly Hills Hotel and Polo Lounge, as well as the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto and Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. His career spans over a decade in leading luxury hotels across North America. His crowning achievement, however, is leading the opening of Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar in Vancouver, followed by the much-anticipated opening of Wild Blue in Whistler in 2022.
Originally from Malaysia, Chef Alex moved to Vancouver at the age of 13, where he first entered the restaurant industry as a dishwasher. It was here that he developed a deep appreciation for Vancouver’s local ingredients—fresh produce, proteins, and seafood sourced from nearby farms and fisheries. Under the mentorship of culinary legends like Robert Sulatycky and Bruno Marti, he honed his craft.
A classically trained chef, Alex’s competitive spirit shined when he led Team Canada to a top-10 finish at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or competition in 2013. He also clinched top honours at the Gold Medal Plates championships in 2015 and 2017, and earned gold at the 2018 Canadian Culinary Championships.
Chef Alex’s accolades don’t stop there. He was named ‘Chef of the Year’ at the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards in 2018, and was recognized as Chef of the Year by the Pinnacle Awards in 2019. He made history as the first challenger to defeat an Iron Chef on Iron Chef Canada, and he is a recurring judge on Wall of Chefs, a popular cooking competition on Food Network Canada. In 2023, Alex was further honoured with induction into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame as a Local Champion, celebrating his exceptional contributions to the local culinary community.
In 2022, Chef Alex steered Boulevard to claim the No. 9 spot on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list, and it earned a place on the World’s 50 Best Discovery list. The following year, Wild Blue secured the No. 2 spot on Air Canada’s EnRoute Magazine Best New Restaurants list. In 2023 and 2024, Boulevard was further honoured with a place on the Michelin Recommended list, marking a new milestone in its culinary journey.
When he’s not leading kitchens, Chef Alex enjoys life in Vancouver with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children. He aims to pass down the same respect for food and family traditions that he learned in his mother’s kitchen. For Chef Alex, home cooking is where the heart is.
“Cooking at home allows me to create my best work. When you’re preparing a meal for loved ones, there’s no pressure. You put your heart into it, infusing each dish with love, and serving it at just the right moment,” says Alex.