Tom D.

Tom grew up in Toronto and discovered his love of cooking while watching shows on the Food Network. Once he completed his undergraduate studies, he went to culinary school and truly began to excel in the kitchen.

In 2021, Tom joined Eataly Toronto as a Prep Cook in Central Kitchen focusing on sandwiches and salads. He quickly developed a reputation for his excellent organizational skills and emerged as a leader on his team, ensuring that specialty items and dishes would always be made carefully and correctly. He also fed his curiosity for learning more about Eataly’s products through active participation in staff class, vendor tours, and field trips.

When it was time to open Eataly Sherway Gardens in 2023, Tom was promoted to Kitchen Operations Specialist there, playing an important role in the success of the store’s Grand Opening and beyond. Passionate about our brand, Tom is committed to consistently delivering the best experience to both guests and teammates alike.

What have you learned since joining Eataly?
“I’ve learned how to be a leader here. When I started, I felt like I was just chopping away in the back. As I worked with the team more closely and saw what I was really capable of, I could see that people were receptive to what I could bring to the table. I took that as a way to improve my skills and really grow into myself and what I can bring to everyone here.”

What is your favorite memory from your time at Eataly?
“I always love thinking back to the farm trip we took. It was a really great time.”

What is your favorite part about your job?
“I love seeing improvements. I love seeing the numbers, the sales, and the margins increase together, because it shows that we’re all doing our part. It’s a team effort, and this is a way that we see our successes.”

What do you enjoy doing outside of Eataly?
“I am an avid gamer. During the pandemic when there wasn’t much to do, I picked up bird watching, and I’ve loved it ever since. Birds are a big part of the everyday bigger picture, but we rarely take the time to give them notice, to learn about them more, to hear more of them – it’s really fascinating.”