A Culinary Journey Rooted in Culture and Community

Chef Ngan Tran, Chef Manager for Chartwells Higher Ed with Compass Canada, was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and came to Canada as an international student, initially pursuing science before discovering her true passion for food. In 2011, she made the bold decision to leave her science studies and enroll in the Culinary Management program at Humber College in Toronto, marking the beginning of her culinary career. 

With more than 14 years of experience in the industry, Chef Ngan started as a line cook and worked her way up through a variety of roles. She joined Compass Group Canada in 2016 and has since continued to grow her career within the organization. She later moved into a sous chef role and now serves as a chef manager at an independent school in Toronto, where she works with students of all ages.  

One of her favorite parts of the role is working in the Teaching Kitchen. “It’s a fun way to get to know the students and show them fun techniques,” she shares, creating an environment where learning and creativity come together.

Inspired by her Vietnamese roots, Chef Ngan is passionate about blending Western and Asian cuisines to create innovative, well-balanced dishes that honor tradition while embracing creativity. Her recipe for passion fruit brûlée tart was originally featured in the Culinary Talent Cookbook – CX26: Connecting and Beyond. Passion fruit is especially popular in Vietnam.   

“The recipe was inspired by my love for crème brûlée and passion fruit,” she says, highlighting her approach to combining classic techniques with vibrant, global flavors.

Chef Ngan told her Compass Career story as part of our “Built at Compass” series. Check it out!