Lauren Callighen comes from Ottawa, Canada and has lived in the Turks and Caicos Islands for two years.

Lauren studied the culinary arts at Algonquin College, in Ottawa. As part of the 2003 Algonquin culinary team, Lauren competed with young chefs from across Canada, eventually earning a bronze medal.

Since then, Lauren has been practicing her trade in various restaurants and other culinary outlets. Working as a catering chef for Ottawa’s most prestigious catering company, Tulips and Maple, Lauren cooked for a higher profile audience including the Prime Minister of Canada. Lauren also cooked for many dignitaries and political figures when she was invited to work for the Prime Minister’s Ball.

Lauren has been at the Somerset on Grace Bay for one year, having joined as part of the opening team. She is now leading the kitchen, bringing Caribbean and Mediterranean flavours together in artfully presented dishes.