Step into the raw, unfiltered world of restaurant kitchens with Ivy Knight -a Canadian food writer whose acclaimed bylines span The New York Times, Food & Wine, The New Yorker, and Playboy. Before her writing career, Ivy spent years as a line cook, forging her resilience in the chaotic, high-pressure environment behind the pass. Now based in Toronto, she’s known for her sharp wit and fearless advocacy, processing her experiences through the viral meme account @allezceline, where she lampoons kitchen culture in the unmistakable voice of Celine Dion.

In this episode of Schnitzel and Stories, Ivy opens up about the realities women face in professional kitchens. From enduring toxic work environments to confronting abuse and misogyny. She shares her personal story of being assaulted by a fellow chef, the culture of silence that often follows, and her journey toward healing and speaking out. Ivy also discusses the camaraderie and dark humor that bind kitchen crews, the complicated dynamics between front and back of house, and why she ultimately left the industry to become a champion for change and human rights.

With international adventures chronicled in her travel column The Hotel Diaries, and appearances in the Netflix documentary The Heat and Vice’s The Dark Side, Ivy Knight brings a global perspective and unflinching honesty to the conversation about what it truly means to survive-and thrive-in the world of food.

Follow Ivy on Instagram here and follow her meme account here . Ivy also gave us her recipe for his fun, no-fuss Jello Pie, it will surely make your day!

To learn more about Ivy, please check out these links that helped us in our research

https://www.vice.com/en/contributor/ivy-knight/

https://facesoffoodbook.com/beyond-the-book/ivy-knight002/

https://natfluence.com/interview/ivy-knight/

https://www.starchefs.com/profiles/ivy-knight

https://cherrybombe.com/blogs/radio-cherry-bombe/ivy-knight-of-allez-celine-on-restaurants-memes-and-kitchen-culture

https://canadianwomen.org/blog/ivy-knight-metoo-food-and-beverage-industry/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-restaurants-sever-ties-with-vintner-norman-hardie/

https://www.tastetoronto.com/stories/groundbreaking-new-docuseries-open-restaurants

Episode 17: Surviving the Heat - Ivy Knight’s Story of Trauma and Triumph

Episode 18: Eden Hagos: Turning Ethiopian Roots into a Voice for Women in Black Food Culture

Episode 16: Amanda Cohen on Gender, Grit & Going Beyond the Side Dish