Shiva Reddy
Food and Wine Columnist for CBC Vancouver. She is also a Sommelier at Burdock & Co.
Shiva is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Masters as well as a Wine Spirit Education Trust Level 4 Diploma Candidate. During the sudden lockdown in Vancouver, Shiva was recognized as a 'Hospitality Hero' by Vancouver Magazine, when she kicked into gear and started 'Reddy to Help' to help hospitality workers who were struggling to make ends meet by providing them with free curry. Shiva was recognized as the 2020 'Foodie of the Year' by @westernliving and placed in the 'Top 36 Rising Talents in North America' by @theartofplating.
Shiva had humble beginnings. She was raised in an Indo-Fijian home by immigrant parents. Her father passed away when she was very young and was raised alone by her mother who was disabled from a car accident. She even gave up a competitive hockey career and transitioned into selling her mom's curry's and samosas to help make ends meet. Eventually she transitioned into restaurants and worked her way up very fast. By first starting at a golf and country club where she got an inkling about wine and then quickly pursued an education in WSET with The Pacific institute of Culinary Arts. She was such a keener that her instructor Tim Ellison, hired her to assistant with the WSET program in the evening as long as she managed the baking and pastry programs during the day. Shiva eventually moved up and began teaching WSET.
Shiva in transitioned into restaurants and quickly started working with and eventually running some of the best programs in the country. Hawksworth (Commis Sommelier), Juniper(Jr Somm), Royal Dinette( Wine Director), Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar( Assistant Wine Director), Como Taperia( Wine Boss), Savio Volpe, Pepino's, Caffe La Tana(Executive Wine Director) & Collective Hospitality: Collective Goods, The Mackenzie Room, Say Mercy, B-Side ( Executive Wine Director).
Shiva has never been known to shy away from a hard topic or a fight. Shiva pushes for inclusivity and diversity. She works closely with VINICA, Empower Her through the Worth Association, Les Dames d' Escoffier & Bartenders Benevolent Fund.
