After training in Montreal at the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), Ricardo studied radio and television broadcasting in Ottawa.
RICARDO Media offers a multi-platform culinary experience to all Canadians:
- Over 1 million readers of RICARDO magazine
- Best Magazine in Lifestyle category at the Canadian Magazine Awards in 2018
- Named Best Magazine Brand at the Canadian Magazine Awards in 2016
- Over 3,900,000 visitors to ricardocuisine.com
- Close to 6,000 recipes on ricardocuisine.com
- Over 745,000 fans on social media
- A television show broadcast on ICI Radio-Canada for 18 years and counting, plus other productions airing both in Canada and abroad
- 9 French-language and 5 English-language best selling cookbooks
- A line of kitchen accessories available at 895 points of sale throughout the country
- An expanding retail footprint with three shops and two restaurants under the RICARDO Boutique + Café banner, located in Saint-Lambert, Laval and Quebec City
- A Comptoir RICARDO express counter featuring ready-to-eat takeout food at Galeries de la Capitale in Quebec City
- An online store, with the entire range of RICARDO products on ricardocuisine.com/store
- An exclusive line of gourmet RICARDO food products, including cakes and cooking sauces, sold in grocery stores throughout Quebec
A natural communicator, Ricardo is a weekly contributor to La Presse+ and radio station CJAD in Quebec, as well as the Toronto Star.
In recent years, he has also been named a member of the Order of Canada as well as the Ordre national du Québec for his efforts in making cooking accessible to all, and for his commitment to various social causes. In 2017, he received an honorary degree from the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec for his career achievements. Ricardo and his wife, Brigitte have also received this honour from Université Laval for their contribution to food and nutrition in Quebec.
In 2017, RICARDO Media series WE ARE THE BEST was selected as one of the Canada 150 Signature Initiative Projects, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation. The series of 52 videos explores the country's extraordinary culinary richness by showcasing Canadian products popular both here and abroad. Passionate about helping others, for the last 15 years Ricardo has been a spokesperson for La Tablée des Chefs, an organization whose goal is to feed families in need and provide cooking skills and culinary education for the next generation. In recognition of his commitment and dedication to youth, he has also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Ricardo also supports the ITHQ Foundation and serves as Ambassador for the annual Urban BBQ, organized by the Cancer Research Society.
Along with architect Pierre Thibault and tri-athlete Pierre Lavoie, he is one of the founding members of Lab-École, a non-profit organization dedicated to building a multidisciplinary team of experts who will reimagine the environment of tomorrow’s schools.
RICARDO a continuing success story
2021
- Launch of the book Sheet Pan Everything in English Canada and the United States
- Launch of Ricardo’s vlog and the debut of the brand on TikTok
- Launch of food products: Rotisserie-grilled Portuguese chicken and dipping sauce (2), instant yeast (1) and sheet cakes (2)
- Launch of frozen dishes in the 44 Sélection Retraite retirement residences
- DUX Award for the book À la plaque in the Initiatives in Communication and Education category
- Named to the Palmarès des 110 entreprises au féminin by the magazine Premières en Affaires
2020
- Launch of the book À la plaque in Quebec
- Launch of the Café RICARDO gourmet boxes for pickup or delivery
- Launch of food products: Butterflied chickens (3), fresh family dishes (4 + 1 Christmas special edition), individual frozen dishes (6), Stuffed turkey roast (1), yule logs (2) and sheet cakes (2)
- Ricardo ranked 21st on Léger Marketing’s 2020 Personalities of the Year list
2019
- The book Vegetables First, wins the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for Canada, in the Television Chef Book World category
- The book Plus de Légumes wins Gold at the Taste Canada Awards
- Publication of the book Vegetables First
- Launch of the quiz game Le Quiz des aliments, by RICARDO et Éditions Auzou
- Increased diversification of content on our digital platforms
- Opening of the first Comptoir RICARDO express counter at Quebec City's Galeries de la Capitale
- Launch of six RICARDO cooking sauces and the three new cakes sold exclusively at IGA
2018
- 3 major honours : Brand of the year 2018, Strategy Marketing, Best Magazine, 2018 National Magazine Awards, DUX 2018 Grand Prix Award, Communications Category
- Ricardo et Brigitte receive an honorary degree from Université Laval for their contribution to food and nutrition in Quebec
- Publication of the books Explique-moi... les aliments and Ultimate Slow Cooker
- Opening of a new RICARDO Boutique + Café at Galeries de la Capitale in Quebec City
- The most popular dessert at Café RICARDO is made available exclusively at IGA stores across Quebec.
- Ricardo is guest chef for Iron Chef Canada on Food Network
2017
- To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, Ricardo hosts and produces We are the best/On est les meilleurs
- The TV show Chef in Your Ear / Un chef à l’oreille, produced by Ricardo, is sold to Warner Bros. for international distribution
- Ricardo receives the National Order of Quebec
- A new RICARDO Boutique + Café opens in Laval, Quebec
- The RICARDO online boutique is launched
2016
- Opening of Café RICARDO, adjacent to the RICARDO Boutique in Saint-Lambert
- Ricardo becomes a weekly contributor to the Toronto Star and the Star Touch tablet app
- RICARDO magazine is named Best Magazine Brand and receives the gold medal for the feature “Végé inspiré” at Canada’s National Magazine Awards
- Les Gourmands, a new show hosted by Ricardo et Francis Reddy, debuts on ICI Radio-Canada
- Publication of the book Un Québécois dans votre cuisine in France
- The book Slower is better is launched
- Ricardo receives a diploma Honoris Causa from the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec
- The Art of the Table textile collection is launched
2015
- Publication of the books La Mijoteuse 2 and Mon premier livre de recettes, which sells over 100,000 copies
- Ricardo coproduces and hosts the television show Un chef à l’oreille
- Ricardo receives a second Gémeaux award for the show RICARDO
2014
- RICARDO wines hit the shelves at SAQ stores in Quebec
- Ricardo receives the Order of Canada
- Canadian launch of the English version of RICARDO magazine
- The first Espace RICARDO boutique opens in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, along with the Mama Choka chocolate shop
2013
- RICARDO Media receives the Concours Boomerang People’s Choice Award and is a finalist in the Media Website category
- Launch of the book Slow Cooker Favourites
- RICARDO content appears in La Presse+ every week
2012
- Ricardo receives a Gémeaux award for best television host
- Ricardo stars in Le Fermier urbain on Radio-Canada
- Publication of the slow cooker book La mijoteuse – De la lasagne à la crème brûlée (over 185,000 copies sold to date)
- In recognition of his commitment and dedication to youth, Ricardo receives the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
2011
- Ricardo laucnhes his line of kitchen accessories (over 2 million items sold to date)
- RICARDO accessories are sold at Safeway stores throughout Canada
2010
- Inauguration of the television production house Productions 350°
2009
- ricardocuisine.com is launched
- The book Meals for every occasion is published
2008
- Publication of the book Parce qu’on a tous de la visite
2007
- Ricardo hosts Ricardo and Friends on Food Network Canada
- Publication of the book La chimie des desserts
2006
- Publication of the book Weekend Cooking
2004
- Publication of the book Ma cuisine week-end
2002
- The weekday cooking show RICARDO debuts on Radio-Canada
- RICARDO magazine (French) is launched