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Restaurant manager and sommelier Arashasp Shroff won the Ontario Hostelry Institute’s (OHI) Top 30 Under 30 award on March 28, 2019. "This high profile recognition celebrates and recognizes future generations of hospitality leaders who are and will continue to make a difference,” notes the Institute’s website theohi.ca.
Since the winter of 2018, Shroff has been manager at the 360 restaurant at the CN Tower, a signature icon of Toronto’s skyline. It held the record for the world’s tallest, free-standing structure for 32 years until 2007 when it was surpassed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. As sommelier, Shroff oversees their beverage program too.

 

 

 

 

 

From the 150 nominations received this year for the Top 30 Under 30 award, the 22 members on the selection committee narrowed in on the 30 awardees who are not only "great at their job but also show leadership potential and seek the betterment of the industry through their professional and or their industry related volunteer work.”
Twenty-six-year-old Shroff is a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, and earned his postgraduate degree in Advanced Wine and Beverage Management from the George Brown College in Toronto, topping the class with the Wines of Spain award and subsequently sitting on the Professional Advisory Committee for this program. He decided to become a sommelier after completing intensive study under two master sommeliers in Napa Valley and working as a sommelier at the student run restaurant.
"I started my professional journey at an Indian fine dining restaurant in Newport Beach, California,” noted Shroff in his email responses to Parsiana. His internship at the Tamarind of London, helped him learn the ins and outs of Indian cuisine. After graduation he was recruited by JW Marriott to join their Leadership Development Program. At the end of the year-long program, he moved to Singapore to be part of the pre-opening of Spago, Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant at the Marina Bay Sands. He has also gained experience at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto and the Awai restaurant.
"I plan on eventually opening a Zoroastrian hospitality center, educating the people of the world in our cuisine, tradition and religion,” revealed Shroff. "I believe raising awareness and bringing people together can be achieved through food and drinks. The plan is to have a restaurant/banquet hall as also a space for educational lectures, demonstrations, cooking classes and a kids center.”
Secretary of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC), Toronto chapter, Shroff has played a vital role in its recreation and is keen on establishing a mentorship and networking group for young hospitality professionals. Every month he hosts a social to bring together "friends and friends of friends, to unite my local community and spread joy and happiness.” Convinced that there are considerable opportunities and avenues for assistance available to Parsis keen on entrepreneurship, he adds, "Organizations like the WZCC give people the tools and support necessary to succeed.”
Arashasp’s mother Dilnavaz Shroff who serves as global director for the WZCC is now semi-retired, working as a consultant for newspapers and magazines. His father Vistasp too is semi-retired, occasionally doing graphic work for websites and magazines. "I have placed my faith in Ahura Mazda, practiced our tenets and allowed God and my parents to support me throughout my journey. Zoroastrians are known for being lovers of food and drinks, so it was natural that I ended up in that line of work,” Arashasp mentions.