Last July we were hired to be curators for the Bar & Beverage programming at the 2026 Restaurants Canada Show taking place in March in Toronto. This was a new challenge for us as we are normally used to creating and running events of our own creation but this was on a whole other scale: 25K guests visit the RC Show over 3 days. We saw this as a way to make meaningful impact on a new (for us) audience. When asked who we wanted as the keynote speaker, we immediately said: Chockie Tom. Chockie is an industry professional whom we have admired from afar for many years. She is an Indigenous Hospitality Advocate who has always used her platform for great things and isn’t afraid to shout from the rooftops. It was such a pleasure to have her in Toronto and to spend some time with her at the show, our hotel room bar (ask us about it next time you see us) and at her pop-up The Cornsilk Road. When Chockie uses her voice, we should all listen.
Bartender Atlas: Where were you born?
Chockie Tom: I was born in California, in Los Angeles.
BA: In what city do you currently work?
CT: I am in London, but working is kind of relative because I’m a freelancer right now. Every once in a while, I pick up shifts at Werewolf Beer in Camden.
BA: What’s your job title or how would you describe your role in the hospitality industry?
CT: Oh my God. So, let me look at my own bio. The thing I tell people is that I was a bartender for a long time and then I got good at doing fancy drinks. And then I went into brand work and then when I was in brand work I realized that I had an opportunity to use funds and visibility to do good things for my community. So, now I kind of sit with advocacy, mentorships, drinks writing and I do a lot of education and stuff, utilizing indigenous traditions like storytelling.
BA: Where do you go out to eat and drink on your days off?
CT: Currently, one of my favourite places is The Black Heart in Camden. LD’s Kitchen (which has been based there) is actually my favourite restaurant. I still love The Black Heart as a bar, but LD’s is now leaving to work on some really exciting upcoming projects.
Currently, one of my favourite places is in Camden. Unfortunately, my favourite restaurant, it’s vegan food, but they make the best goddamn tater tots in London and the best ranch dressing. They’re gonna be doing pop-ups, but that’s usually where I go.
And also, The Black Heart is the only bar in London that my husband’s not allowed into, so it’s my bar. Because I needed somewhere where I could go that was just mine and there’s always good metal shows and they set a really high standard for what bar merch can be.
BA: What do you do outside of work on your days off?
CT: I go see a bunch of gigs. I hang out at the Tate. I do random writing. I have a new kitten, so, you know, I spend a lot of time playing fetch with her. And just weird ideas. I decided one day I was going to go find all the bars in one area with photo booths, so I did that. I just come up with random adventure things because although I’ve been in London for almost six years, the first couple years I was there was during COVID and I was a bit disabled for long COVID, so I’m kind of making up for it by having kind of like wacky choose your own adventure days.
BA: Who’s your favourite fictional bartender?
CT: Ooh, I just like Dorothy Parker.
BA: What’s one album you think everyone should listen to?
CT: Oh, fuck, okay, see, normally I would say songs of Leonard Cohen and get extra Canada points. I don’t think there is one album you should listen to but I think that everyone should listen to one essential album in every genre of music at least once, because limiting yourself to one album is… I am an ex-music writer and a snob, so I think it’s better to explore different music genres to figure out what you don’t like.
BA: What’s the best advice you have ever gotten?
CT: Be your own boyfriend. Which means don’t expect somebody in your relationship to make you cooler or better. Do that stuff for yourself first and then you’ll actually find the people that love you for who you are.
BA: What’s something that you’re excited about?
CT: Ooh. Well, Desert Fest is coming up, so that’s really cool. I’ll get my metal fix there. One of my Indigenous friends is coming over to Scotland and we’re gonna go out to my other two favourite bars in the UK which are Daddy Marmalades and McChuills, and have a great old time, experience Buckfast and go to the UK version of King Tut’s Wawa Hut, which used to be a New York punk staple.
RETURN TO ALL HOSPITALITY GEMS
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Posted March 17th, 2026
