Christine Flynn an Executive Chef at Toronto’s iQ Food Co. has come clean about being the Instagram celebrity behind Jacques La Merde. The Instagram takes a humorous approach to the chef lifestyle of being pretentious and perfectionists. Flynn creates and then photographs these carefully plated dishes that are always made up of ingredients found at fast food restaurants or just your classic junk food. Read below to learn more about Christine’s journey and the story behind this infamous Instagram!
1. How and when did your passion for food begin?
I HAVE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT EATING SINCE I WAS BORN. WHEN I WAS A KID I WAS ALWAYS GETTING INTO TROUBLE FOR MY LACK OF SELF-CONTROL. ONCE MY PARENTS HAD TO PRY A STICK OF BUTTER OUT OF MY GREASY HANDS BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO EAT THE WHOLE THING. NOW I AM A BIT MORE MEASURED, BUT I STILL LOVE TO EAT GOOD FOOD AS OFTEN AS I CAN.
2. How did you come up with the name?
I HAD A SAILING INSTRUCTOR WHEN I WAS 11 WHO DRESSED UP AS A FRENCHMAN FOR A DEMO AND CALLED HIMSELF “JACQUES LA MERDE.” I THOUGHT IT WAS HILARIOUS AND JUST ALWAYS REMEMBERED IT.
3. Where did your inspiration for each dish come from?
MOST DAYS I WOULD JUST HIT UP A GAS STATION OR A BODEGA ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AND SEE WHAT LOOKED WEIRD. I’D KIND OF CREATE OUT FROM THERE AND WEAVE IN A NARRATIVE LOOSELY BASED ON SOMETHING THAT HAD HAPPENED THAT DAY.
4. Why did you decide to reveal who your real identity was?
THERE’S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO UNDER THE VEIL OF ANONYMITY. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY IN REAL, TANGIBLE WAYS. WITH JLM I CREATED A PLATFORM TO DO GOOD THINGS, AND THAT IS MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL TO ME THAN INTERNET NOTORIETY.
5. What does the future look like for you?
I’M VERY EXCITED TO BE WORKING W/ A LOT OF TALENTED PEOPLE ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS. I LOVE WORKING AT MY COMPANY, iQ FOOD CO., BUT I’M ALSO THRILLED TO BE PARTNERING UP WITH OTHER CHEFS AND RESTAURANTS FOR CAUSES WE BELIEVE IN.
6. What advice do you give to future chefs?
LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK. SPEND TIME LEARNING THE BASICS AND THEN FORGET ALL THE RULES AND GET CREATIVE.
7. What’s your favorite restaurant?
I LOVE SIMPLE FOOD DONE WELL AND WITH CARE. BUT MORE THAN THAT I LOVE PIZZA. I COULD LITERALLY EAT AT PIZZERIA LIBRETTO EVERY SINGLE DAY AND NEVER GET TIRED OF IT. IT’S A TOTALLY MAGICAL PLACE AND THE SERVICE IS ALWAYS AMAZING.
Check out Christine’s Instagram takeover of @thelignegroup on Monday, May 30th in celebration of Memorial Day!