About Us
Chef Laura Maxwell
Laura is the Executive Chef of Avling, where she leads with vision, creativity, and a deep commitment to Ontario’s food culture. Her menus are built on the circularity of restaurant and brewery, fuelled by Avling’s own rooftop farm, and anchored in strong partnerships with local farmers and producers. Under her guidance, Avling proudly achieved Feast On® certification, a mark of excellence in sustainable dining.
A Red Seal certified chef and George Brown honours graduate, Laura specialized in Italian Culinary Arts Management, training in Michelin-starred kitchens in northern Italy before returning to Toronto, where she worked across some of the city’s most respected restaurants and hotels. She rose through the ranks to become Executive Chef at Le Sélect Bistro and later at the iconic Drake Hotel, before finding her home at Avling.
Her work has been honoured with the Ontario Hostelry Institute’s Top 30 Under 30 Award, two Food Day Canada Good Food Innovation Awards, and the 2024 People’s Choice Award at Canada’s Great Kitchen Party in Toronto.
Beyond the kitchen, Laura embraces challenge and balance — most recently completing her first Sprint Triathlon in August 2025, a reflection of the same focus and determination she brings to her cooking and leadership.
Brew Master Brandon Judd
Toronto-born and raised, Brandon has worked in restaurants throughout his entire adult life. In 2012 at Indie Ale House, he started his career brewing beer. After three years there, he moved to Godspeed Brewery from 2016-2018. During that time, he acquired his diploma from VLB Berlin is his accreditation as a Brew Master.
In 2018, Brandon came to Avling as the Brew Master where he works with the team to create a wide variety of brews, from special barrel-aged beers, to unique sours using 99% Ontario ingredients, to our core line. Brandon’s vision can be summed up: "German techniques, North American beers.”
Awards & Certifications
100km Foods
August’s Harvest
Back Forty Artisan Cheese
Bright Cheese and Butter Co
Cookstown Greens Inc.
ChocoSol
Dennis’ Horseradish
Downey Farms
Ennis Maple
Enright Farms
Fogo Island Fish Inc.
Hillside Garden Farms
Homestead Eggs
Haven Greens
Our Local Suppliers
We foster relationships directly with suppliers who prioritize regenerative production methods and sustainable approaches.
Jackson Meats
Johnson’s Family Bakery
K2 Milling
King Cole Duck
Kozlik’s Mustard
Lennox Farm
Marc’s Mushrooms
Mariposa Dairy
Mosto Foods
Niagara Vinegar Co
Perth Pork
Pristine Gourmet
Quality Cheese
Queens Pasta
Rosewood Estates Winery
Seacore Seafood
Sheldon Creek Dairy
Spirit of York
St. Brigid’s Dairy
St. David’s Hydroponics
Stonetown Artisan Cheese
The Butcher Shoppe
Thompson’s Potato Farm
Vancouver Island Salt
Warner’s Farm
Woodward Meats
Zephyr Organics