About Us
Our people & our values.
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
Sustainability
We're Feast On® certified! This means that we meet a stringent set of standards set by the Culinary Tourism Alliance to prove that we are committed to sourcing Ontario-grown and raised ingredients. When you dine with us, you know you're getting a genuine taste of local.