Jackie Kai Ellis is a multi-disciplinary creator. Designer, bestselling author, pastry chef, entrepreneur, TV host, advice columnist and other bits n’ bobs.
Below, a non-chronological list.
Designer / Creative Director
After studying fine arts and design in Toronto and Vancouver, Jackie Kai Ellis became a creative director, co-owning a firm specializing in strategic branding.
Beaucoup Bakery & Café
Jackie left design to pursue her passion for pastry in Paris. After finishing her studies, she founded the award-winning pâtisserie, Beaucoup Bakery & Café in Vancouver – featured in countless publications and media including Bon Appétit Magazine.
Aiming to inspire, she developed scholarship programs for her chefs and baristas, and implemented a transparent business structure to empower her team. In 2017 she sold the bakery to two of her original team.
Bestselling Memoir
Jackie turned her passion for authentic storytelling and launched her instant bestselling memoir, The Measure of My Powers: A memoir of food, misery and Paris, published with Penguin Random House.
The book was translated in French as La Mesure de Mes Forces: souvenirs de saveurs, de souffrance et de Paris.
Head of Product Development
After a successful collaboration with linen brand, Wilet, on a their “cuisine” capsule collection, Jackie joined the team for 6 months to help expand the linen product lines in categories such as bedding, bath, kitchen, sleepwear, and home accessories.
APT La Fayette
A personal project, Jackie immersed herself in the design and renovation of her Paris apartment, which has since been featured on the cover of Real Living Australia, House & Home Magazine, on ArchitecturalDigest.com, Curbed.com, Apartment Therapy and other international publications.
It is now a pied-à-terre and vacation rental for those visiting Paris. Visit aptlafayette.com for more details.
Lifestyle / Travel / Food Writer
In the realm of lifestyle journalism, Jackie has written articles that curates inspiring food, design and travel experiences for various print and online publications. This naturally flowed into other forms of media, regularly appearing on TV, radio, online and print as an expert on lifestyle and topics promoting passionate living.
TV Host
Jackie is an award-winning host of a 5 part docu-series, House Special, that chronicles the Chinese Canadian experience through the lens of small-town Asian food joints and the families that run them. Watch here.
Co-creator / Partner
With a desire to create with like-minded entrepreneurs, companies and creatives, Jackie collaborates as a designer, stylist, and consultant for lifestyle businesses, interiors and capsule collections. She co-created a line of kitchen and dining linens with Wilet, which was featured in Martha Stewart Living.
Fashion / Style
As an ambassador for brands such as CHANEL and Nordstrom, Jackie has also been featured in publications such as FASHION, ELLE, NUVO and the Globe & Mail as one of Canada’s best dressed.
The Paris Tours
The Paris Tours was hobby business that was created for the fun of hosting pastry tours of the best pâtisseries in Paris. It was featured in Vogue.com among other national publications.
Advice Columnist
With a background spanning design, baking, entrepreneurship, writing, and public speaking, Jackie is no stranger to hardships—and to overcoming them. ASK JKE is a monthly advice column for Vitruvi’s Our Natural Habitat on relationships, work, and wellness, where Jackie mines her own life experiences to offer up curated musings for readers.
Public Speaker
Jackie has spoken for companies/events such as Accenture, Whole Foods, Beedie School of Business, Four Seasons, Diffferent in Berlin, and TEDx. Her topics have ranged from crafting an authentic life, the importance of storytelling, building engaging brands and vulnerable leadership.
Critic / Guest / Judge
Jackie has been a part of culinary-focused stages such as Iron Chef Canada, Feast Portland and Canada’s Top 100 Restaurants.
1:1 Mentorship
Jackie offers private one-on-one mentorship sessions. All proceeds go towards a charitable organization. Email to inquire.