Connor Mooney is the founder and guiding force behind The Big Burly Chef (TBBC) a chef-led luxury adventure company born from fire, flavor, and a lifelong love of Africa.

For over 18 years, Connor has lived, worked, and explored across Africa and beyond, traveling through more than 40 countries worldwide. His journey is rooted in genuine connection, built through time spent in kitchens, camps, villages, and wild places.

One of Connor’s greatest life experiences came in Tanzania, where he was invited by Maasai warriors to be ceremonially dressed by them a moment of deep trust and cultural exchange that forever shaped how he approaches travel and human connection.

At his core, Connor is a chef. He trained under one of Canada’s most respected culinary figures, Justin Leboe, and has deep roots in Calgary, where his career began. His path spans fine dining, luxury lodges, and remote bush kitchens, including leading operations feeding over 500 people, three meals a day, for six consecutive months.

Food, for Connor, is culture. It is how stories are shared and relationships are built. That philosophy extends beyond the table into his deep respect for wildlife, conservation, and wild places from gorilla encounters in Bwindi to elephant tracking in Zimbabwe.

Today, Connor personally hosts and escorts small, high-touch journeys across Africa, blending luxury with authenticity. TBBC is not about excess it’s about depth, beauty, and connection.