Thottungal, Joe: - Joe Thottungal is a Canadian chef and the owner of the restaurants Coconut Lagoon and Thali in Ottawa. Joe was born in Kerala, trained in Mumbai, and worked in the Middle East before moving to Canada, where he earned his Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) designation. In 2008, Joe was named Ottawa Chef of the Year by the Canadian Culinary Federation. In 2016, he won the top prize at Ottawa's Gold Medal Plates competition, followed by a silver medal at the 2017 Canadian Culinary Championships. His first cookbook, Coconut Lagoon, celebrated regional south Indian cuisine and won the gold at Taste Canada Awards in 2020. Joe lives in Ottawa with his wife and three children.