The setback might have brought his career to a halt were it not for Pascal Ribreau, the paraplegic chef then running midtown bistro Celestin, who encouraged Syed to keep pursuing his passion for food.

Chef Aleem Pop-Up Restaurant Aleem Syed’s story is an inspiring one. The Toronto chef, whose resume includes stints at Canoe and Origin North, sustained a spinal cord injury back in 2008 that ...