Mise en Place - the Podcast

Very happy to have Hospitality Giants, Meeru Dhalwala and Shira Blustein on this weeks podcast. They talk about their restaurant Lila up on Main st. How they partnered on the project, how it all came together and how it is going. They give very scholarly advice on the restaurant business and how being precise, but agile helps with success. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. As alw...

In the summer of 2006 I met a young Chef opening his first new restaurant Gastropod, right beside my new restaurant, Fuel. We became fast friends and have been working together in one way or another ever since, Chef Angus An is a Chef and Restaurateur in the truest definition. He and his team have opened eight very successful restaurants, all garnering much critical acclaim and solid business. I h...

I am very happy to have this next guest to the Podcast. I love talking with people who are trying to affect change in our hospitality industry. Mark von Shellwitz has been representing Western Canada on behalf of Restaurants Canada for almost 30years. We dive right into some of the tough subjects, from tipping, to work safe and CRA, to his long history tied to the more political side or policy sid...

On this weeks episode we have Chef and owner of Humo Izakaya and Ask Pablo Cocktail Bar, Kai Koroll. I first met him at COOKSCAMP and was struck by his passion for our community, and continued mentoring of our greatest resource, our people. He is currently the President of Okanagan Chefs Association, strongly leading their members through some of the toughest times our industry has ever seen. I ho...

Every once in a while a new restaurant comes along that try and do something really innovative, interesting and different. Devon Latte and Lucas Johnston have done that with Nero Tondo, a very small little place in deep east Van, on a block known for great little spots. Now for what it is lacking in size, it makes up for in the enormity of its hospitality. Although this podcast was recorded before...

I am so happy to share this Podcast with you. I first met Lesley in 2022, the North Vancouver Island Chefs Association was putting on the first meal of of first in person COOKSCAMP. Remember this was the first time we were really able to get together after the pandemic. Lesley and Ronald led a good sized contingent from the North Island and delivered a delicious lunch and amazing continued support...

Good Day everyone! On this weeks podcast we have a special treat. This Chef came to work for me back in 2004 - 2005, when I was working as the CDC at C Restaurant. He was and is a very talented and hardworking cook and Chef. I am happy to introduce you to my friend Antonio Martin of Haven Restaurant and Stevens Cocktail Corner, both in Langley BC. Listen as we delve into his past and heritage, his...

On this weeks episode of Mise en Place, we have Chef Alex Kim, the Chef and Culinary Director of Five Sails and Glowbal Restaurant in Vancouver. He joins us to share his journey from Seoul, South Korea, to becoming a Chef here in Canada. He moved from Korea to Edmonton as a teenager and fell in love with the idea of becoming a Chef and has dedicated his life to his craft. He loves the use bits and...

On this weeks episode of Mise en Place - the Podcast , we’re delighted to welcome Chef Reuben Major, a dynamic force in Vancouver’s culinary and hospitality scene whose innovative leadership has left a lasting mark on the city’s dining landscape. From his early days crafting menus at Veloute Bistro in Toronto to his role as Executive Chef and part owner of The Settlement Building’s Belgard Kitchen...

On this episode of Mise en Place- the Podcast  we welcome Chef Chris Andraza, a driving force in Vancouver’s culinary landscape and a passionate advocate for sustainable seafood. Originally from Southern Ontario, Chris found his calling in British Columbia’s rich coastal bounty after moving to Victoria in his 20s, where he studied at Camosun College and immersed himself in the world of fresh, loca...

On this episode of Mise en Place , I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chef Patrick Hennessy, the longtime culinary vet,  behind Vancouver’s Michelin-starred gem, Barbara. Nestled in the heart of Chinatown, Barbara is a testament to Hennessy’s remarkable journey—from his early days at West Vancouver’s Beach House to Chambar to  honing his craft at global heavyweight Eleven Madison Park, in Man...

Welcome to Mise en Place - The Podcast , where we sit down with the change makers of the restaurant industry to uncover their stories, passions, and the moments that shape their culinary worlds. This week, we’re delighted to reconnect with Chef Ron McKinley for a second time, catching him at a pivotal moment in his illustrious career. Recently departing from his role as Executive Chef at Canoe Res...

Welcome to Mise en Place – the Podcast, on this weeks podcast our guest is overseeing some of the best restaurants in the Okanagan Valley  — Chef Patrick Gayler , Executive Chef of the iconic Mission Hill Family Estate Winery . With a deep commitment to sustainability, seasonality, and the spirit of collaboration, Patrick has transformed the dining experience at Mission Hill’s Terrace Restaurant i...

On this weeks episode of   Mise en Place - The Podcast . Today, we’re honored to introduce a true icon of Canadian cuisine, Chef Rod Butters. Hailing from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Rod’s journey is one of resilience and reinvention—think a sidelined baseball scholarship turned culinary calling. He cut his teeth at Toronto’s legendary Scaramouche Restaurant, honed his craft with Four Season...

I first met Chef Ronald St. Pierre on the first night of COOKSCAMP three years ago. He was part of a contingent from the North Island Chefs Association, preparing for their lunch service the next day. At some point, Chef Ronald came to me looking for the pork loin he had ordered. I stood there, straight-faced but internally panicked, realizing I had made a massive mistake—I hadn’t ordered what the...

There are many facets to this hospitality business that the general public either don't think of or don't know about. Side businesses that support our restaurants and hotels, like farmers and fishers and ranchers. There is a whole other part that is just as import and can add so much to lives pf the people doing the job and the diners. That is the people that supply the glassware, flatwa...

John Bishop's culinary journey is a testament to how life can unfold in unexpected and magnificent ways. From a young Welsh boy with no grand ambitions beyond escaping his small town, to becoming one of Canada's most influential culinary pioneers, Bishop's story captivates from the first moment. The heart of Bishop's philosophy crystallized in his first days at cooking school:...

This week, we’re thrilled to sit down with a longtime friend of the show, Chef Cory Pelan of The Whole Beast in Victoria, BC. Cory’s not your typical chef—he stepped into the kitchen later in life. After some time in restaurant kitchens he began carving out a mouthwatering legacy in the art of charcuterie. With a passion for pork and the magic of salt and time, he’s turned humble cuts into absolut...

When people speak of a classic Irish Pub or a perfectly poured pint of Guinness in Vancouver, they will always talk about the Irish Heather first. Sean Heather built his public House from a yearning for Dublin, and a real understanding that nostalgia can build community stronger than just about anything. Sean has continued to own and run a string of other great places and has not looked back. Alwa...

On today's podcast we have restaurant owner and businessman David Duprey, owner of the Narrow Group. He started with the infamous Narrow Lounge and then onto many more interesting ventures. We get into the nitty gritty of being a restaurant owner in Vancouver and what it can take to actually run a successful business at this time. I hope you enjoy the conversation, I know I did.  Send us your...

On this podcast I am so happy to finally have on Joanna Jagger, Director and Founder of the Worth Association. An organization that Champions women in the Hospitality and Tourism space. The Yes Shef event held each year that highlights women Cooks and Chefs in hospitality and is one of the coolest food events of the year. I really hope you enjoy our conversation about the women in our industry. Le...

On this weeks episode we have a long time advocate and champion of the hospitality industry, Samantha Scholefield. Her work with the BCRFA and the Chefs' Table Society has changed the lives of many people. From the GWRC and SLMP programs to her work helping the community navigate the almost weekly changes during the Covid times. It was a pleasure to speak with her and I am happy and excited t...

On this weeks podcast we are excited to have on Chef Chanthy Yen. Growing up in Windsor Ontario, Chanthy was lucky enough to grow up learning to cook from his Cambodian grandmother. His love of amazing food turned into a very successful career that has taken him across the country and around the world. Honing his skill at the much lauded Northwest Culinary Academy and has never looked back. He wor...

On this weeks podcast we have freelance writer/ journalist, William Johnson. His writing has covered entrepreneurship, business, tech, and leadership but he has a massive love of the restaurant business. We spend an hour chatting about his outsider perspective on story telling, tipping, restaurant culture, food journalism and much more. His unique perspectives help paint a picture from a nuanced c...

On this weeks podcast I have a very interesting guest. He has over twenty years of experience managing restaurants and looking at the best ways to view data to maximize the performance of your restaurant. He has taken the old standard metrics and turned them upside down. Looking at everything from simple food and labour costs to leadership and managing personnel. His name is Jim Taylor, owner of B...