Mise en Place - the Podcast

On this weeks episode, I was lucky to be able to catch Jeff Van Geest in Vancouver and had him over to our podcast studio. I have known Jeff almost as long as I have been in Vancouver so it was really great to catch up and discuss the business on hospitality from one old Chef to another. Jeff is the owner and Executive Chef at Miradoro Restaurant down in Oliver BC. Set in the heart of wine country...

On this weeks episode, that we recorded earlier this year, are to young entrepreneurs with roots in Vancouver but now call Toronto home. The Chef Linda Jong and Gene Carpenter are the masterminds behind Fattoush Sandwich Club and Elsie's Coffee/ Record Shop. Both small and very unique spots that give a lot of interesting flavour and vibe to their respective neighbourhoods. Listen to them both...

So happy t have on todays guest. Dez Lo is a Chef who has made Vancouver her home for the last 15 years. Born in Hong Kong and gaining her culinary chops in New York City, she came to Vancouver to start a new life and hasn't looked back. She went on to conquer, or almost conquer Top Chef Canada, and is now onto to her newest venture as an entrepreneur. Dez has been developing a cheese biscuit...

This weeks podcast is a day late but good things come to those who wait. We have Executive Chef and owner of Vancouver Private Dining and Sunshine Coast Catering, Evan Elman. It was great hearing his inspirational and entrepreneurial story of taking the big leap into beginning a business and being the driving force behind it. I love getting to know these young business people who carve out their o...

In this weeks episode we have restaurateurs Nathan and Akin Lowey. The husband and wife duo of the Hokkaido style restaurant on Powell St called Dosanko. They talk about the struggles and triumphs of owning a small family run place on the east side of Vancouver. From Nathans beginning, growing up and starting his cooking career on the prairies. For Akiyo, making her way to Canada to find meaning a...

Today we had the opportunity to chat with with none other than my old friend Mijune Pak. Her amazing story of carving out a career in hospitality is pretty amazing. From her humble beginnings to eating across France and Portugal at 3 Michelin starred restaurants. Her love of great food in infectious and her love of the Chefs, Managers, Waiters and Sommeliers runs very deep as well. I hope you enjo...

This week we have an amazing duo joining us on the podcast. Pastry Chef Celeste Mah and Chef Ross Larkin of Portage, of a fairly new restaurant in St. Johns Newfoundland. Celeste an East Van native and Ross a traveler from St. Johns met here in Vancouver cooking at Chambar. Their love of food and for each other took them both back to Newfoundland to work with an old friend Jeremy Charles at the no...

The not for profit organization Go2HR help the hospitality and tourism industry in BC. Their  many mandates cover things from HR to training to research and strategy, and mental health and safety of individuals. The amazing part is that it a free resource for anyone in the business. Today we speak particullay about occupation mental health and safety with Valerie Lister and Erin O'Byrne. Both...

This weeks episode has a very special guest. Executive Chef Ashley Kurtz, of St Lawerence. With dreams of professional hockey and then the reality of life, his path changed gears and cooking became his life's passion. He has grown his career experience in small independent restaurants, in Canada and in Europe.  Eventually being tapped by renowned  BC Chef JC Poirier to help open his ode to Fr...

Very excited to have on one of Canada's Best Chefs on the Podcast this week. Executive Chef Ron McKinlay of Canoe Restaurant in Toronto speaks of his time in Europe refining his skill set in fine dining kitchens in Scotland, and the realities of cooking at a high level. BC born and raised, Ron first love was the rugby pitch and that is what set him on his world travels. Once fine dining becam...

Hospitality is at the core of what our industry is all about, we make people feel welcome and help customers enjoy themselves. This happens all over the world and happens in the classiest of places to the darkest dive bars. These fundamentals while sometimes common sense, are still needed to be taught to your staff so everyone is bringing that same level of service and hospitality to their respect...

Chef Jacques as everyone knows him is one of the most infectiously happy people I have ever had the chance to chat with. Extremely positive and loves our hospitality industry dearly. He and his business partner and wife Janice Kabuya own and run Salt and Sear Catering, and Sip and Stir Bartending Services. Their little business has grown exponentially over the last few years and I believe and know...

Lower mainland born and raised, Spencer Watts joins us on the Mise en Place Podcast today. From humble beginnings as a young line cook at the Keg, working his way to Chef's positions and then then fulfilling a long time dream of being on TV. Spencer and his team won two James Beard Awards for Broadcasting and are he is continuing his work with his own production company and hit new series Com...

In this weeks episode we dive deep with Chef and Board member of the Chefs' Table Society, Ned Bell. With 35 years as a Chef and Restaurateur across Canada, along with countless hours of work dedicated to our Oceans, the Agricultural community and being an advocate for a healthier lifestyle in our hospitality industry. My hope for this conversation was to show that Ned started off his career...

I have been lucky enough to meet many Chefs over the years, but I don’t think I know one who is more passionate about our industry than Thompson Tran. Raised in Langley BC, his love of food was just a way to make a living and a way to explore his other passions. Then food and being a cook became his way of life and he has done more than most to make our industry better from the inside out. He is a...

Renée Lavallée is a Chef, entrepreneur, partner, mother,  and community builder, but just call her Renée. We had a chance to catch up a few days after COOKSCAMP to talk about back east, what brought her into the business and how she has navigated all that restaurant ownership can bring. Her insightful addition to the panel of Women in Industry was very well received and we expand on it a bit more...

In this weeks episode we speak with long time Chef and Entrepreneur Karl Gregg of Rosies BBQ and Smokehouse. Karl has over 25years under his belt in the hospitality business and has been part of all facets of the business from multi unit fast casual to independent businessman to food truck operator to now bringing authentic Texas style BBQ to the lower mainland. His love of the business and the pe...

This weeks episode features a conversation I had with local Chef Daniel McGee of Wentworth Hospitality. Born and raised in North Vancouver, and his hometown roots define who he is. A family man, who has cultivated an intense love of gastronomy and hospitality. Currently the Chef de Cuisine at Maxine's on Burrard, but will be growing with Wentworth's ever expanding empire. Listen to Danie...

From the Arctic wilds of the Yukon Territory, to Michelin starred restaurants of London, to mega yachts on the French Riviera. Chef Chris Irving has seen and done more in his career than most. A sophisticated ascetic with a down home attitude, Chris is aways quick with a warm smile and great stories. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Podcast. Send us your feedback

Chef Chen is probably one of the most accomplished Chefs in Canada right now. Listen as Alex tells his story of being born in Malaysia, raised in Vancouver and understanding his love and gift for food and hospitality. We also talk Alex about Alex at COOKSCAMP last year and its impact on the business. Also his new restaurant Wildblue, COOKSCAMP 2024 and beyond. Listen now. Send us your feedback

Geoff Hopgood is an independent restaurant owner, independent entrepreneur and an independent thinker. He and is family own and run Juniper Food and Wine in Wolfville Nova Scotia. A very successful small restaurant in a small college town, that supports them immensely. Geoff talks about his time in Vancouver and Toronto and his eventual move out to the maritimes to find the balance that everyone i...

One of our most interesting activations at COOKSCAMP 2023 is our panel on Women in Industry. After chatting with the moderator of this panel, Meeru Dhalwala,  we both agreed that this is such an important conversation that we should start it on the podcast. That the more we talk about it, the better we will all better understand where everyone is coming from. This is a deep dive, a hard conversati...

A day after we recorded our episode, Meeru and I decided that we needed to add an addition to our chat. Some strategic actual take aways for people to hear to better understand each other and the needs of Women in our industry. Listen to this one for the take aways, Listen to the longer ones for the deep dive and deeper understanding. Both are worth your time and in this business, understanding on...

Leadership is at the successful core of any great business. They say some leaders are born, in my experience, great leaders are trained, mentored and continue learning. Margot Baloro is, a manager, a sommelier, a Les Dames Escoffier, a mentor and most importantly a leader. Rarely do I have the pleasure to chat with someone that is so passionate about our industry as Margot is, but also someone who...

Hamid Salimian is one of the most well respected Chefs in Canada. He is a teacher, a cook, a product developer, an entrepreneur, the CEO of Goodflour Co. , a business partner and a friend. Hamid talks about growing up in Iran and his journey through Turkey and finally to Vancouver. He is passionate about food and he is even more passionate about the people he feeds. I am very happy to introduce yo...