Mise en Place - the Podcast

On this weeks podcast we have Owners of a magical country restaurant called Wild Mountain Food and Drink, It is located in Sooke, just a short drive from Victoria. I beautiful fishing town on the south west coast of Vancouver Island. We get to chat about their place, some history of the Victoria and Sooke dining scene, SlowFood, the Island Restaurant Collective and what it is like to have a business partner who is also your spouse. It was a fantastic chat. I have such an affinity for people from the Island who have dedicated their lives to our...

On this weeks podcast we have Owner/ Operator and jack of all trades, of Bar Bravo and Barnacle, Jonathan (Jon) Merrill. He talks about how he caught the restaurant bug and has been deep in it ever since. Jon also talk about bootstrapping the opening of Bravo and how the business of having a restaurant in 2026 is going. I hope you enjoy the chat.

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After a short hiatus, we are back to talk about the greatest hospitality event on the planet, COOKSCAMP. Also I explain a New Chefs Code of Conduct. Where it came from and what it could mean to the industry.

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After a couple weeks of hiatus, we are back talking about COOKSCAMP 2026 and a New Chefs' Code of Conduct. A quick recap of this years COOKSCAMP meals, activations and some of the highlights of both. Please go to cookscamp.ca for photos and links to our amazing partners that help us make it happen. 

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On this week's Podcast we have L'Abattoir Executive Chef Jasper Cruickshank. Japser has worked with some of the best in the business. Bruno Marti, Tobias McDonald, Alex Chen, Roger Ma, to name a few. His pedigree and attention to always pushing to be better has taken him far in his career. He has a a lot of really great advice for young cooks, from finding the right mentors to having the right mindset for success. I hope you all like our chat. 

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On this weeks podcast we have a returning guest, Professor Bruce McAdams. He is a tenured academic, teaching and researching at the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism, University of Guelph in Ontario. A career restaurant pro with a really varied skill set, who decides to change gears, becomes an academic and studies ways to figure how to truly change the hospitality sector from a more disciplined and scientific perspective. We dive into tipping as he is the foremost expert on the matter in Canada, leadership, and the state of the ever changing industry. I hope you enjoy our...

On this weeks podcast we have a very well known name and voice in the craft brewing scene here in BC and in Canada, Mr Sam Payne, of Parkside, Rewind and Slackwater Brewing, also owner of Good Hustle Distribution. His insights in beer, hospitality and business of fun makes him a legend in our business. I hope you all enjoy our conversation. 

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On this weeks podcast we have Pastry Chef/ Baker/ Owner of Ex Animo, Aaron Surman. Originally from Brisbane Australia, Aaron started by knocking on the door of the right kitchen to get himself on path of hard work, and perpetual inquisitiveness. From fine dining to building a wholesale bakery empire. Aaron has figured a lot of it out on his own but always goes back to the fundamentals he learned from books. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. 

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On this week's podcast I am very happy to have the Corporate Chef of the Keg, and BC Chefs Chapter President, Steve Lewis. His passion for the industry has had him doing, bartending, waiting, floor manager, store manager, cook, Chef, almost every job you can have in a restaurant he has been successful at. He is also an adamant about nurturing and mentoring younger talent in our industry to become tomorrow's new leaders. I hope you enjoy getting to know Steve as much as I did. 

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On this week's podcast, we have Chef Julian Bond. A Father, a Chef, a Teacher, a Businessman, a Mentor, and absolutely an industry Leader. We get to better understand what makes Julian tick and how he got to where he is today. Love, loss, family, balance, in an industry that is unforgiving and hard. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.  

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On this weeks episode I am very happy to have 2 people on that need no introduction. These two are the force behind Dicky's Dumps, some of the most popular frozen dumplings sold in the lower mainland. For many years these two worked outside the food world and became absolute experts in marketing, branding and sales. That, along with years of event and social media experience and an absolute love of dumpling, their own Hong Kong heritage and their incredible sense of community has made these two synonymous with delicious dumps. I hope you enjoy our chat. 

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On this weeks podcast we have a perspective we don't see that often on the podcast and that is from the supply/ distribution side. Jason Pleym, owner and mastermind behind the wholesale and retail operations at Two Rivers Meats. They also happen to operate a darn tasty restaurant next to the retail butcher shop. There is not a better place to buy a dry aged steak in the lower mainland. Plus they have so many other aspects to their operations, from beef, jerky, sausage making, charcuterie and on and on. I hope you enjoy our chat. 

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On this weeks podcast we have Pastry Chef Oliver Bernardino of the Wentworth Hospitality Group here in Vancouver. Oliver knew from a young age that being a pastry Chef was what he wanted and he has devoted his life to it. Please take a listen to this humble man's journey to fulfilling his dreams and accomplishing so much more. I hope you enjoy our chat. 

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On this week's podcast I had a great chat with Chef Karen Barnaby, cookbook author, Chef, development Chef, practicer of voodoo and woohoo. We go back in time a bit talk about some of the older restaurants in Toronto and Vancouver along with her very long tenure at the Fish House in Stanley Park. Now working a bit slower pace of life as a development Chef, Karen imparts the best advice any Chef can give. You'll have to listen to hear what it is. 

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On this week’s episode, I’m thrilled to chat with hospitality and hotelier legend Charles McDiarmid of the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino BC.

Charles grew up in Tofino and fell in love with the idea of running his own hotel from a young age. After studying at Cornell and gaining experience with the Four Seasons Hotel Group across North America, he returned home to Tofino to pursue his dream.

We talk about what hospitality truly means and what it takes to anticipate your guests needs before they even arrive. For me, it was a fasc...

On this week's podcast I get to chat with return guest, amazing pastry chef, chocolatier, small business owner and opinionated guy, Mr Thomas Haas. We try and tackle some of the bigger problems that we see out there in our industry right now. Commodity pricing, macro economics of chocolate and food, seeing if there is much sense to be made in our very unnecessarily complex system of food. We also delve a bit into a favourite show topic and the exponential increase in tipping culture and how there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. I really enjoyed...

This episode is part 2 of my conversation with longtime hospitality pro and wine expert Kurtis Kolt. In this part we talk about mental health, the state of the industry, tipping and where he sees the industry going. All very insightful takes. I hope you enjoy our chat. 

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In this week's podcast we have a two parter. Kurtis Kolt has been a front of the house legend and sommelier in BC for as long as I have been in Vancouver. Originally from Ontario, he has called Vancouver home for a very long time. His love for wine and our industry permeates everything he does. As one of the founders of Top Drop Vancouver, Kurtis and his partners have built one of the most prestigious wine events in western Canada. Highlighting some of small boutique wineries from around the world that are doing things differently than the big...

On this weeks podcast, we have a very old friend and Industry veteran Luke Kennedy. Vancouver born, starting as a young eager dishwasher at a local North Van place to working in Michelin starred kitchens in Europe to opening Daniels Boulud's first restaurant in Toronto. We chat about his story in the business and in and outs of this amazing industry. Luke has also been involved with COOKSCAMP as our "Pitt Boss", the go to guy to help the different Chefs cook over the charcoal pits and BBQ's. I hope you enjoy our chat. 

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On this weeks podcast I am happy to have on Coulson Armstrong, Culinary Director of Our House Hospitality, based out of Toronto, Ontario. Coulson grew up on a farm and has an incredibly deep love for agriculture and utilizing the best he can find locally. He trained here and Canada and like a lot of friends of the podcast, he fell in love with the business of food and travelled to see the world through the eyes of a cook. His experiences and passion brought him in contact with another great Canadian Chef, Matty Matheson and they started working...

On this podcast we have cook, Chef, sustainability expert, Order of Canada Recipient, Robert Clark. Originally from humble beginnings in Gaspé Quebec, making his way through the kitchens of Toronto, to around the world and ending up in Vancouver. This is where Robert, turned his passion for great product into his lifelong work in seafood sustainability. A great Chef, a voice and and advocate for our industry and still always asking the hard questions. I hope you enjoy our chat.

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Mise en Place on the Road. On this weeks podcast, we are recording is sunny, windy, rainy, overcast and beautiful St. Johns Newfoundland. We are joined by a true native son, fourth generation Newfoundlander, Chef Todd Perrin of Rabble Restaurant in St. Johns. We chat about the sights, some of the history and what it is like to run a restaurant in St. Johns in 2026. I hope you enjoy our chat. 

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On this week's episode we have a many of many hats on the podcast. From a rugby player and cement truck driver to a builder a writer, a founder of the Chefs' Table and a person I call a friend Mr. Jamie Maw. Former food editor of Vancouver Magazine, retired but never stopping. I have wanted to get Jamie on the podcast for a long time. His insights into the Vancouver and Canadian dining scene are second to none. He knows everyone in the business and has been a Champion of the Canadian food scene worldwide for decades. I...

On this weeks podcast I have a 5th generation Shellfish Farmer, Malindi Taylor. The Taylor name is synonymous with some of the best oysters in the Pacific Northwest and they also own and run Fanny Bay Oysters, their shellfish farm north of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. They also own and operate many restaurants in Washington and in Vancouver. The one here is Fanny Bay Oyster Bar & Shellfish Market. The best place for fresh oysters and a bottle of wine in town. I hope you enjoy my chat with Malindi and get a glimpse of her unbridled passion for the...

On this weeks episode I am very happy to have Jonah Joffe of Bar Bravo and soon to be opened Barnacle at the brand new Time out Market. Jonah has garnered a real great reputation with how he runs his kitchen and how he does an amazing job with fish. I hope you enjoy our conversation and head over to Fraser st and sit at his bar, enjoy some sunshine and a cold beer. 

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In this industry we speak of great Chefs and amazing restaurants, but there is an upper echelon of space reserved for the real Titans of our Industry. I am very happy to introduce you to a chef who has been at the top of Vancouvers food scene for 40 years. Chef Michel Jacob. He sold his world famous restaurant Le Crocodile to his former young cook, Chef Rob Feenie, two years ago and it looks like Michel is enjoying his retirement. I really hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did. Michel is a gentleman and Chef.

On this weeks podcast I am happy to share the stories from an absolute legend in Vancouver. For 40 years Caren has been a cook, teacher, entrepreneur and community advocate. I really hope you enjoy her stories and some very sage advice when it comes to business and to life. 

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I am very happy to have Chef Warren Chow of Wildlight Kitchen and Bar to the podcast this week. Warren is an highly motivated young talent who has made a very strong name for himself in a short time. His work with Culinary Team BC and the Chaine d' Rottisiers has cemented his name as a new Hospitality Leader in BC. 

I hope you enjoy our chat. 

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In collaboration Les Dames d’Escoffier we are celebrating the Woman Leaders in Hospitality. Each week we will bring the amazing stories of 4 incredible women to you in this long form podcast. The last in our collaboration  in the series will be Cristina Dias of Mogiana Coffee. Les Dammes d'Escoffier is an international community of women leaders in food, beverage, and hospitality. Les Dames invests in the next generation through scholarships and mentorship and celebrates the women shaping our culinary community.

Cristina Dias is the founder of Mogiana Coffee, a BC-based small-batch roastery connecting Canadian cof...

In collaboration Les Dames d’Escoffier we are celebrating the Woman Leaders in Hospitality. Each week we will bring the amazing stories of 4 incredible women to you in this long form podcast. The third in the series will be Dr. Jane Ruddick, Food Scientist. Les Dammes d'Escoffier is an international community of women leaders in food, beverage, and hospitality. Les Dames invests in the next generation through scholarships and mentorship and celebrates the women shaping our culinary community. 

Dr. Jane Ruddick is a food scientist, consultant, and longtime leader in
Canada's culinary and foodservice industry. With a P...

In collaboration Les Dames d’Escoffier we are celebrating the Woman Leaders in Hospitality. Each week we will bring the amazing stories of 4 incredible women to you in this long form podcast. The second woman in the series will be Maj Yee of Goldilocks Bakery. Les Dammes d'Escoffier is an international community of women leaders in food, beverage, and hospitality. Les Dames invests in the next generation through scholarships and mentorship and celebrates the women shaping our culinary community. 

Maj is the President and Managing Director of Goldilocks Bake Shop (Canada) Inc. and a proud second-generation leader of...

In collaboration Les Dames d’Escoffier we are celebrating the Woman Leaders in Hospitality. Each week we will bring the amazing stories of 4 incredible women to you in this long form podcast. The first in the series will be Susan Mendelson of the Lazy Gourmet and Compass foods. Les Dames d’Escoffier International is an international organization of women leaders with more than 2,800 members in forty chapters in the US, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Italy who provide leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy within their communities. Les Dames are named after Georges Auguste Escoffier a restaurateur, culinary writer, and...

I had the opportunity to chat with Chef Lucais Syme, a local, very well known Chef and restaurateur here in Vancouver. The food and restaurants he has built over the years has made Lucais a legend in our community and Canada. His steadfast dedication to using the best quality local ingredients he can find is also a great reason to eat his food and listen to this podcast. I hope you all enjoy our chat and like always if you have suggestions or comments please reach out via instagram. 

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I am very happy to share my latest podcast with Ali Finn of Cream Pony in North Vancouver and soon to be open Main st. We chat all things about opening a foodservice place in Vancouver, the good and bad, the highs and lows. We chat about working with family and how doughnuts started on a bit of a whim from Alis' Mom, Erin Smith. The doughnuts and the fried chicken are delicious and you should seek them out when you are on Lonsdale or sometime in March or April when they are open on Main st. I hope...

On this episode we have a legend of the Vancouver Restaurant scene, Quang Dang. Originally from Alberta, Quang came to Vancouver to pursue his career and his accomplishments are many. From Diva at the Met to C Restaurant, West, the Bocuse D'or and so many more great accomplishments. Quang has a reputation as a Chefs Chef. Incredibly hard working, imaginative and fantastic cook. I hope you enjoy our chat about amazing local ingredients, the pitfalls of working to hard and amazing food culture we have here in Vancouver. 

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Hello everyone, on this weeks podcast I am very happy to be joined by Chef Tushar Tondvalkar of Kavita Restaurant. On the show we get a great understanding of a recent immigrants journey as a cook in the United States, south east Asia and Canada. Kavita was one of my favourite restaurant meals in 2025 and I am very happy to announce that Tushar will be leading the team for the Cultural meal at COOKSCAMP in September. He, along will a deep talent pool of amazing Chefs will be celebrating the diverse cuisine of India. 

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On this weeks podcast we are presenting an introduction to the Restaurant Culture Shift Toolkit. This FREE resource is available on the Chefs' Table Society of BC website. It's geared towards small independent foodservice businesses, and can save hours and hours of work. The whole idea is to make your culture better which in turn, helps morale amongst the employees, that leads to better engagement with customers and ultimately more revenue. Take a look at the website and I hope you enjoy our conversation. 

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On this weeks podcast we have longtime Chef and owner of La Quercia in Vancouver and La Bettolina (seasonal) in Halfmoon Bay. There are very few Chefs who put ingredients and technique ahead of ego in our Culinary world and Adam is definitely one of those Chefs. That stoic and unrelenting pursuit of quality has forever cemented the reputation of La Quercia and Adam as the high-water mark for food and hospitality in Vancouver. We get an opportunity to chat and he tells the story of how it all came together for him, and his deep respect for the...

Welcome back to Mise en Place, after our restful Holiday break and very happy to share our latest podcast with Chef Sean Cousins and his life and business partner Sandra Dowsett. I met Sean when I first started at C Restaurant in 2002. Sean was running Raincity Grill for Harry Kambolis and it was killing it. He was pushing the limits of local foods, I even remember him picking chanterelles in the endowment lands out at UBC. He has just opened a new restaurant with Sandra in Hope BC called Nomad Social Eatery. I hope you enjoy our conversation 

This week’s episode perfect for ending the old year or kicking off the new one depending on when you tune in. This episode features two of the key operators behind a true Vancouver institution: Chef Raymond Mah and front of house manager Richard Mah from the Northern Café.

A beloved diner since 1949 the Northern Café came under the Mah family’s ownership 17 years ago. Patriarch Jimmy Mah and his wife Connie both seasoned restaurant veterans were looking for a way to stay active in retirement. Word quickly spread about the excellent food and Jimmy soon called on his...