The Mise-en-Place Podcast

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 Read More …

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 Read More …

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 Read More …

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 Read More …

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 Read More …

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. Read More …

On this weeks episode we invited long time front of house industry veteran and now media creator, James Grass to the podcast. After learning the trade of hospitality from some of the best in BC, James started his own business, showing what he learned so well. That slowly morphed into his early ideas for Chefs' Favourites and Mates on Crates. It has become the go to platform to get the word out about what is happening in the food scene in Vancouver. The Chefs Favourites Read More …

A Vancouver born native, Chef David Speight fell in love with our industry as most of us have, out of need and then finding purpose and meaning in the cooking and hospitality. After cooking and running some larger restaurant operations, he was presented with the opportunity to run the behemoth that is GM Place and did so successfully at the same time that the Canucks had their best years. Coincidence, I don't think so. Then he left for the biggest challenge of his career, running Read More …

On this weeks podcast I have the opportunity to sit down with President and CEO of Glowbal Restaurant Group. As a young eager and ambitious immigrant from Egypt, Emad moved to Canada in the 1980's. His humble beginnings as a breakfast cook in a very busy hotel, took him to be a very successful Chef and then restauranteur. His constant drive for hospitality and sharp business sense has grown the Glowbal Brand to 8 restaurants and the 9th coming in 2026. From his stories of Read More …