News

20 02, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E25: Nathan and Akiyo Lowey

February 20th, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 and new adventures and how they both came together and built a life together. Now it's kids, business and the most amazing Cheese Crusted Oyako Sandwich. I hope you enjoy their humble stories and it's a good time to think about going down to Dosanko and enjoying what they do best.

13 02, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E24: Mijune Pak

February 13th, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 enjoy this conversation.

5 02, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E23: Celeste Mah and Ross Larkin

February 5th, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 now closed Raymonds restaurant. They opened Portage in the summer of 2022 and are now the boss or bosses. Celeste and Ross were in Vancouver hosting a dinner with the folks at L' Abattoir Restaurant in Gastown and between that and visiting family they took some time to come down for a chat.

29 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E22: Valerie Lister and Erin O’Byrne

January 29th, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 highly accredited professionals in this space who are trying to change the culture and stigma of mental health challenges within businesses and organizations in the hospitality space. Listen as we chat about the resources available and how there really is no reason any longer to not set up a mental health safety plan at your establishment.  Please check out https://www.go2hr.ca/

21 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E21: Ashley Kurtz

January 21st, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 French Cuisine St Lawerence. He is now a business partner of JC's and they work together to bring some of the best food in Vancouver to their guests.

21 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E20: Ron McKinlay

January 21st, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 became his future he never looked back. His love of Canadian ingredients, classic French technique and the backing of his team at Canoe has allowed him to push boundaries and put out some the most interesting food in Canada. Take a listen as always, let us know what you think.

21 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E19: Nick Bertoia & Chris Rielly

January 21st, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 respective operations. Nick of Boxset Collective and Chris of Nightengale/ Hawksworth exemplify those great fundamentals and have the ability to teach them to anyone willing to learn. Hospitality is what truly brings people back to your establishment, food and drink are important, but if you can make a guest feel special, they are yours for life. Take a listen, I hope you learn something, and please, let us know what you think.

21 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E19: Jacques Kabuya

January 21st, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 it is because of the love of what they do. This week I get to sit down with Jacque, unfortunately Janice was getting over a bad cold, and we delve in to the life of a caterer here in the lower mainland. I hope you all enjoy the show.

21 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E18: Spencer Watts

January 21st, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 Comfort Food. Watch out for the book to accompany the series in the new year.

21 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E17: Ned Bell

January 21st, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 like we a do, working our butts off. Then with some tenacity, confidence and a never ending desire to move forward, he has shown all of us that we as individuals can make a very big impact on the things we are passionate about. Have a listen and remember to comment or ask questions on our instagram page.

21 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E16:Thompson Tran

January 21st, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 teacher, an entrepreneur, a restaurateur, a passionate chef, a musician and a loving family man. I hope you learn as much as did from Thompson Tran.

21 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E15: Renée Lavallée

January 21st, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 our conversation. I hope you enjoy this weeks episode.

21 01, 2024

Mise en Place: S03E14

January 21st, 2024|CTS News, Mise en Place|

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 people within it are infectious and rare, I learned a lot from Karl and I hope you do to.

1 12, 2023

Restaurant Culture Shift – Assessment Tool

December 1st, 2023|CTS News|

Are you an independent restaurant group with 1 or 2 locations (up to 99 staff members) that is looking for new ways to engage with your staff, increase retention and enhance your workplace culture?

We're excited to report that we've received funding for a tangible Restaurant Culture Shift Program. We've read the existing research on the challenges with labour shortage and Read More ...

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