On this weeks podcast we have Essex born Chef, Luke Boswell now running and partnered in Bar Corso on Commercial Drive, here in Vancouver. We chat about the importance of travel, great ingredients and humbling need for family. He will be up at COOKSCAMP next week, so make sure you go up and say hello. He will probably be in the kitchen. As always please DM at @cookscamp2024 suggestions of people who should be on the podcast. 

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On todays podcast we have two of my oldest industry friends. Chef and Co Owner of Harvest Community Foods, Gabriella Meyer and Chef and Owner of Michelin starred Burdock and Co, Harvest Community Foods and Bar Gobo, Andrea Carlson. These two Chefs have been champions of local food and sustainability for a very long time. Their symbiotic approach to the farmer/ producer is what I consider the model for how those relationships should be cultivated. Because of these great relationships, they both produce incredibly delicious food that is good for you, the cook, the farmer and the planet. I hope you enjoy the listen. As always please DM your feedback on @cookscamp2024 on instagram. 

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Hello Everyone, welcome back to this weeks episode of the Podcast. We have a very special guest that I got an opportunity to chat with. Born in Brighton, England, he started his career as an architect and through his desire to travel and open his mind to new opportunity, he found himself as a bartender in Whistler and has yet to look back. Now he is one of the most respected hospitality people in western Canada and is working with the amazing teams at Boxset Collective as the Bar Director, which include Published on Main, Bar Susu, and Mama Said Pizza. We had a fantastic chat and it seems to always circle back to the importance of hospitality and how that hospitality is really what keep people coming back. I hope you enjoy and as usual if you have any comments, please DM me @cookscamp2024

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I am very happy to have had the opportunity to chat with two of the next great leaders of the hospitality industry. Co Chefs of the Restaurant at Poplar Grove in Penticton, Stacy Johnston and Minette Lotz, they share their work life and they share their lives as partners in marriage. Two extremely talented chefs that helped bring the Naramata Inn back to life,  tell their story of the journey through this business, from humble beginnings to running one of the nicest properties in the Okanagan Valley. We are also excited to have Stacy as part of the Chefs Table board and Minette taking part in this Septembers COOKSCAMP as a Chef leader in the worlds largest family meal and leading the daily foraging classes. I am so glad we were able to make time to chat and hear their fantastic story. 

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On this weeks podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with my old friend Michelin Star Chef Joël Watanabe, of Kissa Tanto, Bao Bei and his new bar Meo. Chef Joël has been cooking professionally for over 30 years across Canada. His reputation of incredibly hard work, exacting standards, and absolutely delicious foods, has made Chef Joël one of the best in Canada. I hope you enjoy his stories of finding his calling in the kitchen from a young age, and what Michelin means in Vancouver. As always I hope you enjoy and if you have any feedback let me know on @COOKSCAMP2024 on instagram. 

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On this weeks episode we have one of the hardest working BC Chefs I have had the pleasure to work alongside. Chef Johnny Bridge, has been professionally cooking in BC since high school and has always championed his love of the craft and his love of British Columbia. I remember seeing an instagram post of Johnny jumping off some coastal rocks into the frigid pacific and coming up with some wild BC oysters, shucking them, slurping them down and on his way again. His outlook about the industry and how to make it better and sustainable for everyone was what led him to finally join the Chefs' Table Society of BC and after 4 years as a board member he has been voted in as our new President. I am very excited to see the direction that Johnny takes the CTS in and I am  happy to have him on this weeks podcast. Thank you for listening. 

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On this week's episode we have Executive Chef Clayton Fontaine of the world renown Wickaninnish Inn, one of the most lauded and celebrated hotels in Canada. We delve in Chef's early career, the love of food, ingredients and the amazing west coast. We also chat about the many wonders and challenges of working in a small tourist focused community like Tofino. I hope you enjoyed our conversation and that you have a better understanding in a young Chefs mind. Thank you for listening.

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On this weeks podcast I have a Chef Dennis Peckham. Executive Corporate Chef of the Glowbal Group he in Vancouver. From humble beginnings and go for it attitude, his first job in the industry was at Lumiere. For those who don't know about Lumeire, please look it up. As a first rung on the ladder it was a great place to start, The best part of Chef's story is gets sooo much better for only his second job in a restaurant. Listen in, hear the stories and if you like it, let me know in the instagram comments. 

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In 2022, I asked Chef Bernard Casavant to be the Chef leader of the World's Largest Family Meal at COOKSCAMP 2022. I have known about Chef Casavant for a long time as one of the OG. A Chef who led a team that turned Canadian food upside down while he was opening and running the Chateau Whistler. His reputation as one the best Chef Mentors around came from so many of the other respected Chefs I talked with. When I talked with Chef Casavant about COOKSCAMP and about what we were trying to accomplish, he was all in, 100%. He has become one of our great ambassadors of the event and is now on the steering committee to help bring it to fruition again this year. Those two days at COOKSCAMP in 2022, I saw exactly why he is one of the most respected Chefs in North America. His dedication to the craft, the cooking, the mentoring, going out of his way to make everyone feel included and valued is exactly what COOKSCAMP is all about. I am was so happy to finally be able to sit down and chat with Chef and see where it all started and how his hard work got him to where he is today. I hope you enjoy our chat.

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On todays podcast I am very happy to chat with Brandon Grossutti of Pidgin Restaurant in Vancouver. A Vancouver native, Brandon's unique story of a real BC man, has taken him from fishing boats in the Haida Gwaii to owning an incredible popular upscale ding restaurant in Gastown. His lived perspective as small restaurant owner in the heart of the chaos of the DTES give Brandon a hard knox perspective of the restaurant business. His love of hospitality, his team and his family fuel his passion for making every guest who walks through Pidgin's feel like they are coming home themselves. I hope you enjoy the stories and insights. 

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The 20 somethings who come to the hospitality industry want and need different things than we had, to be fulfilled in their careers. The pontificating from old Chefs and Managers about how hard they had it in their day, means absolutely nothing to this younger generation. They will not tolerate a toxic work environment, shitty pay and no future. They do want to work hard and learn, they want to find balance with their work and personal lives but are willing to sacrifice if there are tangible benefits. On todays podcast I speak with just such a young cook, Danae Dejong, loves this industry and wants to a leader and change maker with in it. She is too young to be jaded and understands the sacrifice to shoot for greatness. I hope you find this podcast as enlightening as I did. 

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On this weeks Podcast we have Mary Mackay, VP of Innovation and Product, and also co owner of Terra breads here in Vancouver. I first met Mary about 15 years ago when I started volunteering for the Chefs' Table Society of BC. She was the one that held the CTS together and to account in those early days for me. Mary has been a part of the restaurant and hospitality scene here in Vancouver for over 30 years. Her Bakery,  Terra breads,  has continued to slowly and effectively grow over the years and always keeping consistency, great products and customer satisfaction at the forefront of their business. 
I think you will enjoy our conversation, I found how her and her husband tackled parenthood with working in this business extremely enlightening. 
Please let me know what you think of the podcast.

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Incredibly happy to Have Chef Bruno Marti on today's podcast. At the young age of 15 Bruno set out on his own to learn the craft of cooking and has never looked back. Born in Switzerland, and from humble beginnings, Bruno carved out a career that has taken him around the world. Chef's pursuit of his love for languages, his incredible work ethic towards the craft of cooking and his never ending desire to prove to himself that his work in Culinary Competition will bring home the gold. His work with the Culinary Teams as a competitor, a coach and as a mentor, are legendary around the world and rightly so. He is one of the most respected culinary champions in the world and his reputation and work take him everywhere. All of his hard work was recognized earlier this year with the highest accolade a Canadian citizen can awarded, induction into the Order of Canada. Not bad for a cook from Switzerland.  

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On this weeks episode we have the Owner, Tim Lahay and Executive Chef of the Barley Merchant. A good sized restaurant in Langley that specializes in local food made from scratch and amazing local beer. From the inception of the Barley Merchant to today, these two forward thinking hospitality vets decided to do run things a bit different. They have changed the game on how things are done and are continuing to rethink how restaurants are operated and how our greatest resource is, our people, are treated. I hope you all enjoy the show.

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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, the restaurant overlooks the amazing vineyards and rolling hills of the South Okanagan. Take a listen, Jeff has very deep roots here in Vancouver and his perspective is unique and very much earned. I hope you like it. 

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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 tell the stories of opening small independent shops with out a lot of support and learning to just make thing happen. A real story of grit and determination. I hope you enjoy.

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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 for most of her career, it came from her love of southern food and wanting the perfect surprisingly delicious bit of food. I hope you enjoy todays podcast, please feel free to leave comments @cookscamp on instagram 

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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 own path in hospitality. You don't just have to grind it out in a small independent restaurant or a hotel. The world is your oyster and YOU define what that means.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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/

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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. 

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On this weeks podcast we do something a bit different. Chef Poyan Dinesh takes the helm and interviews our regular podcast host Robert Belcham. With 30 years in the hospitality industry, tells the stories of his career that help explain how he ended up here in Vancouver opening restaurants. From Fuel to Monarch burger, Robert has opened and ran a string of successful ventures and left an indelible mark on BC's hospitality scene. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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 Daniel's journey of self discipline that inspired me and I hope inspires you as well. 

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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.

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On this weeks podcast we have Kate Siegel, the Executive Pastry Chef of Fairmont's Pacific Rim Hotel. From humble beginnings in small town Ontario, to running the pastry program at the Fairmont's most premiere property in Canada.
Kate' unique perspective on the hospitality community and where it is and where it could go, shows her love and respect for the people within it. I truly believe we need more leaders like her changing the game. I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did. As always, please send comments and suggestions for guests through direct message on @cookscamp2024 on instagram. 

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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.

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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 is looking for. I hope you enjoy this podcast and go and visit Geoff the next time you are out that way. The food will be tasty and the hospitality will make you feel like you never left home. 

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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 one another better is the real key to a successful business. 

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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 conversation that needs to be heard and understood. 

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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 wants to make our industry better and stronger. I think we should all take a harder looker at what leadership is and what types of leaders we are training for tomorrow. Margot definitely is. 

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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 you to Hamid.

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This week we have World renowned Choclatier, Master Pâtissier, Entrepreneur, and bike rider, Thomas Haas on the podcast. From his training in Europe to Vancouver to New York and back to Vancouver. We hear his story in his words. 

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Nicole Gomes, she is a Chef, an entrepreneur, a restaurant owner, a TV personality and dare I say Celebrity Chef. Nicole  talk business, Top Chef, becoming a TV personality,  her journey on becoming self aware and all while being fully aware that mistakes are the best teachers. We could have talked for 5 more hours. 

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In episode #4, I am very happy to chat with my old friend Pino Posteraro. Pino owns and is the Chef of the world famous Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill, a 25 year old temple of fine Italian cuisine. We talk about family, the importance of hospitality, wine and what it is like being a restaurateur in Vancouver.

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This weeks episode we turn to another part of the foodservice business with Butcher and business owner Taryn Barker of The Little Butcher -  Port Moody. We talk about being an entrepreneur for over 10 years, her small shop in the tri- cities, COOKSCAMP, and her love of local food. Please join us for the conversation and remember to follow  @cookscamp2023 on instagram. 

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So amazing to have my favourite Chef and Sandwich artist on the Podcast today. Lina Caschetto has an inspiring story about finding her own way through life and through our industry. Her background in design and many years of working and honing her craft in Paris, has made her unassuming little sandwich shop one of the best bites of food in the city. I hope you enjoy her stories of adventure and fun, but always with a very strong backbone of tenacity and grit. And I can't say this enough. For a proper sandwich, go see her at her shop, Say Hey Cafe, you will be thankful I sent you.

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Today’s conversation is with Cody Allmin,  one half of the team that has brought us all Twin Sails Brewing, Published on Main, Bar Susu, Novella Coffee Bar, Mama Said and more. We chat about business, entrepreneurship, beer and much, much more. 

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Our latest episode features Bobby Milheron of the Wentworth Hospitality Group. He oversees Homer st, Tableau and Maxines restaurants. Bobby talks to us about his unique restaurant style. 

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For the season finale, chef Robert Belcham chats with Corey Mintz, author of The Next Supper: The End of Restaurants as We Knew Them, and What Comes After, on the kinds of fixes and solutions needed in our workplace.

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Clear, effective leadership is one of those things that is most noticeable when it's absent. Just ask people working in the hospitality industry. In this episode,  host Robert Belcham talks about the future of culinary leadership with Bruce McAdams (UGuelph) and leadership models for restaurant owner/operators with Shira Blustein (The Acorn, Vancouver) and Daniel Frankel (Tap&Barrel, Vancouver).

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