Welcome to the Episode 100 extravaganza! In honour of this milestone, we catch up with former Track & Food podcast co-host, Mickey McLeod, and friend of the podcast, Tristan Young, of The Keefer Bar. Then, with the help of industry vets Shira Blustein (Acorn, Lila), James Langford-Smith (Pamplemousse Jus), James Iranzad (Gooseneck Hospitality), and…

Will poverty always be a systemic issue? This is the question at the heart of Tracy Smith-Carrier’s article, “Implementing a basic income means overcoming myths about the ‘undeserving poor’”, published in The Conversation last December – and the focus of today’s interview with its author. Smith-Carrier has studied poverty for over 25 years, and is …

Back in the fall, I received some good intel, via text, about a peculiar issue brewing up along Main Street, regarding the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association(BIA). The problem was a proposed expansion of where the BIA lines fell, with the Main and 19-29th Street areas considered a new addition. The text suggested a lot of pushback from…

Whether at work or with friends, one of the more common questions posed to me is: “Where do you recommend going for dinner?” In a city as varied and culturally diverse as Vancouver, options for delicious fare seem endless. But despite the abundance of intrigue and hard-to-book tables, the local sector is in peril (much like the beer industry featur…

If you had asked me what I thought ‘craft beer’ was when I first moved to Vancouver, back in 2009, my answer would have been something vague about its ‘higher quality’. Fast forward to today, and layers of experiences, flavours and perspectives add nuance and understanding to what the beer sector signifies. Market capitalization and interest usuall…

In this newest edition of the triple(J) - H series, prominent former winemaker Heidi Noble joins alongside James Iranzad (Gooseneck Hospitality) and James Langford-Smith (Pamplemousse Jus) to help predict who will win, keep, and possibly move up in year two of Vancouver's Michelin guide. Enjoy! This year's announcement is on October 5th.…

In 2018, Vancouver non-profit Foundations for Social Change, along with researchers from UBC, set out to do a small experiment: a one-year trial where they gave a lump sum of $7,500 cash, no strings attached, directly to people experiencing homelessness to see whether the direct cash method would provide them with a leg up finding stable housing, o…

In this episode, award-winning freelance journalist, Rachel Nuwer, discusses her fantastic and revelatory new book, I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World. Featuring the real life stories of many intriguing characters, from ravers to PTSD sufferers, Nuwer's book covers a lot of ground: from how MDMA (aka Ectasy or "Moll…

Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to speak with UBC Professor Edward Slingerland regarding his then-new book, Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization (take a listen to the June 16th, 2021 episode here). If you haven’t already read it, Drunk is a fantastic and sometimes hilarious examination of drunkenness, how being d…

To get a more comprehensive perspective of what’s happening in Kelowna, I reached out to a few local entrepreneurs who’ve helped revitalize the community with many of their brands: David Paterson (Tantalus Vineyards, Vice & Virtue Brewing); Kyle Nixon (BNA Brewing Co., Skinny Duke’s Glorious Emporium, Bernie’s Supper Club and Cinema); and Casey Gre…

In this episode, Jacob Richler, founder and publisher of Canada's most diverse and influential restaurant ranking, Canada's 100 Best, discusses his years as a food critic, why he created this list in the first place, how the judging process unfolds, and where he sees things evolving in the year ahead... Enjoy! Canada's 100 Best launched in 2015. La…

The boys are back for another “triple J” episode, chockfull with their in-depth insights and immeasurable humour… This time around, James Iranzad (Gooseneck Hospitality) and James Langford-Smith (Pamplemousse Jus) share their opinions on the Vancouver Magazine 2023 Restaurant Awards finalists, and break down Vancouver’s restaurant scene as a whole.…

While reading The Tyee back in late January, a story by labour economist, David Fairey (who is also a research associate of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives) and Associate Professor of Sociology at UVic, Anelyse Weiler, caught my eye… In “It’s 2023. BC Farm Workers Deserve Basic Minimum Wage Guarantees”, the authors reveal how our curren…

Recently, I was lucky enough to have Maude Renaud-Brisson (Founder, Apéro Mode), Kelcie Jones (GM, Elephant) and Jenna Briscoe (GM, Café Medina) on to discuss their new endeavour, 'This is Wine School', launching in Chinatown (265 East Pender) this week. These three ladies have already brought much vigour and enthusiasm regarding wine and wine educ…

Back for another fun conversation, Alex Black of Laowai joins to talk about his new bar, Bagheera. Located just around the corner, we run through the concept, how things came about, branding, ice machine difficulties and much more. Alex is always candid and insightful. Enjoy!By Jamie Mah/Alex Black

Prominent food journalist, Corey Mintz, jumps on once again to help break down the news of Noma's impending closure at the end of 2024. If you are unfamiliar, the New York Times dropped the story this past Monday with a fully detailed exposé regarding the context and timing of this announcement. Issues with unpaid labour and what this signifies for…

The boys are back with their insights and predictions for 2023. Recorded a few days before the new year, James Iranzad and James Langford-Smith give the goods on where and how they see the restaurant community evolving this coming year. Yet another classic "triple J episode. Do enjoy!By Jamie Mah/James Iranzad/James Langford-Smith

After reading Corey Mintz’s NBC News column, ‘Outrage at Starbucks tipping prompt shows people don’t get how the tipping con works‘, I brought on the prominent food journalist to get his unique insights and perspective on the “tip creep”: what is it actually, and what does it mean for the hospitality and business industries moving forwards? For mor…

Another episode with James Iranzad and James Langford-Smith is here! In this latest instalment, we discuss Michelin coming to Vancouver, and make our picks as to who will gain a star. We then shift gears to weigh in on our personal favourite Vancouver restaurant dishes. This episode has all the hallmarks of our classic “triple J” banter. Do enjoy.…

Can life get any better for chef and restaurateur, JC Poirier? His restaurant, the Québécois inspired, St. Lawrence, just won its third straight Restaurant of the Year Award from Vancouver Magazine, right on the heels of a third place finish in Canada's Top 100. With Michelin on the way at the end of October, a star is certainly in his sights - whe…

In this latest episode James, James and I gather together to draft our ideal restaurant lineup. Influenced by The Ringer’s, The Rewatchables, and the NBA’s all star draft format, we choose from a random selection of Vancouver’s top hospitality veterans to round out our ideal restaurant teams. The rules were simple. 1. Come up with a name and concep…

Presented by Scout Magazine. The book Healing Grounds – Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming came onto my radar while reading an interview with its author, Liz Carlisle, published last March by Civil Eats, an American news source focused on sustainable food systems. Carlisle, an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, …

A deep dive and fun chat for this one with the co-owners of Greta, Gastown's newest Arcade Bar. Taking over in the old Bourbon on Cordova Street, Chris Decock and Casey Greabeiel reimagine the close to 9,000 square feet of space with a bustling high energy concept of arcade games, cocktails and signature fare. Taking cues from their two previous Gr…

A bit of inside Baseball fun today with this episode as I bring on two close friends in James Iranzad of Gooseneck Hospitality and James Langford-Smith of Bodega Ridge on Galiano Island to talk shop about all things restaurants and bars. While sipping some of James Langford's new wine, Pamplemousse Jus, we run through the gamut of topics from what'…

Trends in the food industry happen all the time. We can usually spot them a mile away. Ten years ago, craft beer took Vancouver and British Columbia by storm, when the market saw an opening and took full advantage of what was needed and desired. I believe we’re on the cusp of another big movement – this time, with the non-alcoholic sector. New entr…

I’ve been lucky enough to have interviewed some truly brilliant individuals in the past, especially those who’ve written timely and insightful books. As a bookworm at heart, I just love delving into these stories and piecing them out. My interview with BBC Radio food journalist, Dan Saladino, is no exception. His new book (which is receiving glowin…

The best part of doing a podcast (sometimes, not all the time) is when you get to interview your buddies and chat with them about the cool shit they're doing. Case in point: This chat with Simon Fallick and Patryk Drozd of Hero's Welcome. Our talk has been in the works for sometime now and, well, I'm honestly happy we waited because they both had p…

Welcome to season 4 of the podcast. I'm delighted to be back after a short break. What a guest to land to begin this new season. Extremely thankful I was able to chat with food journalist and author, Mark Schatzker about his new book, The End of Craving: Recovering the Lost Wisdom of Eating Well. Leaning on research from the fields of food science,…

Well, 2021, it's been a year. You were one for the books that's for sure. This is our last episode of 2021 (obviously) and with it Mickey and I wanted to chat about what we went through these past 365 days. It was great to hear him bring his unvarnished perspective of someone who is on his way out of this industry. We really have a fun and illumina…

What an absolute delight it was to chat with prominent food journalist Corey Mintz (New York Times, Globe and Mail, Eater) about his recently released book, The Next Supper: The End of Restaurants as We Knew Them, and What Comes After. This was definitely one of my all time favourite chats as Corey's book touches on many of the themes this podcast …

Brought to you by Scout Magazine. What a treat it was to finally have Adam Henderson of Superflux on. If you don't know who he is or his brand, let's just say it is one of the most respected in the province. Why? It's because 80% of what they do is IPA's and BC loves their hoppy beers. It's really that simple. Plus, I mean, how can you not love a c…

In memory of Andrew Morrison of Scout Magazine. Well for all of you who've followed this podcast since its inception, you'll have no doubt heard me talk about Scout Magazine numerous times over the years. Not only are they our presenting sponsor, but I've also been a contributor of theirs since 2016. This episode has a bit of a twist to it in that …

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. It's in the news everywhere. Restaurants are hurting for workers. This issue isn't new. It's been a problem for years now. The pandemic only exacerbated things to an even more dire state. And what better way to discuss this issue than to bring on my good friend James Iranzad of Gooseneck Hospitality as well as …

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. What a treat it was to discuss all things BC wine with this trio of professionals. Two of the more prominent and distinguished winemakers in the Okanagan Valley in Alan Dickinson of Synchromesh Winery and Richard Kanazawa of Bench 1775 Winery came on to talk about what they've been up to so far with this years …

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. Marijuana was legalized in Canada just a few years back and we are certain there are not many who are upset with this. Psilocybin, the chemical altering compound found in "magic mushrooms" is still illegal. It has been since 1974. This needs to change. Enter in Spencer Hawkswell. He's the CEO of a new Victoria …

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. Well this was a fun one. James Grant, the newly crowned 2021 World Class Global Bartender Of The Year and his good friend and mentor, Jeff Savage, who himself came second at the 2019 World Class Global Finals distill at length their passion and adoration for what they do for a living and why they continue to pu…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. What luck it is for me today to discuss today's topic with UBC Professor Edward Slingerland. His latest book which came out on June 1st delves into the world of imbibing and how its purveyance within our world and history has helped shape our modern civilization. The book in question is titled, Drunk: How We Si…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. It's always wonderful to chat with individuals who are happy and fulfilled. Today's talk with bartender and budding entrepreneur Alex Black of imminent Blnd Tger was no exception. I've known Alex for many years now as a prominent fixture within the Vancouver hospitality industry. He's worked for some exceptiona…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. There are those who talk and those who do. Tristan Jagger is in the latter camp and Vancouver is better for it. Having launched Vancouver Food Runners at the beginning of the pandemic last year, her charity has helped address and bridge the gap of food waste in the community using innovative app technology. Wit…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. Now here’s a fun one. Two Chef heavyweights talking collaboration, life during the pandemic, staying upbeat, frustrations with third-party delivery apps and why they both love Chef Peter Ho. First, let’s just call it what it is, Chef and entrepreneur Doug Stephen has been killing it these past few years with hi…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. What an excellent chat. For this one we were very thrilled to have on the President and CEO of the BC Restaurants And Food Services Association, Ian Tostenson, to talk about what his group has done to help the restaurant community during the pandemic. As someone who is at the forefront of communication with the…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. It's been just over a year since the pandemic upended everyone's lives. Some more than others, none probably more so than Chef Alex Sandoval of Le Crocodile. Jamie was intrigued to bring her on today so she could tell her story. As someone who was living her best life, cooking under world renowned Chef Ignacio …

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. There isn't much to explain here. Indoor dining has been shelved for three weeks. Probably longer. It sucks. This is going to hurt a lot of restaurants. The boys dispel their feelings. Sadly, co-host Mickey McLeod wasn't able to join due to work commitments. His presence was missed in so many ways. But never fe…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. This episode is also brought to you by Tullamore Dew Irish Whisky. We partnered with them to help bring awareness for their O'Everyone campaign. You can learn more about it here. Tullamore D.E.W. invites you to create your very own personalized O' Lastname T‑Shirt & Bottle label bundle. 100% of proceeds from me…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. In this episode we were excited to finally record again (Jamie got sick with Covid for 3 weeks - wank!) as well as chat with Grace Kennedy, the owner of Livlite, Vancouver’s newest zero waste grocery delivery company. Having only been around since August of 2020, we were curious to discuss with Grace why she’d …

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. In this episode we were thrilled to not only record again but excited to chat with Tacofino's head of Talent and Culture Taylor Chobotiuk about their Shift Change series on diversity in restaurants. Shift Change began back in 2019 as a new thought experiment by the team at Tacofino. "Shift Change aims to encour…

Now brought to by Scout Magazine. In this fun split episode it thrilled us to bring back on two of our most inspiring previous guests in Max Curzon-Price of Botanist and The Diamond and Dallah El Chami of Superbaba and the Vancouver Food and Beverage Community Relief Fund. We were excited to check in on Max’s new cocktail giving back initiative, Pi…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. It’s a dream we have all wanted at some point or another. Whether you work in the restaurant industry currently or have always wanted to. To open your very own, small, independent restaurant, where you’ll get to connect with your community, local farmers and become a hub for your friends and family is something…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. There are few people on this planet who understand viruses and pandemics more than Dr. Bonnie Henry. As BC’s top health officer, her years of experience in dealing with past crises such as Ebola in 2001, SARS in 2003 or H1N1 in 2009 gave her the knowledge to help guide us during COVID-19. With a low transmissio…

Now brought to you by Scout Magazine. In this episode, our 50th, it thrilled us to bring on one of the most respected and hard working hospitality veterans in Vancouver, General Manager Leticia Castro of The Diamond. We waxed on all things COVID, reopening her bar, how she’s managed these weird times, staff expectations, her managerial philosophy, …