Track & Food 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 coconut IPA? Or a strawberry cheesecake IPA?

Nevertheless, with success having come his way, you'd think he and his partner (Matt Kohlen) would just be happy with the new brewery they opened last year. Y'know, rest on their laurels. Chill out. Maybe visit Mexico?

Nope. Not the case at all.

Enter Superflux Cabana, their beautiful new restaurant in Victoria.

The room is absolutely stunning, as it was designed by the team from Studio Roslyn. It's definitely a far cry from what one would expect a beer focused restaurant to look like, which, honestly, is a good thing.

Adam and I discussed how this new project came to be, what was the process of doing something completely different like, as well as how he got into this line of work in the first place and where he sees his company moving forward.  This episode has a fun entrepreneurial bent to it as Adam distills a lot of how all of this came together, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm confident you will too.


Superflux is located up on Clark Drive here in Vancouver. Do check it out. They have killer swag and excellent hot dogs. Definitely try the coconut IPA if you can. It's delicious.

Superflux Cabana is now open. Burgers and great beer, what's not to love? Hit it up as soon as you can.


Here's the link to the New York Times feature we discuss.

Last Call For The Beer Bar?

Here's the link to my beer pricing column we also discuss.

A Missed Opportunity - Did The Craft Beer Industry Lose Their One Chance To Grow Their Market Share?


***Scout is one of Vancouver’s leading food and culture magazines. If you’re wanting to learn more about the city’s food and cultural sphere with regards to community news, new restaurant openings, essential guides to some of the city’s best offerings as well as who’s hiring, Scout is where you should go. They also have a sister website called Islandist. Same type of content only Island driven. That’s Islandist.ca.
We’re proud to have Scout as our presenting sponsor as we believe what they “Scout out” is an excellent compliment to what we’re offering here with Track and Food. Do check them out. scoutmagazine.ca

****Correction: I mistakenly mention that Studio Roslyn are the one's who designed Kissa Tanto in my intro, but it was actually Ste.Marie Art + Design. Apologies for the error. 

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 my friend and editor at Scout, Andrew Morrison, recently passed away from a short battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Michelle and two sons, James and Pip. Fittingly and somewhat bittersweet, this episode is the last directive Andrew gave to me before his passing, and with a loving tone and big heart, the person I have interviewed is not only someone he admired, but also a close family friend. Cancer sucks and death at any age is never easy. Our love goes out to Michelle and the boys and their family during this time. Much love.

Now for this episode, what a delight it was to chat with Shira Blustein. She's been a prominent figurehead in the Vancouver restaurant community since the inception her acclaimed restaurant Acorn first opened. Awards, accolades and praise locally and globally have come to her and her team for the excellent food and drink they continue to provide. My co-host of this podcast,  Mickey, is even an employee now and he's really enjoyed every second being on the team. But, not to just discuss her restaurant, Shira has a new cookbook on the horizon. It's dropping at all bookstores near you on November 9th. Aptly titled: Acorn - Vegetables Re-Imagined: Seasonal Recipes from Root to Stem. With this exciting development, we discussed how this book came about, the process of getting it off the ground, what's in it and who this book is for. We also chatted about animal welfare practises and the rise of vegetarian restaurants. This a fun and really informative interview. Shira brings a wonderful candid energy. You're sure to laugh a few times as well. I hope you enjoy.


If you want delicious vegetarian or vegan fare, the kind that is impeccably creative as well as comforting, do hit up The Acorn. You will not be disappointed. Also, say hi to Mickey while you're there as well. He'll be behind the bar. Tell him you're a fan of the podcast, it'll make him blush.

Here's the link to the gofundme I mention at the top of this episode for Michelle and the kids. If you'd like to donate, that would be lovely. They've heavily exceeded their goal, which says a lot about how people viewed Andrew. Beautiful to see.


***Scout is one of Vancouver’s leading food and culture magazines. If you’re wanting to learn more about the city’s food and cultural sphere with regards to community news, new restaurant openings, essential guides to some of the city’s best offerings as well as who’s hiring, Scout is where you should go. They also have a sister website called Islandist. Same type of content only Island driven. That’s Islandist.ca.
We’re proud to have Scout as our presenting sponsor as we believe what they “Scout out” is an excellent compliment to what we’re offering here with Track and Food. Do check them out. scoutmagazine.ca

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 one of my favourite guests from this past spring, the head of the BC Restaurants Association, Ian Tostenson.

Their expertise in this area with regards to government, policy, and as a restaurant owner in James' case, real world specifics, gave them the type of working knowledge I was looking for. This conversation isn't fun per se, but needed nonetheless. Both men provide candid thoughts and views on this matter, ones I'm confident you'll definitely appreciate, regardless if you work in this industry or not.  A worker shortage in the restaurant sector affects everyone. Solving this issue, if that is possible, will take big ideas and a change in perception. With this conversation we tried to tackle a few of them. I hope you enjoy.


***This conversation leans heavily on a column I wrote in late September. To get a clearer understanding of my thoughts on this matter as to better guide you through this interview, I recommend giving it a read. It's titled: A New Reality For The Restaurant Industry.


Do check out some of James' restaurants, they're all fantastic. There's Bufala Kerrisdale, Bufala Edgemont, Bells & Whistles Fraser, Bells & Whistles Dunbar, Lucky Taco and his newest venture, Oh Carolina.

Here's a link to the BC Restaurants Association.


***Scout is one of Vancouver’s leading food and culture magazines. If you’re wanting to learn more about the city’s food and cultural sphere with regards to community news, new restaurant openings, essential guides to some of the city’s best offerings as well as who’s hiring, Scout is where you should go. They also have a sister website called Islandist. Same type of content only Island driven. That’s Islandist.ca.
We’re proud to have Scout as our presenting sponsor as we believe what they “Scout out” is an excellent compliment to what we’re offering here with Track and Food. Do check them out. scoutmagazine.ca

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 harvest, navigating another long season of heat and forest fires, global warming, where they see things headed and their own personal philosophies with regards to sustainable winemaking. It was a thrilling to hear them gush about work they genuinely love and enjoy.

Then there's one of the most respected and established sommeliers in Vancouver dishing on what she's seeing in her restaurant, Annalena, but also with regards to guest preferences and how this aspect of the BC wine market is evolving. Christina Hartigan brings a wealth of experience and knowledge few have in this part of the world, it was exciting to hear her thoughts alongside Alan and Richard.

If you love wine and are curious to hear some of the best share their thoughts, this is the episode for you. Plenty of insights and behind the curtains info shared.


Synchromesh Winery is located just above Okanagan Falls. Family owned, the Dickinson's grow and source wine from various vineyards all across the Okanagan Valley. They specialize in Riesling, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. They’re wines are delicious and they sell out fast.

Bench 1775 is located on the southern shore of Lake Okanagan. It's a stunning winery which crafts an array of delicious wines to meet anyones palate. You will not be disappointed. Do check them out.

Annalena is one of the best and most consistent restaurants in Vancouver. Located in Kitsilano, this neighbourhood joint is bustling, intimate, delicious and always a great spot to dine at. Christina's spin on their wine menu is surely not to be missed.




***Scout is one of Vancouver’s leading food and culture magazines. If you’re wanting to learn more about the city’s food and cultural sphere with regards to community news, new restaurant openings, essential guides to some of the city’s best offerings as well as who’s hiring, Scout is where you should go. They also have a sister website called Islandist. Same type of content only Island driven. That’s Islandist.ca.
We’re proud to have Scout as our presenting sponsor as we believe what they “Scout out” is an excellent compliment to what we’re offering here with Track and Food. Do check them out. scoutmagazine.ca

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 based non-profit called TheraPsil. He helped co-found this venture with his friend and mentor Dr. Bruce Tobin who is a psychotherapist. Together they've helped a small group of Canadians in times of need, specifically end of life treatment. In doing so they've given those individuals at this time a new medicine with which to work with, one that isn't addictive and completely natural.  The results have been life changing. But they want to help all Canadians and until Health Canada changes the law regarding the manufacture, production and use of psilocybin, their hands are limited.

Enter a few weeks ago where they submitted a 165 page proposal detailing how psilocybin should be legalized. In this interview Spencer goes through this document, how he sees this process unfolding and what psilocybin access and treatment will look like.

You can hear it in his voice, he wants to help and we appreciate his candour and empathy for this cause. We're confident you'll enjoy this one. I say we, because Mickey is back!


therapsil.ca

TheraPsil is a non-profit coalition dedicated to helping Canadians in medical need access legal, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to treat end-of-life distress.

TheraPsil was formed in 2019 and is made up of healthcare professionals, patients, community members, and advocates. To meet our team, click here.

After over 100 days of advocating, TheraPsil facilitated precedent-setting and tangible progress in the fight for compassionate access to psilocybin therapy when it helped 4 Canadians suffering from end-of-life distress, due to a terminal illness, access approved 'section 56 exemptions' from the Minister of Health, on August 4th 2020. This was the first time section 56 exemptions for psilocybin had been approved for patients since psilocybin was made a controlled substance in 1974, in Canada.

As of March 2021, TheraPsil has now supported 27 patients in 5 different provinces access legal, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.



***Scout is one of Vancouver’s leading food and culture magazines. If you’re wanting to learn more about the city’s food and cultural sphere with regards to community news, new restaurant openings, essential guides to some of the city’s best offerings as well as who’s hiring, Scout is where you should go. They also have a sister website called Islandist. Same type of content only Island driven. That’s Islandist.ca.
We’re proud to have Scout as our presenting sponsor as we believe what they “Scout out” is an excellent compliment to what we’re offering here with Track and Food. Do check them out. scoutmagazine.ca

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 pursue careers in this fickle industry. Essentially, they share a common ethos, a love of people.  Their words ring true and genuine in this conversation and it is wonderful to hear them dispense of their processes, secrets, pet peeves and common goals. You'll definitely gain plenty of insight throughout and most certainly a laugh or two.

Hospitality isn't for everyone, but when you encounter and get to talk with those who truly love being apart of it, it is inspiring. Most people spend their lives searching for that one thing they really enjoy doing, and from those, only a select few get to do it for a living. These two fine men have achieved both so I hope you enjoy what they have to say.  I know I certainly did.



You can find James Grant behind his bar Little Hong Kong (the bar inside the bar Baijiu) in Edmonton on Fridays and Saturdays. Go find him and get him to make you something special. Preferably stirred.

You can find Jeff Savage behind his bar, Botanist, on the second floor of The Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver. He's there Wednesday thru Saturday evenings. He leads with impeccable service and his drinks are second to none. Go say hello and get cozy. You won't be disappointed.


***Scout is one of Vancouver’s leading food and culture magazines. If you’re wanting to learn more about the city’s food and cultural sphere with regards to community news, new restaurant openings, essential guides to some of the city’s best offerings as well as who’s hiring, Scout is where you should go. They also have a sister website called Islandist. Same type of content only Island driven. That’s Islandist.ca.
We’re proud to have Scout as our presenting sponsor as we believe what they “Scout out” is an excellent compliment to what we’re offering here with Track and Food. Do check them out. scoutmagazine.ca

 

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 Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way To Civilization.

It's a fantastic read and often hilarious in it's scope as Professor Slingerland examines our tendency to want to get drunk, how this act has enabled us to trust and cooperate and why this engagement with alcohol has fostered human development. Not to ignore some of drinking's pitfalls and how one ought to be cautious with the negative aspects of drinking too much, especially with regards to distillation, Professor Slingerland details a unique perspective of our fondness for altering our mental state.

This is a fantastic chat with plenty of insight. I hope you enjoy.

Do buy his book. You won't regret it.

https://www.edwardslingerland.com

Edward Slingerland is Distinguished University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, where he also holds appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Asian Studies. Educated at Princeton, Stanford and UC Berkeley, he has taught at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the University of Southern California and the University of British Columbia. Dr. Slingerland is an expert on early Chinese thought, comparative religion and cognitive science of religion, big data approaches to cultural analysis, cognitive linguistics, digital humanities and humanities-science integration. He is the author of several academic monographs and edited volumes from Oxford and Cambridge University Press, a major translation of the Analects of Confucius, and approximately fifty book chapters, reviews, and articles in top academic journals in a wide range of fields, from psychology, cognitive science and linguistics to Asian studies, philosophy, religious studies and international relations. He is the recipient of several book, research innovation and teaching awards. Dr. Slingerland’s broad research goals involve exploring the potential of novel digital humanities techniques, introducing more psychological realism and evolutionary perspectives to cultural studies and philosophy, and getting scientists to understand the importance and value of humanistic expertise—especially when it comes to research areas such as literature, ethics or religion.

 His first trade book, Trying Not to Try: Ancient China, Modern Science and the Power of Spontaneity (Crown 2014), ties together insights from early Chinese thought and modern psychological research. His second, Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization (Little, Brown Spark June 2021), targets the standard scientific view of our taste for intoxicants as an evolutionary accident, arguing instead that alcohol and other drugs have played a crucial role in helping humans to be more creative, trusting and prosocial, thereby easing the transition from small-scale to large-scale societies.  

Dr. Slingerland is also Director of the Database of Religious History (DRH), an online, quantitative and qualitative encyclopedia of religious cultural history, based at UBC and  involving a large international network of postdocs, editors and contributors. As primary investigator, he has received over $11 million in grants to support projects exploring the origins of religion and their role in supporting large-scale societies or developing innovative digital humanities techniques and platforms. Dr. Slingerland also teaches two popular MOOCs on the edX platform on “Chinese Thought: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science” and “The Science of Religion.”

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 exceptional people and businesses. Most notably Wildebeest, Hawksworth and Nightingale just to name a few.

We got on the line the other day to discuss his newest venture, a dumpling shop that will be the front of what used to be Mamie Taylor's. I say front because the back part of the space is still under construction for a different concept all together.

Hoping to pay homage to the neighbourhood and their fondness for Chinese dumplings, Black and his team are coming this way with a small 7 dumpling menu with a focused, but fun beverage program.  From what I've gathered, they've done the research and are excited to soon showcase what they've come up with. Can't wait.

This chat was fun, informative and completely PG, something he and I often lack when speaking. Enjoy!

Sadly, no Mickey. School demands his attention. He apologizes.

blndtgerdumplings

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. With a roster of over 1,200 volunteers, Vancouver Food Runners has rescued over 275,000 pounds of food, which is equivalent to over 229,000 meals. This is an amazing accomplishment and we were thrilled to chat with her on how this idea came to be, how it works and what's it's been like navigating things during the pandemic along with raising four young children. Tristan is great and delivers with plenty of heart and candidness.  We're confident you'll love this one. 

If you'd like to become a volunteer for Vancouver Food Runners, just download the app and sign up. It's easy and takes only a few minutes. They'll even send you a free t shirt if you do over 20 deliveries.


***Scout is one of Vancouver’s leading food and culture magazines. If you’re wanting to learn more about the city’s food and cultural sphere with regards to community news, new restaurant openings, essential guides to some of the city’s best offerings as well as who’s hiring, Scout is where you should go. They also have a sister website called Islandist. Same type of content only Island driven. That’s Islandist.ca.
We’re proud to have Scout as our presenting sponsor as we believe what they “Scout out” is an excellent compliment to what we’re offering here with Track and Food. Do check them out. scoutmagazine.ca

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 his Downlow Chicken brand. Don’t believe me? Just drive on up to Commercial Drive at any time of the day and look for the massive crowd waiting outside for their orders. 

They’re always busy!!!

Doug has been doing just so for years now with his love for this city and the food he wants to provide. Downlow Chicken and Downlow Burgers at The American are gems of the highest order. We’re really stoked he jumped on for this episode. He doesn’t disappoint. 

Then there’s Chef and Culinary Director Phil Scarfone of Osteria Savio Volpe, Pepino’s Spaghetti House and Cafe La Tana. Don’t sleep on this man and his talent. Jamie has tasted his food numerous times in the past, back when he was at Hawksworth and then at Nightingale and lately at his new homes. The man can cook and from what we learned today, he’s a calm leader who wants to do right by his profession and team. You’d be remiss to think he’d have an ego the size of a three Michelin star chef after coming in second in Top Chef Canada a few years back, but as you’ll quickly see during this interview, he’s laidback and chill. Our kind of guy. Plus he’s a big forager. What’s not to like about that?

This episode is great and the boys deliver. We hope you enjoy. 

**Technical note: When the boys jump on, we had a bit of sound difficulty at the beginning, so the conversation jumps about 30 seconds to Doug explaining his basketball shoe collection after having just purchased a home basketball net. We apologize for this. Life via Zoom? Not ideal but it’ll have to do for now.

***Scout is one of Vancouver’s leading food and culture magazines. If you’re wanting to learn more about the city’s food and cultural sphere with regards to community news, new restaurant openings, essential guides to some of the city’s best offerings as well as who’s hiring, Scout is where you should go. They also have a sister website called Islandist. Same type of content only Island driven. That’s Islandist.ca.
We’re proud to have Scout as our presenting sponsor as we believe what they “Scout out” is an excellent compliment to what we’re offering here with Track and Food. Do check them out. scoutmagazine.ca