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 of how it all came together for him, and his deep respect for the mentors that helped shape and inspire him. I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did.

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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 Sandra in Hope BC called Nomad Social Eatery. I hope you enjoy our conversation

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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. Word quickly spread about the excellent food and Jimmy soon called on his son Raymond an accomplished fine dining chef to lend a hand whenever possible. That collaboration elevated the menu even further drawing bigger crowds.

Then Richard the other son and a longtime marketing and advertising executive based in Japan decided it was time for a major life change. Wanting his children to grow up in Canada he moved his family back home and joined the family business as well.

I’ve always had a soft spot for classic diners. They take me back to childhood road trips with my dad long haul trucking runs filled with simple soul satisfying food made with real care and love. The Northern Café delivers exactly that 75 years of lived in character genuine hospitality and food that feels like home.

The Mah family truly understands what hospitality means: a warm smile, remembering your name, attentive service, delicious plates, and the irreplaceable history that fills the space. It’s an authentic experience that many Michelin starred restaurants could only dream of capturing.

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