At the end of my street a little Ice Cream place opened called Moo Shoo. I didn't know anything about who owned it or what the story behind all the cool flavours where, but I did know that my daughter was obsessed and so was the whole neighbourhood. The lines wrapped around the building every summer night. The more I learned about Liz the more I liked her. The product is good, but she also asked a lot of big questions about what it means to own a business and have a staff at this moment in time....
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 38
Chef Lewis has just opened Le Petite Primrose in Gatineau. The road that lead him there took him through some of the best kitchens in the world, and he is excited to share what he learned with all of us. I think you will enjoy our conversation as much as I did.
May 02, 2025•59 min•Ep. 37
Chef Lizardo is doing some incredible things at Raphaël. His Peruvian cuisine is as elevated as anything you will find in Ottawa but none of that execution comes at the expense of tradition or flavour. He pulls this off thanks to one of the most impressive CV's Ottawa has ever seen. Working at some of the finest restaurants in the world Chef Lizardo has learned how to express himself and his culture through food. It was an absolute pleasure to steal an hour of his time and I know you will enjoy ...
Apr 18, 2025•59 min•Ep. 36
Tracy Turnbull gave Ottawa Trio and The Moonroom. She is now hanging up the cocktail shakers and I speak with her about what her next steps are going to be. I also try (unsuccessfully) to get her to acknowledge how big of an impact she had on Ottawa's cocktail culture.
Jan 03, 2024•40 min•Ep. 35
Simon and I discuss the incredible work going on at the Parkdale Food Center and the general state of things on Ottawa. If you are unfamiliar with this organization then let this be your introduction and then visit them at www.parkdalefoodcentre.ca We also successfully pronounce philanthropy several times
Nov 15, 2023•47 min•Ep. 34
Jonny and I worked together to set up the kitchen at Cantina Gia during the Pandemic. We talk about all the various challenges that presented as well as his experience making the transition from cook to Chef.
Oct 11, 2023•32 min•Ep. 33
Justine and I talk about his time at some of Canada's most influential restaurants, and what motivated him to take on the Industry himself. His restaurant, Perch has been turning heads in the Ottawa dining scene and he has no plans on slowing down.
Sep 18, 2023•48 min•Ep. 32
Today I am joined by two young guys making waves in the Ottawa's culinary scene. The Torta Boyz have carved out a space with big flavours and an infectious energy. They have added a something to the local scene that we often associate with bigger "cooler" cities. If the Ottawa culinary scene is on the way up it's because of places like this.
Mar 09, 2023•53 min•Ep. 31
I speak with Dominion City’s Scott Denyer about his job as Head Brewmaster. I pick his brain about what it is like to deal with a fermented product on the scale of a brewery. I hope you enjoy.
Nov 04, 2022•36 min•Ep. 30
Today I speak with Chef T about his food, his evolving business model and the things that inspire him to keep cooking.
Jun 20, 2022•44 min•Ep. 29
Eric and I discuss his journey from line cook to CDC at North & Navy. He walks us through the NoNa curing program and our approach to running a high end kitchen.
Apr 17, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 28
I speak with the Wakefield raised Chef about opening a restaurant with his brother, Eric during a pandemic. We talk fish and our approaches to new dish ideas among other things.
Mar 31, 2022•57 min•Ep. 27
I relaunch the podcast with some housekeeping and a little rant.
Mar 31, 2022•11 min•Ep. 26
Today I speak with the Knife nerd about how he switched from the kitchen to retail and how his experience as a chef informs his business practices.
May 10, 2021•59 min•Ep. 25
Today I am joined by Caroline Murphy and Emma Campbell of Corner Peach. We talk about their recent expansion, how they got there in the first place and everything in between. I hope you enjoy.
Apr 28, 2021•52 min•Ep. 24
Anna and I discuss the wide variety of culinary experiences she has accumulated as well as her new career focus. Hope you enjoy.
Mar 02, 2021•54 min•Ep. 23
Two of my favorite people, Vicki and Jonas are producing some incredible sparkling wines that have helped put PEC on the map for serious wine producers. We discuss how they decided to make sparkling as opposed to still wine, their collaboration with David McMillan, the LCBO and balancing life and business on a farm. I could talk to these guys for days, and hopefully I will get the chance after COVID!
Jan 31, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 22
The onset of the pandemic was the beginning of a long struggle for almost every restaurant. For my guests it was unfortunately not the start, but another hurtle to overcome directly on the heels of a year and a half of construction. We talk about how they continue to stay positive despite multiple curveballs. Mark and I also talk about skateboarding.
Jan 09, 2021•41 min•Ep. 21
Trish and I discuss her journey through some of Ottawa's best kitchens, her Kombucha company and her online local grocery store
Nov 20, 2020•56 min•Ep. 20
I get a chance to speak to my mentor and I get to share it with you. I hope you enjoy!
Oct 22, 2020•55 min•Ep. 19
Oz Balpinar, owner of OZ cafe takes me through her journey opening Ottawas iconic late night chef hang out spot.
Oct 06, 2020•43 min•Ep. 18
Today Stephen and I dispense with formality and get right in to COVOID predictions, pontifications, pivots and panic. I hope you enjoy.
Sep 18, 2020•54 min•Ep. 17
Dominique and I discuss Top Chef Canada, Opening a restaurant with her partner, dealing with a Pandemic and her unique perspective on the Ottawa restaurant scene. I hope you enjoy.
Aug 31, 2020•54 min•Ep. 15
Today Imrun and I talk about his journey to become a chef, his experience on Top Chef Canada and his travels around the world. I hope you enjoy
Aug 23, 2020•51 min•Ep. 14
Today I speak with John Svazas of Fauna and Bar Laurel about running 2 restaurants in a Pandemic, the crazy story of how Fauna came to be and a bunch of other things. I hope you enjoy.
Aug 12, 2020•48 min•Ep. 13
Jamie & I speak about his strange path to being one of Ottawa's most reputable chefs, the OZ cafe days and his newest undertaking at Arlo
Jul 31, 2020•43 min•Ep. 12
Today I speak with Arlo's Alex McMahon. One of the most exciting new restaurants in Ottawa, Arlo and Alex are looking to bring natural wine into centre stage. We talk pandemic, punk rock and all things natural wine. I hope you enjoy.
Jul 22, 2020•55 min•Ep. 11
Marysol talks about her unconventional path to becoming one of the regions most accomplished Chefs.
Jun 13, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 10
Rob and I talk about Buyers + Cellars, Ottawa wine tastes and then we solve Global Warming
May 18, 2020•52 min•Ep. 8
Today I speak with Chef Walid about his career, his next move and a project he has been working on since Covid-19 changed everything
May 08, 2020•49 min•Ep. 7
