Once again, I’m joined by my good friends James Iranzad ( Gooseneck Hospitality ) and James Langford-Smith ( Pamplemousse Jus ) for another of our signature catch-ups. In this episode, we discuss the buzz around recent restaurant awards — Van Mag , Canada’s 100 Best , and North America’s 50 Best Bars — and the latest restaurant openings here in Vancouver. We also reflect on the emotional power of good menu design, the feeling we chase when dining out, and the significance of this year’s BCRFA Ha...
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 55 min•Season 1Ep. 107
In this episode, I’m joined by four of Vancouver’s top bar talents – Amber Bruce ( The Keefer Bar , June ), Tara Davies ( Chupito Cocteleria ), Andrew Kong ( Suyo ), and Alexa Gervais ( L’Abattoir ) — for a roundtable discussion on the state of Vancouver’s cocktail scene. With North America’s 50 Best Bars having just left town, we dive into what that meant for local hospitality, the challenges of launching new venues, evolving guest expectations, and the growing interest in nonalcoholic options....
May 12, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 106
In December of 2023, Adam Henderson ( Superflux Beer Company ), Sam Payne ( The Parkside Brewery , Rewind Beer Co. ), and Nick Black ( Strange Fellows Brewing ) joined me to discuss the (seemingly dire) state of the beer industry. Now, just over a year later, the trio of local brewery pros have returned to drink a few beers and discuss the changes, adaptations and growth the industry has seen since we last spoke. Tune into an insightful, humorous, and overall fun-filled episode all about a possi...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 105
Continuing with last year’s end-of-year episode, James Iranzad ( Gooseneck Hospitality ) and James Langford-Smith ( Pamplemousse Jus ) join me once again to discuss their top 10 favourite bars in British Columbia. Additionally, the pair share their thoughts on ‘Dry January’ to begin our discussion. Happy New Year! If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email at trackandfoodpod@gmail.com...
Jan 23, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 104
With the year-end comes a fun-filled year-end list! Who better to join in ranking B.C.'s top 15 restaurants than my good friends, local industry vets, and frequent collaborative cohorts, James Iranzad ( Gooseneck Hospitality) and James Langford-Smith ( Pamplemousse Jus ). In addition to comparing this year's top experiences from some of our favourite restaurants, in this final episode of 2024, we also riff off of two hot topics recently featured in Eater and Food & Wine magazines: the great ...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 103
"If you've ever dreamed of moving to Europe to cook and learn from the best, then The Rise and Fall of Magic Wolf might feel familiar. The new novel from Vancouver author (-slash-journalist-slash-UBC-Professor-of-Creative-Writing) Timothy Taylor follows the life of Teo, an inexperienced kid from Vancouver pursuing his culinary fantasy in Paris. There, he meets Frankie, a confident Quebecois who chances to show Teo the ropes in the kitchen. Through the day-to-day grind and late night struggles, T...
Oct 28, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Corey Mintz is a distinguished food journalist hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has contributed to several prominent publications, such as The New York Times , Eater , and The Globe and Mail , and is the author of The Next Supper: The End of Restaurants as We Knew Them, and What Comes After . In this episode, Corey and I delve into a range of topics, from tipping and restaurant pricing, to the Michelin awards and the role of migrant workers in Canada’s food industry. His extensive expertise, ...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 101
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 Michelle Sproule ( Scout Magazine ), we embark on a lengthy and raucous discussion beginning with whether Vancouver has a defining food i...
May 08, 2024•2 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 100
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 currently an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair, with a focus on Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, at Royal Roads University...
Mar 19, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 99
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 business owners in this proposed expansion area who did not want a BIA. Fast forward to moments after recording my last episode when guest, Shira Bl...
Feb 24, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 98
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 featured in my previous episode). This is largely (still) owing to the hard-hitting pandemic, which left thousands of small businesses scrambling nationwide...
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 97
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 usually peak when something new captures the scene, with entrepreneurs racing to make their mark and carve out their niches. In BC, R&B, Storm, Red Truc...
Jan 03, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 96
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....
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 95
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, or if they would instead spend it on temptation goods (drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.). Several local shelters were enlisted to help them find suita...
Sep 20, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 94
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 "Molly") accidentally came to be (in a German lab for pharmaceutical company, Merck), to its use by the US government as a potential 'truth serum' circa t...
Aug 04, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 93
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 drunk enables us to trust and cooperate, and how alcohol consumption has influenced human development over the course of history. Since then, Health C...
Jul 27, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 92
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 Greabeiel ( Greta Vancouver , Salt & Brick , Jack’s Kelowna , Diner Deluxe , Pretty Not Bad ). Among other things, we discuss labour and m...
Jun 23, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 91
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. Last year, Vancouver's own Published on Main was ranked Canada's "Best Restaurant" for 2022. See the full 2023 list here ....
May 29, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 90
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. Enjoy!...
Apr 24, 2023•1 hr 36 min•Season 1Ep. 89
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 current piece rate system for agricultural workers is fraught with low wages, exploitation, classism, and racism. I decided to bring the duo on in order ...
Mar 15, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 88
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 education to Vancouver. With 'This is Wine School' they will collectively continue their trajectory by offering Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSE...
Jan 30, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 87
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!
Jan 23, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 86
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 chef and owner, René Redzepi, and his team moving forward as well as how this affects global fine dining in the future. The former world number one h...
Jan 12, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 85
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!
Jan 06, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Season 1Ep. 84
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 more Mintz, be sure to check out my previous podcast with him (originally aired November 30th, 2021) where we dig into his book, The Next Supper: The E...
Dec 23, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 83
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.
Oct 27, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 82
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 - whether it will be one or two remains to be seen. Moreover, in addition to all of these accolades, Poirier's new cookbook is dropping next month (Novemb...
Oct 21, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 81
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 concept 2. Ten member teams with two additional wild cards 3. Snake draft format This episode is hilarious, silly and a complete waste of time, which is ...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 40 min•Season 1Ep. 80
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, teaches food and farming at UC Santa Barbara. Healing Grounds , her third book, tells stories of Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farme...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 79
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 Greta iterations in both Calgary and Edmonton, Chris and Casey have helped to revitalize a dormant space while giving Vancouver a fun bar for everyone t...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 78
