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Q&A With Barbara-Jo McIntosh

Barbara-Jo at Opus Bar, 2008 - photo Hamid Attie
photo - Hamid Attie

Each week, Scout poses 60 questions to a local who has made life in BC that much more interesting. They pick and choose. The minimum response is 20 answers. A Rorschach test, for sure.

Barbara-Jo McIntosh is one cool lady whose passion for books and food combine at her popular book store, Barbara Jo’s Books To Cooks. An award-winning food professional with over 25 years experience in the food and hospitality industry, she is the author of the bestselling Tin Fish Gourmet and a passionate supporter of Vancouver’s gastronomic community. In 2003, Vancouver magazine honoured her with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her many contributions to our culinary scene.

Three things about your neighbourhood that make you want to live there: Uva, Orpheum, Screening Room

Default drink of choice: Whisky.

One thing you’d like to change about Vancouver: Drug scene.

Book you’re reading: Paris Edition by Waverly Root.

Last place traveled: Paris.

Biggest fear: Dying before I can speak French fluently.

Most regrettable purchase ever: my Renault Five – Le Car.

Talent you wish you possessed: Patience.

Musical instrument you long to play: Violin.

The game you’re best at: Scrabble.

Mac or PC: Mac Wannabe.

The scariest situation you’ve ever been in: Toss up between the food poisoning in NY or being mugged in NY and I still love NY.

Best concert experience ever: my first-Carole King and James Taylor.

Old television shows you can tolerate re-runs of: Vicar of Dibley.

First memory: My mother and father bathing me in the kitchen sink.

Song that first made you love music: [Ravel’s] Bolero

The career path you considered but never followed: Social worker.

The first three things you do every morning: Yoga-eat-email.

Favourite book as a child: A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Biggest hope: To spend alot of time with a wonderful man.

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photo by Hamid Attie

There are 5 comments

  1. Dude…..be nice and correct the spelling of her name. A visit to her website would’ve given you the correct spelling…..

    Barbara-Jo McIntosh

  2. Long admirers of Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks, we were delighted to learn more about the wonderful woman behind the store via this Q&A — thanks! (And “wonderful men,” take heed — she’s a keeper.)

  3. […] The evening was hosted by CBC host Mark (The Voice) Forsyth and featured three guest speakers Gerry Kasten, Gwen Chapman and chef/cookbook store owner Barbara-Jo McIntosh. […]

  4. Doug McFarlane here.
    I was wondering if you grew up in East Vancouver and then I read the questions and I was at that James Taylor and Carol King concert with you. Les Vincent was there also.
    You look well.

  5. Time has been good to you, you’re as attractive now as you were almost 50 years ago.I hung around your area, log booms, Northern Building supplies cafe at a much younger time, but only noticed you when it was too late (early 70s).stay well and safe.