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Q&A With Ethical Bean’s Aaron De Lazzer

One or twice a week Scout poses 60 questions to a local who has made life in BC that much more interesting. They pick and choose which ones they’d prefer to answer, with a minimum response rate of 20. A Rorschach test, for sure…

In 2008, Aaron De Lazzer, Ethical Bean’s Director of Coffee, became Canada’s only Certified Q Grader. The designation is bestowed upon professional coffee graders and cuppers who have undergone a rigorous three-day testing of their senses and skills to become the industry’s most eminent coffee sommeliers.

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Scout Q&A

Three things about your neighbourhood that make you want to live there: Let’s call it NOHA, North of Hastings by Nanaimo. I can walk to work; the view; and the Roundel Café.

The thing that you eat that is bad for you that you will never stop eating: ice cream.

Drink you’ll never have again: Vodka and Grapefruit juice. Don’t ask…

The one place you’d move to: Cinque Terre.

Favourite wine varietal: Sagrantino from Umbria. Tastes even better when you can drink it there.

One thing you’d like to change about Vancouver: Vancouver is perfect.

Book you’re reading: The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry, by Kathleen Flinn

Last place traveled: Last cool place was Nicaragua

Best sneaker in the world: Do Blundstones count? They’re the only shoe I wear.

Place in BC that you love escaping to: Nelson.

Under what circumstances would you join the army: None whatsoever.

Your paternal grandfather’s personal story: A stone mason by trade who came over from Fruili to work in the coal mines of Cape Breton. Settled in Niagara working as a carpenter. Could do beautiful things with wood.

Dumbest purchase ever: Ever? Geez. How about just recently? A little Minolta Hi-Matic rangefinder camera that I thought I could nurse back to life. It has cost time and money and it still doesn’t work!

What are you proud of: My little boy.

The thing that makes you the angriest: People who are disingenuous.

Saddest thing about Vancouver: You just can’t get a good doughnut in this town.

Best fine dining restaurant in the city: Not to be anti-Vancouver but I have never had a meal locally like I had at Café Juanita in Kirkland, WA. The flavours, the service, the whole thing have yet to be matched by anything since. Try the rabbit, it will change your life.

Talent you wish you possessed: The abilities of a great orator.

The trend you wish you never followed, but did: skateboarding in high school

Musical instrument you long to play: I’d have to say drums.

Sport you gave up: Cycling. I miss it. Racing on tubular tires is a religious experience.

Foreign politician you most admire: Bernard Kouchner.

The number of fist fights you’ve been in: Pretty close to zero. I got kicked in the nuts by Glen Barr back in grade in Grade 6. Does that count? I was never into fighting.

Aspect of your personality you wish you could change: My wife says I’m practically perfect but I do wish that I could be a little more relaxed when something hasn’t been done well. Less particular, more forgiving?

The dish you’re most proud of: Chicken curry courtesy of a recipe that Vij posted in the paper a couple of years ago. I do a mean side of Naan bread too. If you or your family needs a meal, that’s what I’m bringing.

The thing that makes you the most nervous: Ironically, too much coffee. Makes me wicked anxious.

Town you were born in: T-dot, yo.

Old television shows you can tolerate re-runs of: G Force anyone?

Quality you admire most in yourself: I can keep a secret.

Album that first made you love music: I don’t love music. Not even a little bit. I did have a crush on the women from Abba though. Remember on the Greatest Hits Vol. 2 album cover…?

Default junk food of choice: Vanilla Swiss Almond Haagen-Daz. I have very poor boundaries with this ice cream.

The career path you considered but never followed: I have a BSc Kinesiology from Waterloo. I was going to do something with that at one point.

The one country that you have no interest in ever visiting: Africa, the whole damn continent. My wife wants to go though. I told her to have a great time and that I would miss her dearly…

Your top 3 films of all time: the Usual Suspects, Aliens and Man on Fire.

The thing you’re addicted to: Photography blogs.

Biggest hope: That some day in BC we will have a decent selection of wines. More varied, less Australia and reflective of all the interesting varietals and producers that I can currently only read about.

Luckiest moment of your life: Getting hit by a car on my bike and being able to walk out of the hospital four days later.

Favourite book as a child: Watership Down

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Scout Interview Archive

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There are 2 comments

  1. The wines you seek are already here – you just have to look harder.

    Ask , ask and ask again – you’ll never know what you might find (not all of the bottles are always on display).

  2. […] article from the Vancouver Sun, with advice from coffee guru and Ethical Bean Director of Coffee, Aaron De Lazzer. Serve over ice with a patio and Dave Brubeck record  and you’re […]