John Bishop: Would-Be Arctic Explorer
March 2, 2009
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…
Inarguably one of Vancouver’s most respected chef/restaurateurs, John Bishop is also a cookbook author, mentor, and the Godfather of Vancouver’s regional cuisine. For over twenty years, his local-centric restaurant Bishop’s – widely considered one of the best in the country – has trained and inspired legions of young cooks, servers, and managers to source their food locally and to forge strong relationships with the farmers and producers of the Lower Mainland.
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Scout Q&A
Three things about your neighbourhood that make you want to live there: Point Grey: parks; beaches; friendly people.
Default drink of choice: Campari spritzers.
The one place you’d move to: Rural Britain.
Favourite wine varietal: Riesling.
One thing you’d like to change about Vancouver: Downtown Eastside.
Cheap place for dinner: East Is East.
Book you’re reading: Three Day Road by
Last place traveled: India.
Cliche that you use too often: “Well done”.
Dead film actor you wish was still making pictures: John Casavettes.
Place in BC that you love escaping to: Kalamalka Lake near Vernon.
Under what circumstances would you join the army: None.
Saddest thing about Vancouver: Homelessness.
Most challenging part of owning a business: Time away from family.
Your nickname growing up: “Bish”.
Talent you wish you possessed: Languages.
Musical instrument you long to play: Guitar.
Sport you gave up: Hunting in Ireland.
The game you’re best at: Catch with my daughter.
Somewhere within an hour of Vancouver that is worth checking out: Crescent Beach.
Local person you admire most: Milton Wong.
Best concert experience ever: Frank Sinatra.
Aspect of your personality you wish you could change: Procrastination.
The thing you wished people cared more about: Eachother.
The dish you’re most proud of: Any family meal that I can cook for them.
The thing that makes you the most nervous: The global economy.
Town you were born in: Shrewsbury, Shropshire (England).
Old television shows you can tolerate re-runs of: Doc Martin and The Vicar of Dibley.
Album that first made you love music: Bill Hayley and the Comets’ Rock Around the Clock.
The career path you considered but never followed: Arctic Explorer.
The one country that you have no interest in ever visiting: Iraq.
Your top 3 films of all time: The Tempest. Being There. Local Hero.
The first three things you do every morning: Tea. Newspapers. Breakfast.
The thing you’re addicted to: Cooking.
Biggest hope: World peace.
Luckiest moment of your life: Meeting my wife, Theresa.
Bishop’s
October 4, 2008
Open for dinner every evening from 5:30pm to 11:00pm
2183 West 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1N7 | MAP | Tel: 604-738-2025
Email: inquire@bishopsonline.com
Web: www.bishopsonline.com
The Team
Proprietor: John Bishop
Executive Chef: Andrea Carlson
Maitre d’: Abel Jacinto
About Bishop’s
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“This is the place for those who want the best of everything without the taint of pretension.”
Vancouver Magazine
Tucked away on West 4th in Kitsilano is a legendary restaurant with a big reputation. For more than 20 years John Bishop has led the field in serving food that is organic, produced locally and sustainably. Many consider his eponymous Bishop’s to be Canada’s version of Chez Panisse. With a reputation like that, lots of people don’t realize that Bishop’s is also a cosy neighbourhood haven serving quality dishes at affordable prices. John and Chef Carlson work directly with fishers, producers and growers to source the pick-of-the-crop and menus change constantly to reflect this.
Dining at Bishop’s is like having dinner at the home of an elegant friend. From the warm reception that greets you to a table dressed in “soothing linen” surrounded by spectacular West Coast First Nations art, you know you will be pampered in this urban oasis of calm. The art on the walls a fitting backdrop to the culinary art of Chef Carlson.
Abel Jacinto presides over a wine cellar that features the best of British Columbia with hard-to- find and rare wines from around the world. The list is consistently updated.
Bishop’s is a proud foundation member of OceanWise and the Green Table Network.
Accolades
John and his restaurant have been honoured with numerous awards including:
- Mobil Travel Guide Four Stars, 2008
- Gold Medal, Cuisine Canada National Cookbook Awards 2008 (for Fresh)
- Inaugural recipient of the Green Award, Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards
- Best Restaurant (numerous years), Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards
- Best North American Cuisine, Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards
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