Twenty Questions At DB Bistro With Star Chef Daniel Boulud
April 28, 2009
The interview above was recorded today at DB Bistro.
With lauded restaurants in New York City (Daniel, DB Bistro Moderne, Café Boulud, Bar Boulud), Palm Beach (Café Boulud), Las Vegas (Daniel Boulud Brasserie), Beijing (Maison Boulud à Pékin), and Vancouver (Lumiere and DB Bistro Moderne); several cookbooks to his credit and a popular television show (“After Hours with Daniel”), Daniel Boulud is one of the world’s most celebrated chef/restaurateurs and a definite force of nature. Read more
Jean-Georges Vongerichten On Spiders & The Math Of Empire
April 15, 2009
This is the 40th interview of what will eventually amount to 500 profiles of people who have made life in BC that much more interesting. At the rate we’re going it’ll take three years, at which time we’ll probably just start shooting for 1,000. Read more
Q&A With Kildare Curtis Of Eugene Choo
April 10, 2009
This is the 39th interview of what will eventually amount to 500 profiles of people who have made life in BC that much more interesting. At the rate we’re going it’ll take three years, at which time we’ll probably just start shooting for 1,000. Read more
Q&A With Food Writer Chris Johns
March 28, 2009
This is the 37th interview of what will eventually amount to 500 profiles of people who have made life in BC that much more interesting. At the rate we’re going it’ll take three years, at which time we’ll probably just start shooting for 1,000.
Once or twice a week Scout poses 60 questions to a different individual. They pick and choose which ones they’d prefer to answer, with a minimum response rate of 20. It’s some sort of Rorschach test, for sure…
Chris Johns is one of our favourite Canadian food writers. You can often find his work in Macleans, enRoute, The Globe & Mail, Vancouver Magazine, and many other publications. Read more
60 Questions With Skoah Icon Andrea Scott
March 24, 2009
This is the 36th interview of what will eventually amount to 500 profiles of people who have made life in BC that much more interesting. At the rate we’re going it’ll take three years, at which time we’ll probably just start shooting for 1,000. Read more
Q&A With Wild Rice Restaurateur Andrew Wong
March 13, 2009
Once 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…
Andrew Wong is the owner and front man at the award-winning Wild Rice, a restaurant that has seen good times and innovative, modern Chinese cuisine plated for the past seven years.
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Scout Q&A
Three things about your neighbourhood that make you want to live there: Chinatown/Crosstown. Great restaurants within walking distance. Close to my son’s school. The neighbouhood is filled with diversity.
Default drink of choice: Negroni.
Drink you’ll never have again: Great Wall Cabernet.
The one place you’d move to: San Fran.
Favourite wine varietal: Pinot Noir
One thing you’d like to change about Vancouver: Homelessness.
Cheap place for dinner: Shiro and Jules Bistro. I like to refer to them as inexpensive as opposed to cheap.
Book you’re reading: Heat, by Bill Buford.
Last place traveled: Maui.
Biggest fear: Cliffhanging.
Place in BC that you love escaping to: Saltspring Island.
Under what circumstances would you join the army: If canada were to be invaded.
Your paternal grandfather’s personal story: I never met the man. He had 3 wives, 11 children and passed away long before my time.
Best bar stool in the city: Gotham.
What are you proud of: Staying open for 7+ years
The thing that makes you the angriest: People that are capable of working yet choose to ask others for money.
Saddest thing about Vancouver: Panhandlers.
Most challenging part of owning a business: Staffing.
Talent you wish you possessed: Magic.
Musical instrument you long to play: Guitar.
Sport you gave up: Volleyball.
The thing that you eat that is bad for you that you will never stop eating: Deep fried chinese doughnut (yuah ja gwai) that goes with congee.
Somewhere within an hour of Vancouver that is worth checking out: Deep Cove.
The number of fist fights you’ve been in: 4.
The scariest situation you’ve ever been in: Confronting 2 burglars after hours in my restaurant.
Three things of no value that you will keep until you die: My son’s report cards, my comic books and my boy scout uniform.
How you waste time at work: Reading about wine.
The thing you wished people cared more about: Supporting local.
The dish you’re most proud of: Spaghetti with meat sauce, because it always make my son smile.
The thing that makes you the most nervous: Public speaking.
Town you were born in: Vancouver.
Old television shows you can tolerate re-runs of: Charlie’s Angels.
First memory: My green ball – hard as a rock and would not bounce.
Quality you admire most in yourself: Patience.
Album that first made you love music: The Beatles Rubber Soul.
Default junk food of choice: Cheezies.
The career path you considered but never followed: Acting.
Your top 3 films of all time: Braveheart, Salt of My Skin, Big Trouble in Little China.
The first three things you do every morning: Stretch, grab a breath of fresh air, then coffee.
The thing you’re addicted to: Chocolate.
Biggest hope: That my son will take on a moral fabric similar to my own.
Luckiest moment of your life: Meeting Louise, which lead to quiting smoking.
Favourite book as a child: Where The Wild Things Are.
Other Cool People
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Q&A With Local Jeweller Dina Gonzalez Mascaro
March 11, 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…
Dina Gonzalez Mascaro is an artist from Argentina now living in Vancouver. Her work has been exhibited in commercial galleries and artist-run centres in Argentina and in Vancouver, Banff, and Toronto. Mascaro holds a Masters degree in Fine Arts with a major in sculpture from Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a jeweller, Dina is self-taught. Her jewellery is her sculpture. In July of 2008, she opened JewellerBau Gallery 42 – a studio and shop located on Main Street.
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Scout Q&A
Three things about your neighbourhood that make you want to live there: Mount Pleasant: easy going, working class, not pretentious.
The thing that you eat that is bad for you that you will never stop eating: ICE CREAM.
Default drink: Black beer.
Drink you’ll never have again: Ginebra (like vodka but stronger)
The first thing that you thought when you saw Vancouver: “What a clean city!”
Favourite Vancouver bridge: The Alex Fraser.
Best Vancouver patio: My friend Megan Ellis’s patio.
One thing you’d like to change about Vancouver: The lack of culture.
What made you decide to become a jeweller: Instant and fun job.
Cheap place for dinner: My home or “The Foundation”.
Book you’re reading: “The Man Game” by Lee Henderson.
Last place traveled: The Okanagan.
Biggest fear: Don’t see my parents again.
If you could rename yourself: Coch.
Your ancestry: Argentinians coming from Spain (Basque Republic).
Under what circumstances would you join the army: Under no circumstance.
Your paternal grandfather’s personal story: My grandfather was a gambler – for that reason sometimes he and his family lived in palaces and sometimes in slum. He changed homes 34 times. He died when I was 1 year old…He worked in the famous café Tortoni as a waiter.
Dumbest purchase ever: Madonna tickets for her BC Place concert.
What are you proud of: Joelle my partner and Burana and Rudy (my dogs)
The thing that makes you the angriest: At this time, the apathy of Vancouverites…
Saddest thing about Vancouver: Downtown East Side.
Ice cream flavour: Pistachio.
Most beautiful body of water: A cave in Banff with a secret green lake.
Food your mom makes better than anyone: Pasta.
Talent you wish you possessed: The language chip.
The trend you wish you never followed, but did: Cocaine.
Musical instrument you long to play: Bandoneón (Argentinian accordion).
Sport you gave up: Basketball.
Grooming products: None.
The game you’re best at: None.
Mac or PC: Some Mac.
Favourite sports team: River Plate (Argentinian soocer team).
The number of fist fights you’ve been in: With my identical twin sister, at least 3000.
The scariest situation you’ve ever been in: In a slum between a gang of very scary people and the police.
Three things of no value that you will keep until you die: A mechanical pencil (a gift from my best friend), books of my drawings, and pictures of all my dogs.
Local person you admire most: Gordon Smith, the painter.
The thing you’re most ashamed of: Being depressed.
Best concert experience ever: Bjork at Deer Lake Park.
Dream car: 1965 Porsche, black with brown interior.
The dish you’re proud of: Milanesas con papas fritas.
The thing that makes you the most nervous: Waiting.
Town you were born in: Tres Arroyos, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Old television shows you can tolerate re-runs of: Kung Fu with David Carradine.
First memory: Looking in a mirror with my twin sister during the siesta. We were one and a half.
Album that first made you love music: My dad’s Benny Goodman collection.
The career path you considered but never followed: Architecture.
The one country that you have no interest in ever visiting: China.
Three websites you visit every day: Argentinian news papers, fotolog and my blog.
The first three things you do every morning: Make mate and drink it and take the dogs out.
The thing you’re addicted to: No more addiction for me…thanks.
Biggest hope: These days, that Obama changes some game rules…
Luckiest moment of your life: The day I was born…
Favourite book as a child As a child: I was all about sports, but at 12 or 13 Steppenwolf by Herman Hess was my favorite.
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Indie Profile: Sandy Bahrich Of FireFly Notes
March 2, 2009
At Scout we are inspired by people who create. We recently scouted FireFly Notes by Vancouver artist Sandy Bahrich and thought they were pretty darn great, so we tracked down Sandy and asked her a few questions.
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Originally from Victoria, Sandy has been living in various Vancouver urban locales for the past 15 years. Recently she has found herself in the burbs of Richmond. Always a creative person, Sandy ran an online vintage clothing company called Cloak & Muff Vintage for a number of years, and after developing a self-described “unnatural fondness” for rubber stamps and ink, she began her online Etsy shop, FireFly Notes. For her, designing paper goods became a necessary release for sanity’s sake at the end of a busy day mothering two boys. You can find an ever changing menagerie of creations from Sandy at www.fireflynotes.etsy.com.
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Indy Profile
Tell us three things about your neighbourhood that make you want to live there: A recent transplant from the city to the burbs of Richmond I try and make the most out of the cultural diversity in my hood (food!). I can walk to the Richmond night market for choice meat on a stick in the summer. I am a quick drive down the street to TNT market for cheap crab when the need overtakes me. Lastly I have Fruiticana market at my finger tips where I can bop around to Bangra music videos whilst I pick out my veg.
Vancouver shop that carries your products: People can find my wares at www.fireflynotes.etsy.com thus far!
Where do you enjoy shopping for supplies in Vancouver? I love Daiso! This is the huge Japanese $2 store in Richmond. Great crafty things hidden on those shelves!! Michael’s too of course. For clothing, Main Street. Too many shops to narrow down! Vintage, local designers, thrift…all that and great eats too. Makes for a good shopping day. For jewelry: being a mom of two wee men I don’t wear a lot of jewels but I do have a big plastic ring fetish. There is a great little shop in Steveson that has a great assortment but the name of it escapes me. I got one stuck on my finger last time I went in and the ladies were very gracious in helping me…
Is there a local designer who you admire and why? A ring thing again! I love Anat Basanta. I have one of her big chunky silver rings. One of my most prized possessions. Powerful and strong yet feminine. I think you can find her work down at Granville island the Vancouver Art Gallery, and of course online. There are so many wonderful Vancouver artists and designers to be found on Etsy also. Enter the name Vancouver and amazing work pops up!
What inspires you? I enjoy viewing life as poetic as possible. I try and let everything inspire me. My friends and family, music, words, the unspoken…..far too many things to list!
Tell us about your favourite space to work: On my English oak dining table with a glass of wine in my hand, kidlings tucked away in their nests – I spread out my supplies and play.
What is your favourite Firefly design right now? This would probably have to be my “George Herbert Quote” card. I designed several cards to choose from for a friend who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I thought this one seemed sweet and hopeful. The Mexican Jesus Matches get en honourable mention. Kitschy and Fun.
What sort of music do you listen to when you are working? I tend to throw 90.9 fm on the radio. I don’t speak a lick of French but it is a great mix of jazz and classical and at that time of day I long for smooth adult sophistication when Dora and friends have been burning holes in my eardrums all morning.
Is there a Vancouver event that you look forward to attending or taking part in? I look forward to attending the Spring Fling Sale at the Cambrian Welsh Hall (Main and 17th) Saturday March 21st. There will be many local artists and designers there.
Why is Vancouver a good city for indie design? I think we have a distinct west coast edge in that we have so much natural inspiration right out our doorstep. I have also felt a lot of support from other local designers. It feels like a big ol’ family of encouragement out there!
What are Firefly’s plans for the future? To continue to grow and promote my Etsy shop and perhaps join the craft fair/market circuit in the summer time.
If you were to choose one of your cards to send to the Queen, which one would you choose, and why? I would make a totally new one for her. Something with a Corgi on it!!!!
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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.
Q&A With Ethical Bean’s Aaron De Lazzer
February 25, 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…
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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