Vancouver Island’s restaurant scene is heating up: Janevca is bringing their wood-fire cooking concept to Esquimalt’s historical Rosemead House property (formerly the English Inn) at 429 Lampson Street.

The Concept

Aragon Properties took over the 28-room hotel property (which doubled in size from its original 14 rooms with the addition of a new wing) nearly a decade ago, back in 2015. However, it wasn’t until recently that they remodelled the kitchen – which hadn’t been touched since the early 2010s – building in a pizza oven and an open-fire grill. The restaurant, lounge and event space have all also been updated and diversified. They now include several spaces for those wanting a more unique and private dining opportunity, or more casual seating lending itself better to enjoying small plates and drinks while chatting with friends. It wasn’t until after the upgrades were completed that the team started to get serious about which chef to hand the kitchen over to. Who they chose is now public knowledge: fire-cooking enthusiast Andrea Alridge (Osteria Savio Volpe, Cincin Ristorante) will head the kitchen as Executive Chef of Janevca.

The MeNU

It’s early days yet, and as such the finer details of the menu are still being kept under wraps; but from what we’re told, guests can expect an eclectic array of dishes synchronized with the changing seasons, and always featuring quality local island-sourced ingredients that are lifted to delicious new levels via various wood-fire techniques. “Cooking with fire is something that is so integral to me now,” says Chef Alridge. “Different temperatures can draw out intense and subtle flavours. Like roasting an onion in the embers of a fire, the smokiness and sweetness that you taste are like nothing else. I love that you’re constantly having to adapt to a fire, whether it’s managing smoke levels, spreading the coals to get an even temperature or hanging vegetables or meat to slowly roast them. When you cook with fire, it demands much focus, attention, and intent. That’s what I truly love about it.”

Alridge will also be drawing menu inspiration from her lifelong experience of family dining and the old adage of the hearth being the heart of the “home”, with the aim being to bring people closer together for a fun and intimate-feeling dining experience. “I want people to experience an elevated but comfortable dining experience while absorbing the history, dedication to craft, and all the love that’s gone into restoring the entire property. At the same time, my hope is that our guests warm up to the experience of family-style dining with different elements of fire integrated throughout their meals.” As for what beverages pair well with wood-fire, the answer is basically everything: the beverage program at Janevca will include a selection of classic and innovative cocktails, alongside a comprehensive list of local and international wines. These offerings are intended to complement the wood-fired dishes, with a focus on pairing smoky, rich flavours with appropriate wines and spirits.

The Room

The indoor dining area encompasses approximately 2300-square-feet, plus additional square footage outside, to accommodate 70 patio seats. Inside seating is divided between 96 spots in the dining room and 40 in the lounge area, with windows letting in lots of light plus views to the rugged natural West Coast environment beyond, including its majestic old Garry Oak trees.

The interior design’s primary motivation is the intersection where “history meets discovery”, which the team has achieved by melding traditional elements with contemporary ones to create a space all its own – one that is simultaneously imbued with a sense of historical significance and timelessness… Once all is said and done, the aim is to offer a communal dining experience, reflecting the age-old idea of gathering around a hearth by integrating historic elements of Rosemead House with a contemporary dining experience.

The Timing

Last we heard (earlier today) the wood-fire grill and pizza oven had been installed, floors had been laid, and the kitchen tiling had been completed. In short: everything is on track for an August opening date. Stay tuned, we’ll report back with more details soon.

Janevca

429 Lampson St., Esquimalt, BC

WEBSITE