Recently, I sat down for a discussion with my good friend James Iranzad (co-owner and operator of Gooseneck Hospitality), along with two of the city's most respected chefs, Joël Watanabe (Kissa Tanto, Bao Bei, Meo) and Ron McKinlay. McKinlay is a Vancouver-born chef who has spent the past nine years in Toronto as the Executive Chef at Canoe in Toronto. Earlier this year, he left that position in order to focus on travelling, collaborating, and cooking around the world - including at a special dinner with Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson, Executive Chef of Published on Main.

Together, we dug into the topic of current chef culture; including how leadership has shifted, what awards actually mean, and the real challenges of running a functional, creative and healthy kitchen in 2025. We also talked about the beauty of collaboration, the grind behind big-name restaurants, the music that shaped Ron's early cooking years (plenty of hip hop), and how chefs stay inspired over the course of their careers. If you care about where restaurant culture is heading, you’ll get a lot out of this one.

If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email at trackandfoodpod@gmail.com

Once again, I'm joined by James Iranzad (Gooseneck Hospitality) and James Langford-Smith (Pamplemousse Jus), as we dig into a few topics that have been top of mind lately...

We kick things off by unpacking what the BCGEU strike has meant for the hospitality industry, and how we can better protect ourselves during future labour negotiations. From there, the discussion shifts to Nikki Bayley’s latest, and we imagine curating our own version; we touch on the recent New York Times feature following two restaurateurs, with limited money and experience, trying to open restaurants in NYC; wrapping it all up with a recent Vancouver Sun column about the rise of food content creators, and how social media is shaping the way diners experience food culture in Vancouver.

Always good fun when we chat. Enjoy!

The 38 Best Restaurants in Vancouver, According to a Local Expert - Eater

Opening a Restaurant in New York Is No Picnic. - New York Times

How food content creators are transforming Vancouver’s restaurant scene - Vancouver Sun

If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email at trackandfoodpod@gmail.com

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend James Iranzad, of Gooseneck Hospitality (Bufala, Lucky Taco, Bells & Whistles), to unpack three big conversations shaping BC’s dining scene right now, kicking off with the BCLDB strike and how it’s rippling through restaurants across the province — from inventory headaches to staff morale. Then we dig into the latest Michelin Awards and what they reveal about Vancouver’s evolving culinary identity. Finally, we explore what it means to be a “foodie” in 2025, inspired by Jaya Saxena’s insightful Eater column "The Life and Death of the American Foodie".

If you love good food, honest opinions, and some laughs along the way, this one’s for you. And, beginning now, there are two ways to enjoy: by listening to the player above, or by watching the following Youtube video.

https://youtu.be/RaTJS1go6cw?si=y0ebHgLlfUC8jYkT

The Life and Death of the American Foodie - Eater

If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email at trackandfoodpod@gmail.com