Food Drink and Customer Culture Victoria - Mark Engels interview · Saturday September 10, 2011 by colin newell
I have known Mark Engels for years – and if you are a Victoria resident and fan of great food and drink, then there are few people better to have the ear and opinions of.
Victoria has lots of interesting food people. Many of them with a leading edge sense of what is going on here, some of the things that have been attempted in the past (that have failed) and some things on the horizon.
Which often brings me to one of Mark’s food and bakery ventures. I am a junkie for whats happening and what might be happening in the Victoria food groove. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy having a leg up on the food culture intelligence?
And considering that there are few people as driven as Engels, there are even fewer people that will have that innate 6th sense of the trends.
We spoke at Bubby’s Kitchen, Oscar and Cook St. on Saturday over his interpretation of the gourmet burger and the classic kosher hot dog – and the life and times of one of Victoria’s most beloved bakers and raconteurs, his staff, his customers and the trials and tribulations of running a tight culinary ship.
Mark’s dialog is a contiguous and literate stream, musings include a dissertation on the fragile nature of the food supply, satisfying a seemingly endless queue of regular devotees, customers old and new – all ages, the scaled up version of “Bubby’s Bakery” now in dining form at Oscar and Cook street, and so on.
Mark, Valerie and their business partner Joel are part of a, not so much revitalization, but a fresh stucco treatment of the historic Cook Street Village. The density near village center has gone up some – with the addition of condos near the core, and the relevance of more food services has never been more welcomed. Which is not to say that food choices were never stellar – The Cook street village has evolved with the times. And Mark and company have kept it ahead of the wave as it were.
Mark muses on the broad spectrum of customers in the village, “Look at our customer base down here… young parents, the elderly, urban professionals… somewhat different than Bubby’s at Meares and Cook…” Cook and Meares is almost something of a bakery hipster hang out with way more civil servants, writers, students, etc.
Mark pauses to direct a few staff and frequently interacts with everyone on the team. He continues, “Valerie and I are always delighted when we get that extra-special super passionate staffer – in fact, they all become part of the Bubby’s family in short order…”
As a food writer I am always looking for that special something-something that separates the average food places in Victoria from the gems; like Bubby Roses, Zambri’s, the great cafes, and dozens of others. And it comes down to passion and putting the “perfection” ahead of the profit.
Mark injects, “There are myriad ways of making more money on the process of running a place like this… raising the price of items without reason or justification, or taking the fun factor out of the equation… At Bubby’s the passion comes before the bottom line…”
I get the sense that when the fun ends that Mark will hang up his fedora.
In the meantime, Andrea and I share the Bison burger, perfectly prepared, presented on a bun made in house, with a in-house salsa and aioli – and an all beef “dog” and a bowl of awesome (and very hot) Minestrone soup.
Project in development - Women in Coffee - the audio series · Friday September 2, 2011 by colin newell
Just time stamping this for my own sanity and motivation.
After doing a fairly successful podcast at the WCCCS “For the Love of Coffee” – chatting with the industry movers, brewers and shakers (only men talking…) I realized that I need to approach this again – this time for the gals…
Because there are as many (or more) hard working ladies in the coffee business as there are guys – and I probably will not be surprised to find that the ladies have to work harder to cover as much ground(s) as the guys.
Some of the questions I will put forward: Does gender matter in coffee world? What, if any, pay equity issues exist? Promotional issues? Safety? Yes, I have to ask that as well – Do women feel safe working and traveling in the coffee industry.
I may, obviously, touch a few nerves…
but that is what I do.
So stay tuned as I flesh this out!
Credit where credit is due – I thought of this but Julia Barber of The Western Canada Coffee Collective is giving it legs by throwing her support behind this project. Hey, at this point, Julia Barber is, quite arguably, the hardest working person in the business!
WCCCS 2011 Audio Podcast roughcut · Sunday August 28, 2011 by colin newell
We interviewed a variety of great people at the 2011 WCCCS in Victoria at the beautiful Crystal Gardens Event Center. Have a listen to our near-30 minute chat with some of coffees movers, brewers and shakers! – if you cannot see the audio thingie below, click here for the mp3.
Talking Western Canadian Specialty Coffee in Victoria – 2011
Summer food 2011 Food preview Bubbys Kitchen Cook Street Village · Wednesday August 3, 2011 by colin newell
Andrea and I were honored to have been invited to a soft opening evening sneak preview at Bubby’s Kitchen – Cook and Oscar in the wonderful Cook Street Village in Victoria.
One of the joys of being an “aspiring” food writer and long time food and drink blogger – as well as having the privilege of calling some of Victoria’s best food providers as personal friends… is the opportunity to look “under the hood” a few days in advance of the lucky people that will soon be enjoying this welcomed addition to the never static Cook Street Village South.
Bubby’s Kitchen is center anchor in a trio of newcomers to the corner of Oscar and Cook Street; a pet store on the left and a Hot House Pizza place on the right.
Bubby’s Kitchen is a very spacious and airy addition to the Bubby Rose family of food stuff providers in Victoria – and, as Tony Bennett sang, “The best is yet to come and, babe, won’t it be fine?” One part bistro. One part deli. One part cafe. 100% family friendly meeting place.
Bubby’s will feature a patio and wine and beer. Wonderful long hours… 7ish til 10 PM 6 days a week (Closed Mondays). And everything you love about Bubby Roses’s – Cook and Meares – scaled up.
The food. More of the comfort classics you would imagine from Mark and Valerie (and partner Joel) – Burgers, Pasta, salads… all day breakfast items – plus a special breakfast menu that made me tingle with anticipation!
Click photo at left for artists rendition of Bubbys Kitchen
Details? Too early to reveal folks! More in a few days.
Andrea and I shared a Bison burger and a plate of awesome Ravioli over bottles of Blue Buck Beer. Again, tease details here readers. Do not want to give up too much as of yet.
We both have a very, very, very good feeling about this place. The excitement is palpable – and I am sure residents of the Cook street village (and beyond) are humming. Possible full opening some time next week.
The best is yet to come and, babe, won’t it be fine The best is yet to come, come the day you’re mine
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