Chef Simon McNeil

Vancouver is home to some of the best chefs in the world, many have worked for the top chefs and restaurants around the world as well as around the city. Dishing with the Chefs is a series of Interviews with some of the top chefs in and around Vancouver.

Chef Simon McNeil

Simon McNeil grew up in Ontario, he studied at George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology, where he was a Culinary Apprentice 89 and 91 and a Red Seal Journeyman. He was Pastry Chef at Pronto in Toronto in 1994 for a year, then the Executive Souse Chef at the Vancouver Club 1995-2001, then the Executive Chef at the Jericho Club 2001-2003, then the Executive Chef & Food and Beverage Manager at The Galiano Inn and Spa in 2003 for a year, then Corporate Chef in Grand Cayman, then a Chef Instructor at Dubrulle Culinary Arts in Vancouver in 2004 for 2 years, Simon then consulted and had his own catering company for a few years before becoming the Executive Chef of the Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel in 2010 where he was for a year, he then became the Executive Chef of the Granville Island Hotel where he is today.

Did you always want to be a Chef ?        

Always, when I was 4 years old I wanted to make cookies from scratch. Later on in my teenage years, I would take a part a kitchen and make dishes and make a big mess.

Did you go to Culinary school?

Yes I went to George Brown College in Toronto and while studying I also worked in Burlington at Collette’s on and off for 6 years, I had 4 jobs while going to school.

How did you end up in Vancouver?

I was a Pastry Chef in Toronto, my first wife found her biological family here in Vancouver. I always wanted to go West, jumped on the opportunity and moved to Vancouver in 1996.

Tell me about one of your Crazy Experiences

I had a student at Dubrulle Culinary Arts who wanted to do a gingerbread house for the Hyatt Gingerbread Lane. We entered together on the Professional team and had 5 nights in the school restaurant kitchen to get it done. Built a stone old mill out of gingerbread, chocolate, sugar and pastiage, it looked very realistic we got 2nd place in the professional division and public choice.

What Challenges you as a Chef?

Managing people is the hardest thing to do, figuring out how to motivate each person differently. So many variables change the direction along the way.

How many people do you have working in your kitchen at the Granville Island Hotel?

In the Peak season (summer) – we have 34 employees in the kitchen

In the off season we have 15 people in the kitchen

I understand you just had a life altering experience, what happened?

Over the past 5 months I lost 72 pounds, changed all my eating habits, dropped all the processed foods, exercised, lost all cravings to healthy foods and have a new appreciation for food now.

What are your favourite foods?

  • Beets
  • Kale
  • Red rice

Has your personal food lifestyle changes for food changed your menu choices in your restaurant?

Yes I took off some of the heavier menu items and lightened it up which is much healthier.

What are your favourite dishes to make at home for the family?

Lots, I always invite people over. Last night I made a Heritage Beef Shortrib braised with red rice and kale in broth.

The Dish:

The Market

The Market

Red rice

Red quinoa

Potatoes

Parsley

Arugula

Flat leaf parsley

Poached Omega eggs (Born 3)

Roasted vine tomatoes

Toasted almonds

Fire roasted peppers sauce

What was your inspiration behind this dish?

This is what I was eating at home. Lots of healthy grains, and colours on the plate.

What do you do in your off time?

  • Wood working
  • Working out
  • Family stuff
  • Snowboarding

Who is your Mentor?

Mario Batali

Is there anything different about working in a hotel vs all the other types of places you have worked?

No, it’s all the same sort of systems and organization.

Chocolate Show Piece

How did you end up working in Chocolate?

I read one book by Stephane Leroux “Matiere Chocolate” it is a two book set and I worked with Chef Tamas Ronyai at the Vancouver Club. The rest I did on my own. I have made two show pieces while here at this hotel.

Stay tuned for the next chef in the Dishing with the Chef series.

By: Richard Wolak

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