Brunch with Aamer Haleem at The Bibo

Brunch is a favourite past time shared by many and should be an extraordinary experience, one that you will cherish. Vancouver has some wonderful places for brunch. Each of the places I visit is unique for what is offered along with the type of service and selection of dishes. I am on a journey around the city to find these extraordinary places and, at the same time, I will be joined by a notable personality who may be a Film Producer or Director, Musician, Arts Festival Director, Actor or other well-known individual for Brunch at restaurants in and around Vancouver.

Aamer Haleem

For my forty first brunch in this series, I was joined by CTV Morning Live Co-Host Aamer Haleem at The Bibo in Kitsilano talking Television, Music, Eating and more.

Aamer Haleem was born in London and raised in Ottawa and Toronto where he attended the University of Toronto and the School of Journalism at Humber College. His first job was as an associate producer at TSN Inside Sports. He also hosted a music video program at Hong Kong’s Channel V in 1996, but returned to Canada the following year after the transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong to host VTV Breakfast on Vancouver television station CIVT-TV (then known as “VTV”).

He was a host of programming on VH1 in the United States, including Bands Reunited and VSpot Top 20 Countdown. He has hosted the weekday afternoon current affairs program The Point on CBC Radio One, until it was canceled on June 26, 2009. He has been a co-host of the Vancouver edition of CTV Morning Live since 2011.

You can follow Aamer on Twitter @AamerHaleem

Have you always wanted to be a TV Host?

Yes it was a split between being in television or a lawyer. Originally planned to be a sportscaster as I started with TSN. Started as an intern through school (Journalism at school through U of T).

What type of music did you listen to growing up?

Everything but learning towards Led Zeppelin and the Beatles as a kid “John Lenon’s” give peace a chance. Then (grew up in Ottawa) U2, Human League, then moved to Toronto and listened to the Depeche Mode, Smiths and New Order. Indie and alternative music.

Tell me who some of your most notable guests that you have interviewed on your shows over the years?

U2 – multiple times, 1^st time in LA
Paul McCartney
Madonna
George Clooney
Paul Rudd
Richard Branson
Emma Thompson
Emily Blunt
Jada Pinetti Smith
Chris Cidad

What are some of your craziest experiences you have had on your tv shows?

1) On CTV Morning Live – Richard Branson cut my tie on the show

2) Flight attendants from Virgin Atlantic came on the show – sent a t-shirt with a tie cut in half printed on the shirt – signed by Branson.

3) Flying with U2 – I had a U2 notepad with me and the guitarist drew a photo of a sunflower and I was in a photo with him, that now is framed at home on my wall.

4) Bands Reunited – that show was crazy –traveling and would have to surprise musicians from known bands that we wanted to reunite.

If you could guess how many tv shows you have hosted over the years, how many would that be?

Thousands –can’t even imagine. Just celebrated our 350th show at CTV Morning Live.

Do you come from an entertainment family?

No, but my brother is a reporter for CBC in Winnipeg.

How did you get into doing Voice Overs?

A natural off shoot from what I do everyday. It’s easy enough to do now.

Who are some of your favourite people that you have co-hosted shows with in the past?

Rachel Perry at Much Music –co-hosted the Top 20 Countdown
VTV Breakfast – Tamara Taggart, Coleen Christie, and Nicola Crosby

You have interviewed Woody Allen, Madonna and Queen Latifah to name a few, was their anything striking for you when interviewing these unique personalities as opposed to all the other interviews you have done?

No – I approach my interviews exactly the same way I research everyone I am about to interview and recognize the time and effort it takes to do it. I’m prepared for anyone I am interviewing.

Where was your most recent trip?

My wife and I went to London, Paris and Germany. Ate at a great Italian restaurant in Paris.

What is your favourite foods?

Aburi Sushi
Pizza –authentic Italian
Stack of pancakes
Indian
Moroccan
French
Chinese
Malayasian
Thai

What are your favourite restaurants in Vancouver?

Vij’s
Bistro Sakana
Finch’s
Banana Leaf
Niccli
The Bibo
Terra Breads
Thierry
Sala Thai
Hawksworth
YEW

Custom Baked Sandwich

Melanzane Alla Parmigiana

Formula One Pizza

Aamer had a custom baked Sandwich with buratta, chicken, fennel and eggplant with tomato sauce, Richard had the Melanzane Alla Parmigiana and then Aamer and Richard shared the Formula One Pizza.

What are some of your favourite restaurants outside of Vancouver?

Café Mogador in New York
Humus Factory in LA
Gratzie in Toronto
Shinto Sushi in LA
Claridges for High Tea in London
Levant in London –middle eastern

What do you do in your off time?

Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Hangout with friends
Reading
Going to the movies

Who inspires you?

My wife for sure, upbeat, positive outlook, my parents moved to Canada for a life –for the benefit of all of their kids.

What has inspired you lately?

Malala Yousafzai –a 15 year old girl – who was shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus. She is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee; youngest in history. She started a foundation to give girls the opportunity to be educated. On 1 January 2013, she received the “2012 Tipperary International Peace Award” for her courage and determination to speak out in support of equal access to education for every child.

Is there anything you want to do, that you haven’t done already?