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.
For my forty eighth brunch in this series, I was joined by Ann Luu Co-Host of CTV Morning Live over brunch at Café Pacifica in the Pan Pacific Hotel in downtown Vancouver.
Ann Luu was raised in the Lower Mainland, Ann has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge in Anthropology and upon completing her education; she decided to return to the West Coast to pursue her life long dream of broadcasting where she enrolled at Columbia Academy earning a scholarship and her Broadcast Performing Arts Diploma.
Ann has worked in radio and television primarily as a weather and traffic specialist for CHMJ-AM 730; 100.5 The Peak FM (CKPK-FM); 93.7 JRfm (CJJR-FM); CBC Television Vancouver where she hosted the Cultural Secrets TV show, as well has worked on The Early Edition with CBC Radio One. Ann is the Co-Host and Traffic Specialist for CTV Morning Live at CTV British Columbia.
You can follow Ann Luu on twitter @ann_luu
Have you always wanted to be a TV Host?
In my pre-teens my mom always thought I would be in tv. I didn’t do it until after I got my degree in Anthropology.
What were your favourite tv shows to watch while growing up?
- Mr. Belvedere
- GI Joe
- Jim & the Holograms
- Saved by the Bell
How did you become a weather and traffic specialist reporter?
My first job after Columbia Academy was AM 730 doing traffic and then I started doing the weather with CBC when they launched their noon show back in 2007.
Tell me who some of your most notable guests that you have interviewed on your shows over the years?
- Tony Okungbowa from the Ellen Show
- Ryan Locktee (Olympic gold medalist)
- John Montgomery (Olympic gold medalist)
- New Kids on the Block
What are some of your craziest experiences you have had on your tv shows?
- Attacked a Zombie – while on the show at CTV Morning Live
- Couple of months ago when Star Trek Int darkness came out I was beamed on to different enterprise sets
- Live on location at CBC Kits Beach – first day of summer served me the volleyball and it hit me in the head just as we hit the commercial.
Do you come from an entertainment family?
Not at all – my sister is a professor, younger brother consults for Nasa, older sister is a pre-school teacher, other sister owns a private nursing school.
Where was your most recent trip?
Dominican in January
What are your favourite foods?
- Seafood
- Anything from a pig
- Desserts
What are your favourite restaurants in Vancouver?
- Yew at the Four Seasons
- Bao Bei
- Phnom Phen
- Meat and Bread
What do you do in your off time?
- Play with my 2 dogs
- Hiking
- Skiing
- Sleep
Who inspires you?
My mom
Do you have any favourite foodie experiences you would like to share?
- The first time I went to Bao Bei and had their pork belly.
- Kirin Restaurant –the king crab comes in 3 different courses and it just kept on coming and it was amazing
- Blind tasting of the 12 cheese cakes that Richard Wolak brought on CTV Morning Live.
What has inspired you lately?
Aamer Haleem was away recently and I had to step into his position – people don’t realize how much it takes to drive our tv show every day.
Is there anything you want to do, that you haven’t done already?
Travel the world
Who are your mentors?
- Gloria Macarenko
- Aamer Haleem
What’s next for you or what’s on the horizon?
Taking holidays
Style: Buffet
Attire: Casual
Time: Brunch is offered 11:30am – 2:30pm on Sunday
Cost: Sunday Market Brunch is $52 per Adult
Café Pacifica in the Pan Pacific Hotel
999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Menu: http://www2.panpacific.com/en/Vancouver/Dining/CafePacifica.html
For Reservations, please call 604-895-2480
Stay tuned to my next guest Interview along with the next Brunch in and around Vancouver.
By: Richard Wolak