Brunch with Jordan Harvey at Beach Bay Café

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.

Jordan Harvey

Jordan Harvey

For my Sixty-Eighth brunch in this series, I was joined by Jordan Harvey who is a professional soccer player with the Whitecaps FC over brunch at the Beach Bay Café in the Westend.

Jordan Harvey was born and raised in Mission Viejo, California.  A left fullback who can also play in midfield, defender Jordan Harvey joined Whitecaps FC after being acquired in exchange for allocation money from Major League Soccer rivals Philadelphia Union on July 7, 2011. An experienced MLS campaigner with over 100 appearances in the league, Jordan started his career with Colorado Rapids after being selected in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft. Harvey scored the 10,000th goal in MLS history on June 19, 2013 against Chivas USA. Jordan has been with the Whitecaps FC for the past 4 years, their next season gets underway in March 2016.

You can follow Jordan Harvey on Twitter @JordanCHarvey

What got you into working in Sports?

It was embedded in me from the very beginning, baseball and soccer, all the way through high school. In Grade 10 I joined a residency program for 2 years and I moved to Florida and then played in the under 17 world cup. I then moved back to Southern California for my high school senior year, which was followed by 4 years at UCLA where I earned a Sociology degree and that started off my career in soccer.

What is your training like currently as a member of the Whitecaps FC team?

The day begins at 8:30am with pre-heb (exercises to warm the body) or if you are injured then it is re-hab (warm up the muscles), we then train for a couple of hours running 5-6 km, then it is recovery (massage therapy, chiropractor and ice baths) and we are then finished by 1:30 or 2pm.

What is a Left Fullback?

It is a defender and in this roll you do a little bit of everything and you have to be fit to do this roll (I usually run 11-12 km in this position per game).

What foods do you like and dislike?

I love Mexican food and anything with avocado including tortilla soup and taco salad. I also love sushi, grilled chicken and vegetables.

I dislike Indian food.

What are your favourite restaurants in Vancouver?

Cuchillo

Cioppino’s

Lolita’s

Cactus Club English Bay

Beach Bay Eggs Benedict with honey ham

Beach Bay Eggs Benedict with honey ham

Fish and Chips

Fish and Chips

selection of sorbets and frozen yogurt.

selection of sorbets and frozen yogurt.

Jordan had the Beach Bay Eggs Benedict with honey ham and coffee. Richard had the Fish and Chips with green peas. For dessert, Richard and Jordan shared a selection of sorbets and frozen yogurt.

What do you do in your off time?

Family time

Playing guitar

Standup paddle board

Going to concerts

Who are your mentors?

John Ellinger (my residency coach)

My parents

Who inspires you in Sports?

The leaders on the teams but it could be from my own life as well not just soccer.

How can young soccer players advance to soccer professionally?

They have to have a love for what they do. They can’t take a day off, every day you have to be learning, watch games on tv, come to the Whitecaps games, pay attention and try to learn something.

What’s next for you or what’s on the horizon?

I hopefully have another handful of years playing soccer professionally. Thinking about what I am going to do in the future after soccer.

Style: A La Carte

Attire: Casual

Time: Saturday 11am – 3pm and Sunday 9am-5pm

Beach Bay Café

1193 Denman Street, Vancouver

Menu: http://www.beachbaycafe.com/

For Reservations call 604-685-7337

Stay tuned to my next guest Interview along with the next Brunch in and around Vancouver.

By: Richard Wolak

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