tasting victoria

Chef spotlights

Conversations with the chefs, bakers, sommeliers, and bartenders shaping the way Victoria eats.

38 stories · Updated monthly
Chef Spotlight

Meet Isabel Chung: Fairmont Empress’ first female executive chef

We sat down with chef Isabel Chung to talk about her journey as a chef, overcoming challenges in the industry, and her local approach to her menus

Article

Esquimalt resident is a contestant on The Great Canadian Baking Show’s new season

From a passion of baking at home to being on national TV

Article

Victoria just got a new 8-seater omakase bar

And it looks just as awesome as it sounds

Article

A top local dining destination is changing hands

Cafe Brio's co-founders are retiring after 27 years

Article

Victoria's getting a new farm-to-table restaurant made entirely from scratch

And it's being run by an award-winning Australian chef

Article

Here's your first look at Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar

Toptable Group's newest restaurant is exactly what Victoria has been anticipating

Article

LURE Restaurant & Bar’s New Chef is making his mark

Article

How to eat your flowers and follow your dreams at Rockrose Farm

Why a Silicon Valley tech worker moved back home and onto a Saanich flower farm

Article

The Wandering Mollusk settles on a home

Jess Taylor is finally wading into the waters of owning a restaurant after a decade shucking oysters.

Article

Ugly Duckling Dining indulges in the details

The newest Chinatown restaurant is the brainchild of head chef Corbin Mathany.

Article

Victoria has gone crazy for this Metchosin cookie house

Amid the tranquil sounds and sights of Witty’s Lagoon is the legend of a sugary oasis called the Crazy Cookie House.

Article

Clive’s Classic Lounge gets the global nod

Clive’s Classic Lounge is no stranger to success. The award-winning cocktail bar in the Chateau Victoria hotel frequently ranks as one of the best in Victoria, the province, and across Canada; and this year, it’s gotten an international nod too.

Article

Inside Victoria’s oldest Latin American grocery store

When merengue music fills the space, you know you’re inside Mexican House of Spice.

Article

Great Canadian Baking Show contestant settles back into his Langford kitchen

Langford resident John Fowler speaks to Tasting Victoria on where to find supplies, losing baking competitions at work, and shares a helpful tip on creaming butter.

Article

Block Kitchen + Bar brings a bit of everything to each dish

Chef Spotlight

Chef Spotlight Series: Ingrid Perez, Nautical Nellies

Chef Spotlight

Chef Series, Winemaker Edition: Brent Rowland of Averill Creek

Chef Spotlight

Chef Spotlight Series: Israel Alvarez Molina, Maiiz Nixtamal

Chef Spotlight

Chef Spotlight Series: Sarah Maw, Friends of Dorothy (FOD)

Chef Spotlight

Chef Spotlight Series: Chef Harris Bredin–The Hallway

Chef Spotlight

Chef Spotlight Series: Joanne Predan, La Roux Patisserie

Chef Spotlight

Chefs Spotlight Series: Chef Castro Boateng House of Boateng Cafe

Chef Spotlight

Chef Spotlight Series: Vincent Capitano, Island Chef Pepper Co

Chef Spotlight

Chef Spotlight Series: Daniel Shipley, Farm’s Gate Foods & Catering

Chef Spotlight

Chef Spotlight Series: Julia McInnis, Zambri’s

Chef Spotlight

Chef Spotlight Series: Matt Cusano, Boom + Batten

Chef Spotlight

Chef on the Run’s homestyle English cuisine remains a Sidney staple after 25 years

Article

Syrian refugee’s catering business takes off through Facebook

Tasting Victoria
Article
Article

Pagliacci’s has held the keys to sustaining a local family business for 42 years

Tasting Victoria
Chef Spotlight
Chef Spotlight

Q&A with Euphoria Bakery

Tasting Victoria
Article
Article

How a Victoria-based entrepreneur broke into the competitive space of gourmet ice cream

Article

Tasting Campbell River: Meet the Chopped Canada champion behind Mattone Italian Kitchen

Article

Meet the Owners of Fern: Victoria’s First 100%Vegan Café and Bakery

Chef Spotlight

Meet Mike Rathjen of Rathjen Cellars

Article

Victoria welcomes acclaimed Executive Chef Ken Nakano

Article

The King of Market Square: The Making of Los Panas Kitchen

Article

The Making Of: Blue Nile East African Restaurant

Full archive

38 stories
May 16, 2026

Late Night On Johnson Street

Article
Mar 13, 2025

Meet Isabel Chung: Fairmont Empress’ first female executive chef

Chef Spotlight
Oct 17, 2024

Esquimalt resident is a contestant on The Great Canadian Baking Show’s new season

Article
Aug 22, 2024

Victoria just got a new 8-seater omakase bar

Article
Dec 13, 2023

A top local dining destination is changing hands

Article
Oct 26, 2023

Victoria's getting a new farm-to-table restaurant made entirely from scratch

Article
Jun 22, 2023

Here's your first look at Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar

Article
Jun 9, 2023

LURE Restaurant & Bar’s New Chef is making his mark

Article
May 25, 2023

How to eat your flowers and follow your dreams at Rockrose Farm

Article
Apr 20, 2023

The Wandering Mollusk settles on a home

Article
Mar 9, 2023

Ugly Duckling Dining indulges in the details

Article
Mar 2, 2023

Victoria has gone crazy for this Metchosin cookie house

Article
Feb 16, 2023

Clive’s Classic Lounge gets the global nod

Article
Feb 13, 2023

Inside Victoria’s oldest Latin American grocery store

Article
Feb 9, 2023

Great Canadian Baking Show contestant settles back into his Langford kitchen

Article
Jan 28, 2023

Block Kitchen + Bar brings a bit of everything to each dish

Article
Sep 14, 2022

Chef Spotlight Series: Ingrid Perez, Nautical Nellies

Chef Spotlight
Aug 8, 2022

Chef Series, Winemaker Edition: Brent Rowland of Averill Creek

Chef Spotlight
Jun 28, 2022

Chef Spotlight Series: Israel Alvarez Molina, Maiiz Nixtamal

Chef Spotlight
May 31, 2022

Chef Spotlight Series: Sarah Maw, Friends of Dorothy (FOD)

Chef Spotlight
May 20, 2022

Chef Spotlight Series: Chef Harris Bredin–The Hallway

Chef Spotlight
May 3, 2022

Chef Spotlight Series: Joanne Predan, La Roux Patisserie

Chef Spotlight
Mar 30, 2022

Chefs Spotlight Series: Chef Castro Boateng House of Boateng Cafe

Chef Spotlight
Mar 16, 2022

Chef Spotlight Series: Vincent Capitano, Island Chef Pepper Co

Chef Spotlight
Mar 1, 2022

Chef Spotlight Series: Daniel Shipley, Farm’s Gate Foods & Catering

Chef Spotlight
Feb 14, 2022

Chef Spotlight Series: Julia McInnis, Zambri’s

Chef Spotlight
Dec 1, 2021

Chef Spotlight Series: Matt Cusano, Boom + Batten

Chef Spotlight
Nov 11, 2021

Chef on the Run’s homestyle English cuisine remains a Sidney staple after 25 years

Chef Spotlight
Nov 3, 2021

Syrian refugee’s catering business takes off through Facebook

Article
Jul 19, 2021

Pagliacci’s has held the keys to sustaining a local family business for 42 years

Article
Jun 24, 2021

Q&A with Euphoria Bakery

Chef Spotlight
Jun 23, 2021

How a Victoria-based entrepreneur broke into the competitive space of gourmet ice cream

Article
May 18, 2021

Tasting Campbell River: Meet the Chopped Canada champion behind Mattone Italian Kitchen

Article
May 14, 2021

Meet the Owners of Fern: Victoria’s First 100%Vegan Café and Bakery

Article
Apr 15, 2021

Meet Mike Rathjen of Rathjen Cellars

Chef Spotlight
Dec 3, 2020

Victoria welcomes acclaimed Executive Chef Ken Nakano

Article
Sep 11, 2020

The King of Market Square: The Making of Los Panas Kitchen

Article
Jul 7, 2020

The Making Of: Blue Nile East African Restaurant

Article