How I Cook is a Q&A series that peels back the curtains so you get a glimpse of the backgrounds and stories of some of the best chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and food specialists in Vancouver.
For some chefs, their passion for food and cooking started slowly because of their family environment. For VV Tapas Lounge Head Chef Zach Poole? It came from binging various Food Network shows!
We spoke with Chef Zach Poole to hear about his culinary journey, the challenges and the rewards of the job, and his true feelings towards the Vancouver food scene.
How did you get into cooking?
[Zach]: I got the bug pretty early in life when I was 12 years old watching early Food Network shows like Good Eats, The Naked Chef and of course Iron Chef.
I decided at that age that that was what I wanted to be when I grow up and I haven’t looked back since.
Let’s just say I ruined a lot of my parents’ pans and knives growing up.
How did your career get you to where you are today?
[Zach]: I moved to Vancouver from Edmonton in 2006 to pursue my cooking career. Like many cooks I bounced around from greasy pub to greasy pub until I landed my first Head Chef position in 2010 at the now-closed Century House. After that I was Head Chef The Diamond and Portland Craft.
In between all that I traveled to France to work at Michelin starred restaurant Au Fil Du Temps, trained as a butcher and started my own business doing pop-up dinners.
Finally in 2019 I joined the V.V. team as Head Chef.
Where do you get your culinary inspiration from? (cultural heritage/family/mentor)
[Zach]: It’s hard to pinpoint where I get my inspiration from exactly because it comes from a lot of places but if I had to choose I take most of my inspiration from the seasons and the ingredient that are available at the time.
What would we find you doing when you’re not in the kitchen?
[Zach]: Like many of us living in a pandemic I’ve recently found a strange passion for yard work and gardening. Walking my dog and playing D&D are my less recent, none Covid related hobbies.
What is your favourite part of your job?
[Zach]: Being paid actually money to be a creative will always feel like a such a gift to me.
Growing up playing in bands and making music really give you an appreciation for being about to make a living off of doing something you love.
What is your favourite dish to make and why?
[Zach]: I love making Paella. It never gets old. You can transform it based on your mood or the season and it never disappoints. It was the first thing I cooked for my partner’s mom and I’ve been in her good books since.
How do you balance your work time and personal time?
[Zach]: I’m awful at this. The biggest help I’ve had is V.V. is only open 5 days a week so I have to take 2 days off a week. It’s been pretty wonderful actually, the owners really value giving their employees a healthy work/life balance.
What was the biggest challenge you faced to get to where you are today?
[Zach]: I think it was the confidence to call myself a chef. It comes with a lot of weight and responsibility. Being able to walk into any kitchen and lead a team and put out good food is a skill I’m very proud of. It takes a lot of work.
If you could give a piece of advice to your past self, what would you say?
[Zach]: Do more stretches or by the time you are 30, you’re gonna have the body of a 50-year-old.
What is your under-the-radar food spot in Vancouver?
[Zach]: Futian Dumpling Restaurant near Kingsway and Boundary. The chive and pork are the best dumplings I’ve ever had.
What do you love and hate about Vancouver’s food scene?
[Zach]: The good is the diversity of amazing food you can eat in this city. I’ve eaten so many amazing meals in this town and there is always more restaurants to explore.
The bad is what happened to Main Street and what is quickly happening to most neighborhoods. Small independent restaurant being priced out of their own neighborhood is a real problem that only seems to be getting worse.
This is only a bite into the successes of Chef Zach Poole.
But the next time you visit the VV Tapas Lounge you will know a little bit more about the effort served into the food in front of you.
VV Tapas Lounge
Address: 957 E Hastings StreetVancouver, BCV6A 0H1
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This piece has been prepared with the help of Kameela Nash.