Service Excellence

I love this excerpt from Anthony Bourdain. It was exactly how Tina felt about her mise en place and kitchen prep before service.
It also reminds me of the fundraiser we held, aptly named, to help prepare Tina in her fight against cancer.
I still use the term today in my FOH work and think of her💜

“The religion in kitchens is your mise en place, your setup, knowing where everything in your station is. There’s layer upon layer upon layer of people thinking about what might happen and how they’re going to be ready for it. And things go wrong, a lot. You don’t know how many people are going to arrive when. You don’t know what might break, what supplies might not show up. It’s a dodgy business. We can’t rule the universe. So we tend to try to control that tiny little corner of the kitchen we can control. Kitchens look and sound chaotic, but most of the time there’s actually extreme order.”
–Bourdain

Tina’s Life and career notes💜

A new ‘dream come true’ is beginning for Thapaliya Basanta🎉

After 3 years of long hours and hard work cooking in Dubai…Basanta will be starting his next culinary journey at the Wickaninnish Inn. Many thanks to the Wick- especially Chef Clayton, Melody(head of HR) and Michelle Matheson to help make this dream come true!

This all wouldn’t have happened without Robert Rose, Gina Fineza Rose, trifc.org and of course Tina’s love and faith in Basanta many years ago.

Please help me in Congratulating this resolute young man for following his dream to be a cook- just like Tina & to make her proud💜

Women in BC Hospitality! These scholarships are to help you along your path both for FOH and BOH.
One scholarship is in Tina’s name💜
Apply now!!

Les Dames d'Escoffier - BC Chapter 2024 Scholarships are open!
https://lesdames.ca/scholarship-program/ -Program

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Les Dames d’Escoffier, BC Chapter is proud to grant scholarships annually to women of any age and at any stage of their culinary, beverage or hospitality career who are looking to either refine or expand their expertise at a credible educational institution of their choice anywhere in the world.

To date, Les Dames d’Escoffier, BC Chapter has granted over $300,000 in funds to support scholars since our inception in 1992.

Eligibility
Scholarships are open to all women.
Applicants must be BC residents.
Applicants can be awarded a Les Dames scholarship more than once, depending on the circumstance, and if their previous application was unsuccessful, they are encouraged to apply again.
Scholarship Evaluation Criteria

The Scholarship Committee, comprised of Les Dames d’Escoffier, BC Chapter members, reviews and scores each application based on four criteria:

Dedication and Commitment
Ability
Goals
Merit

Important Details
Not all applicants are awarded funds.
Scholarships may range in value anywhere between $250 and $10,000 depending on funds available, program requirements and approved applicants.
To make the scholarships impactful and meaningful, the Scholarship Committee is restricted to only granting up to thirty scholarships in any given calendar year.
Most scholarships awarded rarely constitute complete tuition, therefore you must be able to provide the remaining funds through other sources.
Funding must be used in the calendar year in which the scholarship is awarded.

Remembering Chef Tina💜

Congratulations Les Dames d'Escoffier - BC Chapter!!

BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier Raises $10,000 for Scholarships The BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier (LDBC) has raised $10,000 for their scholarship program this year through the generous support of partners located throughout BC The most recent and notable fundraising event, Dames Dine Around (previously known as Summerdine) raised $6,700. This one-night e...

This lovely reminder of Tina and her love of food was found and shared by a good friend💜

Came across Vista D'oro Farms & Winery cookbook today at Peller Estates Winery & Restaurant with Lees’s lovely words about Tina to accompany her duck recipe. Such a Heartfelt reminder of Tina and our connections to Vancouver 💜

Tina would be stoked to taste her desserts and chat about their shared heritage.
Vancouver peeps check out her bakery!!

Vancouver pastry chef Martha Naguiat-Ebro draws on dreaminess, Filipino culture for inspired desserts — Stir Culinary artist creates unique dishes at Westin Bayshore and bakes ensaimada and more at Heritage Baking

Remembering Chef Tina💜

Tina in her element!💜
Watch and enjoy!!

City Cooks.mov Shared with Dropbox

Thank you Two Rivers Specialty Meats and Les Dames d'Escoffier - BC Chapter for fulfilling these scholarships.
Tina’s legacy lives on
💜

Our Tina Fineza scholarship winners are finally able to fulfill their scholarships! Thank you Two Rivers Specialty Meats North Arm Farm

Definitely a Chef Tina would love to meet and share stories with! Can’t wait to try her food!!

Chef Eva Chin On The Value Of Asian Representation In Restaurant Kitchens Learn more about Chef Eva Chin on the Value of Asian Representation in Restaurant Kitchens from the experts at Food Network Canada

In the spirit of Thanksgiving I always come back to Tina’s post, grateful for the tender web of friends and family near and far💜

trifc.org memories of fundraisers past with Tina at the helm. Best wishes for success this year!
For anyone wishing to donate in Tina’s name, please go to https://trifc.org/
💜

Kindness & memories of Chef Tina💜
Two Rivers Specialty Meats

Thapaliya Basanta making Tina and I proud💜
Following in Tina’s footsteps…4 months employee of the month and working very hard to learn Japanese cuisine as he knows how much Tina loved it!

My role model always 💜
Chef Tina Fineza

Chef Tina in her element 💜

In honour of Kumiko Umeno who made me many of these over the years.
You are missed💛

Pisco Sour Cocktail - Cooking By Laptop How to make a classic Pisco Sour, according to Vancouver's Chicha Restaurant.

Love Patience Humility
That’s all..

Twilight of the Imperial Chef

Very interesting read.

nytimes.com For decades, the notion of the lone genius in the kitchen has fostered culinary creativity — and restaurants marred by abuse and unfairness. This may be the time for change.

Do any of my Hospitality Colleagues know of a reputable employment agency or Hotel who can place a young man eager to work? He’s in Nepal, KTM but will work anywhere. He has been to Hospitality School and would like to work in Pastry.
Any advice would be appreciated.

The chef who made B.C. spot prawns famous and how you can cook them

This is the man who helped put spot prawns on the map! Robert Clark - go see him at The Fish Counter

infotel.ca Love B.C. spot prawns? Thank Vancouver’s legendary chef and sustainable seafood champion, Chef Robert Clark.Fifteen years ago, most Canadians had never heard of B.C. spot prawns. Unavailable in Canada, all of B.C.&

Six Frustrating Challenges to Reopening a Restaurant in the COVID-19 Era - Prairie Dog Brewing Web Store

Best article I’ve seen so far!
Serious issues facing our Industry upon re-opening with no tested guidelines.

prairiedogbrewing.ca We are now at a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic where restaurants are allowed to reopen, but should they? Not without addressing 6 key challenges first.

B.C. aims to give restaurants a liquor discount, expedite patio approvals

Finally a much needed break for restaurants! Let’s hope this comes in time to help, before many more restaurants close...

vancouversun.com B.C. restaurants will soon be able to purchase liquor at wholesale prices, and receive expedited provincial approval for expanded patios.

Spot prawn season always reminds me of Tina💜

Here’s Tina’s well used copy of her Papaya salad recipe that she would have used for classes with Andrea Jefferson at Quince. Enjoy 💜

Tina’s travel memories from years ago. She loved to explore food culture and learn💜