Growing up in Mumbai, India, Vaishnav ‘Vish’ Mayekar calls Vancouver home and has grown to be a notable chef in a what is one of Canda's most dynamic food scenes. The chef loves to incorporate flavours and spices from his Indian heritage in the food he creates, and is multi-faceted and constantly creative, as his current run on Top Chef Canada Season X has proven to viewers across the country.
Mayekar is well-versed in Italian cuisine which he showcases through his job as head chef of Vancouver's much-celebrated eateries Pepino's and Caffe La Tana. No doubt they'll be getting even more popular now that they've been awarded Recommeded Restaurants in the city's inaugural Michelin Guide.
From one of the best brunch spots in Canada to top-notch cocktails at the Fairmont Pacific Rim, here's where the Top Chef Canada Season X chef loves to eat and drink in his home base of Vancouver.
Breakfast
Going out for breakfast or brunch is a rare occasion but when I do, I love going to Medina Cafe. It's an amazing Mediterranean-inspired brunch spot that always delivers.
The Blistered wood stone flatbread is the best way to start your day, although I have never left without having the Belgian waffles. [They are] seriously the best in the city.
Lunch
I love noodles, dumplings and rice for lunch—it's hearty eating!
Dinesty Noodle House offers the most delicious soup dumplings along with a huge offerings of fried rice and noodles. Keeping true to the traditional Shanghainese flavours yet being appealing to the palettes of the Vancouverites.
Dinner
Hands down, L’abattoir [is my favourite dinner spot The food, the wine list and the service...everything is always so on point.Chef Lee Cooper and his team are always putting up a show there and I can confess I go dine there way more than I should! Shout out to the pastry team lead by Chef Oliver Bernardino as well who puts up some of the finest desserts in the city.
It's one of my go to restaurants on a casual Tuesday, or basically every time when I am celebrating anything. A must try if you're in Vancouver.
Drinks
I love cocktails and wine. There are so many talented bartenders and sommeliers in the city so it's hard to name just one, but it has to come down to Keefer Bar and Botanist Bar & Lab for me. Both very different styles of bars, but both with stunning looking drinks that have complexity and take you on a journey.
Top Chef Canada X airs Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada.
