On the Grill

With Chef Alfred Contiga - SOCIETY Restaurant

Hailing from Canada’s ‘Big Smoke,’ Toronto, Ontario, Alfred held Pastry Chef positions at lauded Toronto dining destinations such as C5, George Restaurant, and Tournant, in the Drake Hotel. Upon moving to the West Coast, Alfred presided over COAST Restaurant’s decadent dessert menu as Pastry Chef, before eventually moving into the position of Sous Chef.

As Executive Chef, overseeing the creation and execution of SOCIETY’s menu mantra of ‘re-imagined comfort food,’ Alfred relishes the opportunity to continually surprise guests with the restaurant’s dynamic fare – big on taste with plenty of playful twists.

Three words to describe your cuisine:
Local, simple, fresh

The dish customers must try during Dine Out?
Veal strip loin piccata, with thyme roasted polenta, roasted cherry tomatoes, in a garlic white wine reduction.

Best thing about Dine Out Vancouver?
If you’re not a ‘foodie’ or do not eat out regularly, Dine Out Vancouver gives you a chance to try different restaurants that you may not normally go to.

What is one thing in your kitchen you could not live without?
My knives.

One ingredient you could not cook without?
Salt.

Who is the unsung hero in your kitchen?
Antonio Santillan, a great cook at SOCIETY.

Who inspired you to become a chef?
Lorenzo Losetto (Chef at George Restaurant in Toronto).

What was your first job in the industry?
I was a prep cook for Outback Steakhouse.

If you could give just one cooking tip, what would it be?
Be patient and put lots of love in your cooking.

A talent you possess that many are unaware of?
Over the years I have become more patient and calm.

Your favourite activities/hobbies, when not in the kitchen?
Playing sports (basketball, volleyball and paintball) and board games.

What is your all-time favourite dish?
Penne Arrabiata.

One dish you never care to see on the menu again?
Ahi Tuna Casserole

Last restaurant you visited?
Chambar

Who is your favourite local chef?
Josh Wolfe.

Favourite Celebrity Chef?
Gordon Ramsay.

Favourite bartender?
Sasha Maksimovic from Glowbal Grill.

Favourite farmer’s market:
Granville Island

A person you most admire?
My parents.

Best place for a steak?
Black+Blue (Glowbal Group’s brand new steakhouse)

Best place for fried chicken?
SOCIETY!

Best coffee house?
JJ bean.

Best breakfast place?
Café Medina.

Biggest celebrity you have cooked for?
Kim Cattrall and Mario Cantone.

If you could pick anyone, who would you’d like to sit down and have a meal with?
Actor Denzel Washington

Last $20 bucks, how would you spend it?
Tall Caramel Macchiato, $5 foot-long sandwich from Subway -- with the leftover $10, I would buy a lottery ticket.

A restaurant you’d recommend to a tourist who only had one day in Vancouver?
For a stellar seafood experience, I highly recommend COAST.

Society Dining Lounge
1257 Hamilton St., Vancouver
604-629-8800
www.glowbalgroup.com/society