On the Grill

With Jane Cornborough - Refuel

In 2004, Jane enrolled in the Culinary Program at Malaspina University College (now known as Vancouver Island University). It wasn’t until she was competing in her first black box competition that she truly realized her passion for food. She was so nervous that she cut herself multiple times during preparation and presented her dish with both hands bandaged and gloved. She knew then, she truly wanted to be a chef.

Jane began her culinary career at Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna BC. She later moved to Vancouver where she would take the first of many positions working under the guidance of Chef Robert Belcham. C Restaurant is where Jane would first identify with innovative food ideas, be exposed to the incredible array of fresh seafood local waters have to offer and gain consciousness of ingredients and where they came from.

Having travelled to Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal and Fiji, and spent 3 years living in New York City, Jane is cultured and grounded. In New York, she had the pleasure of staging at the prestigious Le Bernardin and working at the renowned Aquavit and three Michelin star Restaurant Daniel. From her rustic food adventures in San Sebastián, Spain, where she dined amongst a multitude of curing pork legs and drank tempranillo from tumblers, to her white linen draped dining experiences in New York City - Jane has experienced a dynamic, hands-on education that has made her the chef she is today.

At Refuel Restaurant & Bar, Jane’s mandate is to develop her own cooking style while maintaining standards and mentoring her cooks with the wisdom that has been passed down to her by Chef Robert Belcham.

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

Your signature dish:
Anything with something pickled on the plate; we are also a destination for our burgers

The dish customers must try during Dine Out?
Sloping Hill Farm pork shoulder

What is one thing in your kitchen you could not live without?
My wiping rag, I love cleaning.

One ingredient you could not cook without?
Vinegar to pickle stuff

Who is the unsung hero in your kitchen?
Paulis Langins, the sous chef…. my right hand man

Who inspired you to become a chef?
Robert Belcham

If you could give just one cooking tip, what would it be?
Cook from your heart as it shows on the plate

What is your all-time favourite dish?
My grandmother’s leftover turkey casserole with ham, spaghetti noodles, cream of mushroom soup, apple juice, onions; then you put cheese on top and bake it in the oven. It’s a little bit of heaven.

A dish you never care to see on a menu again?
Truffle mayo

Who is your favourite local chef?
Andrea Carlson (Bishops) is someone that I have always wanted to work with. She’s brilliant.

Favourite Celebrity Chef?
Ted Anderson, Campagnola Roma

Favourite producer?
This is a tough question as we have favorite producers for certain things. Polderside for chicken, UBC Farm for Swiss chard and Milan, of course, for tomatoes

Favourite foodie?
Ooooohhhhh, I have lots. I love the guinea pigs, the ones that I can serve anything too but it's also important that they are honest with their feedback. Anyone that comes to our pig dinners; everything is usually an experiment. I have also been able to do a lot of cool things for Joe Mallozzi.

Favourite drink/cocktail?
I go crazy for Magners Irish Cider, St. Germain and anything with bubbles.

bA ‘hidden gem’ in the restaurant scene:
Suika Izakaya on West Broadway, I love this place. It’s fun to go with lots of people. Order everything.

A talent you possess that many are unaware of?
Besides from being super sarcastic, I'm sometimes funny.

Your favourite activities/hobbies, when not in the kitchen?
Traveling, eating, jogging, and hanging with my niece and nephews

Your biggest indulgence:
Cheap ice cream sandwiches in the summer

Best place for a burger?
Moderne Burger but now if I crave a burger, I just eat one at work. I’m loving our “dirty burger” …ask and you shall receive

Best date place?
La Quercia and L’Abattoir

If you could pick anyone, who would you’d like to sit down and have a meal with?
My cooker friends - Largie, AJ, Brooke, Alvin & Ted

Last $20 bucks, how would you spend it?
I have two…riding my cruiser bike with a Magners Cider in the water holder on a nice hot day snacking on red licorice or drinking bubbles at the beach at night.

A restaurant you’d recommend to a tourist who only had one day in Vancouver?
Campagnolo on Main

Refuel
1944 W 4th Ave., Vancouver
604-288-7905
www.refuelrestaurant.com