On the Grill

  

With Owner/Chef Jean Francis Quaglia - Provence Restaurants

A native of Marseilles, France, Jean-Francis Quaglia comes naturally to the culinary world as his mother is an acclaimed chef in her own right -one of the first female chefs in France. At age eight, he made his first Tarte au Citron from his mother’s recipe. This same tarte is now featured on Provence’s menu. A graduate of École Hôteliere de Marseilles, Chef Quaglia honed his skills in the kitchens of Hôtel Sorbitel, Relais et Chateau’s Le Chateau de la Chevre D’Or and the Michelin two-starred Hôtel Negresco in Nice. It was there he met a young Canadian chef apprentice, Alessandra Mossa, who later became his wife. Jean-Francis and Alessandra moved to Vancouver in 1992 where they worked together in the kitchens of Bruno Born’s Le Coq D’Or and the Sheraton Wall Centre’s Indigo Bistro Moderne before they opened their own restaurant in 1997 – Provence Mediterranean Grill followed in 2002 by Provence Marinaside.

Three words to describe your cuisine:
Fresh, light, and timeless flavours that reflect the south of France

Your signature dish:
I have several - Goat Cheese Salad, Traditional Fish Soup, Prawns Provençal, Rack of Lamb, Bouillabaisse.

The dish customers must try during Dine Out?
Goat Cheese Salad

What is one thing in your kitchen you could not live without?
Could not live without my gigantic blender for making fish soup.

One ingredient you could not cook without?
I’m from Provence so there are two – garlic and olive oil. Both are indispensable.

Who is the unsung hero in your kitchen?
Pauline Mendoza - from baking, to prep, to bussing, food running, serving – she does it all with a smile.

Who inspired you to become a chef?
My Mom - Chef Suzanne Quaglia, one of the first female chefs in France.

If you could give just one cooking tip, what would it be?
Season your food!

A talent you possess that many are unaware of?
Yoga practitioner.

What is your all-time favourite dish?
Too many to choose just one

One dish you never care to have again?
Any processed food

Last restaurant you visited?
#9 Restaurant in Richmond

Who is your favourite local chef?
Stuart Irving from Cobre - love the different flavours.

Favourite Celebrity Chef?
Gordon Ramsay

Favourite bartender?
Dani Tatarin, Keefer Bar

Favourite farmer’s market:
In France – every city, town and village has amazing farmers’ markets. Can’t choose only one.

A person you most admire
People who give time to others

Your biggest indulgence:
My Sous Chef’s left over Christmas Ham Pot Pie

Biggest regret?
Not skiing and riding my motorcycle enough

Restaurant you would like to visit
Love the small bistros/restaurants in Spain or Italy

Best place for a pizza
Tuscany and Bowen Island

Best coffee house
Faubourg in Kerrisdale – wonderful bakery and a good friend

If you could pick anyone, who would you’d like to sit down and have a meal with?
John Perkins – author and motivational speaker

Last $20 bucks, how would you spend it?
A drink and a bite

A restaurant you’d recommend to a tourist who only had one day in Vancouver?
Provence, of course! They could come for breakfast, lunch as well as dinner all on the same day and they’d be guaranteed to have good food every service.

Provence Mediterranean Grill
4473 W.10th Ave., Vancouver
604-222-1980

Provence Marinaside
1117 Marinaside Crescent, Vancouver
604-681-4144

www.provencevancouver.com