James Hanna
Georges Auguste Escoffier said, “The greatest dishes are simple dishes”. It’s a message that chef de cuisine at RauDZ© Regional Table, James Hanna, wanted up on the blackboard at RauDZ© to remind himself each day that simple works if the food is also fresh, local and of high quality.
James’ life has been without embellishment. He’s a straight up, hard worker who watches RauDZ© chef/owner Rod Butters’ back and does it with a wry sense of humour and a passion for making sure even the smallest of details don’t go unmissed.
A graduate of Vancouver Community College, James apprenticed at Wolfies in White Rock. From there he honed his cooking chops in the kitchen of Argentinean-born Chef Julio Gonzalez-Perini at Villa del Lupo in Vancouver.
A competitor at heart, James has competed for B.C. Chef of the Year multiple times, coming in 3rd in 2008, second in 2009 and he made the Top 3 in 2010. In 2008 James deservedly won the President’s Award from the Okanagan Chefs Association.
But awards and trophies are not what drives this talented young chef, it’s the will to please and the want to get better at his game.
Since coming under the wing of celebrated Chef Butters, four years ago, James has refined his techniques and is trusted to take control of the kitchen when Chef Butters is away.
“The product here in the Okanagan is unbelievable. Every year there’s something new or different. If just grows and grows and grows. For a cook or a chef, it just doesn’t get any better … it’s like working in Provence.”
James is a chef who cares about his community and feels that what you give comes back tenfold. If that’s true then this young up-and-coming chef has a bright future ahead of him.
Raudz
1560 Water Street, Kelowna 250-868-8805
info@raudz.com
http://www.raudz.com