For Sysco Chef Andrea Cruise, British Columbia’s food culture is defined by connection: to the Pacific Ocean, to local producers, and to the diverse communities that have shaped one of North America’s most exciting culinary destinations. Born in England and raised between the United Kingdom and Canada, Chef Andrea has cooked around the world, but British Columbia continues to inspire her with its abundance of local ingredients and global influences.
WHERE THE PACIFIC MEETS THE PLATE
Having worked alongside renowned chefs including Jamie Oliver and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Chef Andrea believes the best cooking starts with exceptional ingredients. “I like simplicity,” she says. “I like ingredients to shine on their own.”
That philosophy fits naturally in British Columbia, where Dungeness crab, oysters, salmon, and seasonal spot prawns are local standouts. Combined with nearby farms, wineries, cheesemakers, and sustainable fisheries, they create a food culture rooted in freshness and seasonality. But British Columbia’s culinary identity extends far beyond its local bounty. “The food scene is globally inspired,” Chef Andrea says. “We have Thai, Cambodian, Persian, Vietnamese—you name it.” For first-time visitors, Vancouver’s diversity is often the biggest surprise.
Richmond is renowned for its Chinese food and dim sum, while neighborhoods throughout the city offer cuisines from around the world. Traditional family-run restaurants continue to thrive, while a new generation of chefs reinterprets those cuisines with premium local ingredients and modern techniques. The result is a dining scene that feels both authentic and ever-evolving—a source of inspiration for chefs looking to balance cultural tradition with contemporary execution. Visitors can spend the day exploring Richmond’s dim sum scene, then discover modern Thai, Vietnamese, Persian, or Cambodian cooking throughout Vancouver. For travelers who want to sample several standout concepts in one stop, Time Out Market Vancouver brings dishes from many of the city’s notable chefs and restaurants under one roof. Beyond the food, British Columbia is equally rewarding to explore. Winter visitors can experience the Festival of Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, browse seasonal holiday markets, or head to nearby Cypress Mountain, Mount Seymour, or Whistler for snow-covered scenery and outdoor adventure. For Chef Andrea, British Columbia is unforgettable because it never asks visitors to choose between local and global, city and nature, or tradition and innovation. Here, they all belong at the same table.
WHERE TO EAT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Phnom Penh: A longtime Vancouver favorite serving Cambodian-Vietnamese cuisine. Chef Andrea recommends the famous chicken wings, butter beef, and pepper squid.
PiDGiN: A contemporary Asian-French restaurant in Chinatown that showcases Vancouver’s creative, globally influenced dining scene. Lunch Lady: A modern Vietnamese restaurant that reflects the city’s diverse and evolving culinary landscape.
Time Out Market Vancouver: Chef Andrea’s pick for first-time visitors. The city’s newest food hall brings together several of Vancouver’s top chefs, making it easy to sample a variety of standout concepts in one stop.
