Alex Chen - You Will Never Break the Chen The Hot Minute
-
- Society & Culture
Going into battle? This is the general you want leading the charge. The many implements in his culinary arsenal include: Understated finesse and precision. Classical French training. Tireless dedication to craft and time-honoured traditions. And a taste for victory in high-pressure cooking competitions. This is what fuels the fire in the belly of Alex Chen, Executive Chef, Signature Restaurants at Vancouver’s Michelin-Recommended Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar and Executive Chef at Whistler’s Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar, ranked No. 4 on the 2023 List of Canada’s 50 Best New Restaurants.
In this episode, Alex talks about his first foray in the foodservice industry under the Golden Arches; how his lack of direction was corrected when he enrolled in the culinary program at VCC; the importance of leadership and what he learned from his first mentor, Robert Sulatycky; the early struggles in opening Boulevard and how he and Roger Ma worked tirelessly to build it into the destination it’s become; What drives his competitive spirit and desire to help up-and-coming cooks reach their full potential; His big win over Iron Chef Hugh Acheson in the inaugural season of the Food Network’s Iron Chef Canada in 2018; the importance of being present and a positive force in his kids’ lives; and his latest venture at the helm of Whistler’s Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar.
Going into battle? This is the general you want leading the charge. The many implements in his culinary arsenal include: Understated finesse and precision. Classical French training. Tireless dedication to craft and time-honoured traditions. And a taste for victory in high-pressure cooking competitions. This is what fuels the fire in the belly of Alex Chen, Executive Chef, Signature Restaurants at Vancouver’s Michelin-Recommended Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar and Executive Chef at Whistler’s Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar, ranked No. 4 on the 2023 List of Canada’s 50 Best New Restaurants.
In this episode, Alex talks about his first foray in the foodservice industry under the Golden Arches; how his lack of direction was corrected when he enrolled in the culinary program at VCC; the importance of leadership and what he learned from his first mentor, Robert Sulatycky; the early struggles in opening Boulevard and how he and Roger Ma worked tirelessly to build it into the destination it’s become; What drives his competitive spirit and desire to help up-and-coming cooks reach their full potential; His big win over Iron Chef Hugh Acheson in the inaugural season of the Food Network’s Iron Chef Canada in 2018; the importance of being present and a positive force in his kids’ lives; and his latest venture at the helm of Whistler’s Wild Blue Restaurant + Bar.