Last week we popped by Earls Restaurants’ Hornby location in the heart of downtown Vancouver to score ourselves a sneak peek of their newly opened Test Kitchen.
The design team behind Earls spared no expense in ensuring that the new Test Kitchen (housed overlooking the expansive restaurant below) contained all of the latest audio and visual technologies courtesy of CONTI evolution, we’re told. This new test kitchen features flat screen televisions that provide an up-close and personal view of the latest culinary creations and inspirations, the main benefit being it provides a real-time opportunity for chefs from throughout this highly successful chain of restaurants (all 65 of them) the chance to interact, learn, and collectively create as a team.
A quick tour of the kitchen was provided, as well as an opportunity for a bit of a one-on-one Q&A with Earls’ Western Canada Executive Chef and culinary team before media were ushered downstairs to partake in a presentation.
We were introduced to Stan Fuller, Founder and CEO of Earls Restaurants, as well as heard more about the Chef Collective program courtesy of Mo Jessa, President of Earls Restaurants. After viewing an inspiring video the microphone was handed over to Earls Chef Collective (with a special Skype appearance by New York-based Miami Chef Jeff McInnis) and we garnered even more insight.
Essentially, Earls’ new Test Kitchen aims to become somewhat of a playground for food (as noted by President Mo Jessa). They’re looking for it to be a place where culinary creativity flows and talents can be nurtured and explored – with the diverse culinary backgrounds of their team helping influence new and exciting dishes. We’re definitely on board with that… and are pretty sure our taste buds are, too!
Earls Test Kitchen is located at 905 Hornby Street.
Will you be checking out the Earls Test Kitchen? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.
