By 2017, a trend had been brewing for some time in Vancouver – the revival of comfort food. At a widely popular gastronomic eatery aptly named Timber, you can enjoy classic Canadiana comfort fare like Bannock, bison burgers, mac and cheese, Montreal smoked meat and poutine – topped with creamy curds flown in from Quebec, of course.
Since November 2015, Timber on Robson Street has been serving true north cuisine to crowds of happy customers. Timber is the brainchild of owner/executive chef Chris Whittaker of the award-winning farm-to-table Forage restaurant (right next door in the Listel Hotel).
“My mom and my grandmother were great cooks,” says Chris, who grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, eating produce from the family garden. “I knew from the age of 14 that I wanted to be a chef.” However, he took time out to study business management first. “I didn’t see myself as a suit and tie guy, but my studies are a huge benefit to my career as a chef.”
In 1999, he moved to Vancouver for the culinary scene and B.C.’s proximity to fresh seafood and a longer growing produce season. After a few stints at some of Vancouver’s hotels, he opened the immensely successful Forage in 2012. “With Timber, I envision a great place to hang out with good beer and great food but, again, always focused on fresh, well-crafted dishes using sustainable practices,” he notes.
Why the name Timber? Being a proud Canadian, Chris decided to pay tribute to B.C.’s rich and long timber industry and the people who built this province.
