In The Kitchen with Brodo’s Chef Paul Cecconi
Next week nine of British Columbia’s top chefs will head to Victoria to compete in Canada’s Great Kitchen Party, the regional qualifier for the Canadian Culinary Championships. We’re learning a little bit about them before they compete. Here we throw a few questions out to Penticton’s Chef Paul Cecconi of Brodo.
Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and/or style of cooking.
Opened in May 2013, BRODO (Italian for “broth”) features locally-sourced ingredients in a variety of soups, sandwiches and salads, and the menu changes seasonally to reflect what’s fresh from the harvest. Unique to Penticton, the “flight of soups” has been a hit since opening — three soups to tempt taste buds, paired with a salad or sandwich. BRODO’s service is fresh and fast, true to Chef Paul Cecconi’s motto: simply fresh food.
Where do you eat in your city?
At the different wineries, breweries and local restaurants from north Okanagan to the south
What would be your ideal food day?
Any day my kids cook for us!
What ingredient do you always have on hand?
Garlic
What’s your go-to recipe when you’re eating at home?
Fresh pasta+meatballs
What cookbook would you suggest for a gift for your foodie friends this year?
Rod butters ‘the Okanagan table’
Any hints on what dish you will be preparing for Gold Medal Plates?
It’s in a bowl, that’s all I got, lol!
Who is coming with you?
My restaurant chef Liam Mcnulty, Adair Scott, George Kulai, Lexi Warner, Han Lin, Ryan Pennington
Bio
“Chef Paul” is a graduate of the Vancouver Community College Culinary Arts Program and holds an advanced certificate from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Before diving in with BRODO, he spent time in the kitchens of The Beach House at Dundarave Pier in West Vancouver, The Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver, the Regent at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, Australia, The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna and most recently was the Executive Chef at Local Lounge * Grille in Summerland, BC. When not in the kitchen, you can often spot him water skiing or on a nearby golf course.
