Chef Hector Laguna Botanist

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party is the lead up to the Canadian Culinary Championships, and is underway in cities across Canada. Vancouver’s competition takes place Friday, October 4, 2019 at Rogers Arena. We’ve asked the chefs a few questions to get to know them a bit better and here’s the results from Chef Hector Laguna from Botanist at The Fairmont Pacific Rim.

Tell us a little bit about your restaurant and your style of cooking.

Botanist is located at Fairmont Pacific Rim, with a focus on the locale of the Pacific Northwest. The menu represents the abundant of botany of British Columbia, creating dishes that put an emphasis on pure ingredients sourced from their natural landscape with produce at the forefront.

Where do you eat in your city?

I don’t have a specific restaurant. I try to go to new restaurants to see what’s new in the city and to support new upcoming restaurants. It all depends on what I feel like that specific day.

What did you eat for dinner last night?

A burger from Botanist after service.

What city would you most like to eat in right now, and why?

Chicago… Alinea

What ingredient do you most like to cook with and why? What is your least favourite and why?
Favorite: Chilies. I love spicy food. I find that if you use the right kind of chili and you balance it well, you bring the dish to a whole different level.
Least favorite: White pepper. It has a very particular flavor and to me no matter how little you put in a dish, all you can taste is the white pepper. To me, it doesn’t complement flavors, it takes over.

What is your most used piece of kitchen equipment besides your knives?

Probably a Japanese mandolin

What do you often cook at home?

Pasta…. All kinds

What cookbook/s do you most often refer to?

Too many to list

What chef would you like to collaborate with?

José Andrés

What are you preparing for The Great Canadian Kitchen Party (hints are fine)?

A very interesting combination of BC ingredients and Mexican flavors. Scallops are the main ingredient.

What is your beverage pairing?

I’ve partnered with Jeff Savage here at Botanist Bar to do a cocktail pairing which highlights Vancouver Island-based Sheringham Gin.

Who is coming with you to assist?

Two of my sous chefs and a couple of my cooks