Pemberton’s Jeff Van Der Mark was one of two partners who opened the Pony Espresso in 1993. Currently he works in Whistler, but he remains in the food business with Jeff’s Dry Goods, available on-line at www.jeffsdrygoods.com
Van Der Mark has expert knowledge on Eastern spices, South Asian cooking and spends a month each year in Mexico soaking up the local knowledge, recipes and techniques.
A year ago he started a home-based business supplying organic ingredients – coffee, flour, oils, spices grains, legumes, etc. – to friends in the Whistler-Pemberton Area. His prices are excellent, his knowledge is huge and he delivers. He is the only source for the famous San Marzano Tomatoes – considered by many as the finest sauce tomatoes you can buy.
His newest product is an organic, single estate, Portuguese extra virgin olive oil. This is the real deal. It is privately labelled and an exclusive product for him.
Araxi adds two
Reg Jorquera has moved from La Rúa to Araxi to take over as bar manager and sommelier. Joquera, a 14 year resident of the Whistler area, spent the last five years at La Rúa and four years before that as bar manager at the Trattoria di Umberto.
Also joining the wine team at Araxi is sommelier Roger Gillespie, formerly of the Wickaninnish Inn.
Meanwhile, former Araxi executive sous chef Stephen Frost has re-joined Executive Chef James Walt at Blue Water Café and Raw Bar in Yale Town. Blue Water and Araxi are part of Jack Evrensel’s stable of restaurants.
