~ Lia Crowe ~
香蕉视频直播淚t was different,香蕉视频直播� Peter Wood says with a smile and a shrug when asked about opening a cafe in the thick of a global pandemic. 香蕉视频直播淚n some ways our timing wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the worst. For a long time I was thinking, 香蕉视频直播榯his is going to be a disaster!香蕉视频直播� We were finally at the point when we were ready to open and then a pandemic hits. It was a bit of a kick in the teeth.香蕉视频直播�
But like any good entrepreneur, Peter quickly pivoted to a pared-down menu focused on takeout and says he香蕉视频直播檚 been pretty 香蕉视频直播渃huffed香蕉视频直播� by the positive response.
Officially open since early May, Bear and Joey Cafe, where I meet owner Peter to chat life and style, is a beautiful space. It香蕉视频直播檚 like nothing I香蕉视频直播檝e seen in Victoria before: gleaming in gold, green and pastels, playful and fresh and idly waiting to delight this city.
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As we sit inside the cafe on one of the days it香蕉视频直播檚 closed, Peter has to smile and wave his apologies to a steady stream of would-be customers coming up to the door and hoping for a flat white or perhaps Bear and Joey香蕉视频直播檚 incredible granola bowl.
Peter grew up in Sydney, Australia (more specifically, in the northern beaches), where he met his now wife who is originally from Vancouver Island.
香蕉视频直播淚n Sydney, I had two cafes and a pizzeria with a few partners. I studied business and property and worked in residential sales, commercial property management, as well as for a property developer. But I had an awakening, and realized that hospitality is my true passion. I started looking to do a restaurant overseas and when I came to Canada to meet my girlfriend香蕉视频直播檚 parents, I saw Victoria and thought, this is a no-brainer. So we started putting the wheels in motion to move here.香蕉视频直播�
Now after three years in Victoria, Peter香蕉视频直播檚 vision has become a reality with Bear and Joey. Asked to describe how his approach is different, Peter says, 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e not trying to reinvent the wheel, but our food program is about light, balanced, healthy and colourful dishes, paying attention to gluten free, vegan and vegetarian. Australian cafe culture is coffee every morning and a simple breakfast grab-and-go, so you can eat off our menu many times a week and feel good about it.香蕉视频直播�
And what inspired the style of the cafe? 香蕉视频直播淲e were always going to go with pastels, perhaps a bit mid-century modern. We wanted something youthful, not formal, something inviting. We really want to delight the few and that was our thought process behind everything.香蕉视频直播�
Like every business owner, I assume, Peter must wear many hats, and I wonder what specific aspect of his work gets him fired up the most?
香蕉视频直播淪ervice,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淔ront row centre, service: seeing people delighted, choosing us and walking away happy. I have a thought process about what people will enjoy and then I get all the moving parts together. Like the staff we have now, they are super friendly, enthusiastic, all-round lovely people. Team them up with skilled chefs, and then there香蕉视频直播檚 the room香蕉视频直播nd when people walk away happy I think, 香蕉视频直播榃e did it; job done!香蕉视频直播� That香蕉视频直播檚 what gives me goosebumps. It香蕉视频直播檚 not an ego thing; it香蕉视频直播檚 being confident in what you香蕉视频直播檙e doing and confident that you can please people, and then delivering an all-round experience. That香蕉视频直播檚 what service front row centre is and it香蕉视频直播檚 a great feeling.香蕉视频直播�
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