Slightly hidden along the main street of downtown Naramata you will discover a great patio, a unique coffee shop and an award-winning Canadian chef creating surprising meals in his humble new kitchen.
Chef Victor Bongo has worked on cruise ships, at five-star restaurants, toured the world, showcased his recipes on TV, and now he has chosen to take over a small kitchen in Naramata to bring people 香蕉视频直播済ood, simple food香蕉视频直播� at a good price.
Considered to be one of the top 10 chefs in Canada, Bongo discovered Naramata when he came up to the region to explore B.C. winemaking.
香蕉视频直播淲orking in Vancouver there were a lot of wine pairing events and winemaker dinners and I wanted to step up my game,香蕉视频直播� explained Bongo. 香蕉视频直播淭he more I studied up on wines, the more I fell in love with it and I came to the Okanagan to meet with winemakers and learn about the wine and then I decided I should have a wine.香蕉视频直播�
He found a partner in Serendipity Wines who helped him create .
香蕉视频直播淲hen I first came to meet Serendipity it was February and it was still cold. I didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to leave Vancouver, but then I came back in September to finish my wine and that香蕉视频直播檚 when I saw the Okanagan at its best,香蕉视频直播� said Bongo.
香蕉视频直播淭he sun was out, the grapes were growing, the fruit was everywhere and I just thought 香蕉视频直播榃ow, this is gorgeous!香蕉视频直播�.香蕉视频直播�
He fell in love with the small town and accepted an offer to be a partner at the Naramata Heritage Inn. He spent about a year there before branching off on his own.
香蕉视频直播淎t the end of last year I was sitting at the Village Grounds having a coffee and I was chatting with the owner when I realized she had a liquor license. I thought, 香蕉视频直播榊ou have a liquor license, and you don香蕉视频直播檛 serve alcohol and you close at 2 p.m.? What?香蕉视频直播�.,香蕉视频直播� said Bongo, who suggested he could use her space in the village to do something special.
香蕉视频直播淚 wanted to do something amazing, something amazing for the locals and something good for the tourists. A good location for me to also showcase who I am and to work on my own.香蕉视频直播�
He was able to work a plan with the owner of Village Grounds. He brought on Chef Edmund Liew-On to man the barbecue, the man who trained him to cook 18 years ago, and long-time friend Steve Sarkany to take over as the restaurant manager.
香蕉视频直播淚 wanted to surround myself with closest people, the people that care about me the most,香蕉视频直播� said Bongo. 香蕉视频直播淭hey are like family.香蕉视频直播�
He officially opened the restaurant portion of the cafe on May 17, 2018.
香蕉视频直播淚t has been amazing. Great support from the locals and now school is over, business has doubled up,香蕉视频直播� said Bongo.
香蕉视频直播淚 wanted to have a place where I can be close with the customers. I love Naramata and I wanted to open something that was accessible and affordable for everyone.
香蕉视频直播淲hen you work for big hotels, you香蕉视频直播檙e working for other people. You have to do what they want, rather than please the customers. Now, it can be all about my customers being happy. I can go out there, talk with them, sit down with them, even have a glass of wine with them quickly sometimes. That, to me, is everything.香蕉视频直播�
He says the smaller venue allows him to connect with customers as if he were feeding them in his own home.
香蕉视频直播淚 get to hear the feedback, right to my face. That feedback keeps me going, it keeps me passionate and its the reason I work 12-14 hours a day as I know the customers appreciate it.香蕉视频直播�
Chef Victor Bongo's famous African Peanut Soup. Image: Carmen Weld
The restaurant offers a daily variety of dishes including BBQ and pasta, but when you walk in the door, the restaurant manager will likely work hard to convince you to try Bongo香蕉视频直播檚 signature African Peanut Soup.
香蕉视频直播淭he soup is a recipe from grandmother, who passed away. She passed it onto my mother and it was passed on to me. It holds a special history for me,香蕉视频直播� said Bongo.
香蕉视频直播淚t is a unique soup you don香蕉视频直播檛 often see. You hear about African Peanut Soup, but you don香蕉视频直播檛 know where to find it. If you ask anyone if they香蕉视频直播檝e had peanut soup before they香蕉视频直播檒l say 香蕉视频直播榦h that香蕉视频直播檚 Chef Bongo from the Congo香蕉视频直播檚香蕉视频直播�. I made my name in Vancouver and I was known as the guy with the peanut soup.香蕉视频直播�
His peanut soup has won awards, been on TV and served in New York City.
香蕉视频直播淧eople love it!香蕉视频直播�
Bongo plans on calling Naramata home for a long time and plans to expand his business in the coming months or years.
Chef Bongo, click here. To check out Village Grounds Cafe and Bistro,
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