Susan Mendelson

Susan Mendelson

Author: Robert Belcham of the Chefs Table Society of BC March 6, 2026 Duration: 1:02:12

In collaboration Les Dames d’Escoffier we are celebrating the Woman Leaders in Hospitality. Each week we will bring the amazing stories of 4 incredible women to you in this long form podcast. The first in the series will be Susan Mendelson of the Lazy Gourmet and Compass foods. Les Dames d’Escoffier International is an international organization of women leaders with more than 2,800 members in forty chapters in the US, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Italy who provide leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy within their communities. Les Dames are named after Georges Auguste Escoffier a restaurateur, culinary writer, and philanthropist, who popularised and updated traditional French cooking methods.

The BC Chapter (LDBC) is comprised of BC’s hospitality, food and beverage professionals who are committed to inspiring, advancing and supporting women, particularly in these sections. Their work largely focuses on granting scholarships to women and their applications are open this year until March 14th. Apply now at www.lesdames.ca

 

Susan Mendelson is the founder of Vancouver’s iconic Lazy Gourmet, which she started in 1979. A celebrated caterer and bestselling cookbook author, she has written ten cookbooks, beginning with Mama Never Cooked Like This, which helped home cooks simplify classic gourmet recipes. For more than four decades, Susan has been known for her passion for beautiful food, her commitment to exceptional ingredients, and her generous spirit as a mentor, philanthropist, and champion of Vancouver’s food community. Today, The Lazy Gourmet remains one of the city’s most respected catering companies, built on Susan’s enduring love of food and hospitality.

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Hosted by chef Robert Belcham, Mise en Place-the Podcast pulls up a chair for candid, substantive conversations with the people shaping British Columbia's vibrant food scene. This series, presented with the Chefs' Table Society of BC, moves beyond recipes and menus to explore the real architecture of a life in hospitality. Each episode is a deep dive with restaurateurs, producers, and culinary leaders, unpacking the complex business decisions, career pivots, and personal philosophies that define their work. Listeners get an authentic backstage pass to the pressures, triumphs, and often-unseen logistics of running kitchens and dining rooms. The discussions naturally reveal the interconnected culture of local food, from farm relationships to dining room dynamics. Belcham’s perspective ensures these aren’t just interviews, but nuanced dialogues full of practical insight for anyone invested in this world. The podcast serves as an oral history of a community in motion, documenting the craft, economics, and human stories behind the plates. It’s for those who appreciate that a great restaurant experience is built on a foundation of meticulous preparation-the true meaning of its namesake. Tune in for thoughtful, grounded talk that respects the intelligence of both its guests and its audience.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 135

Mise en Place - the Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Tommy Aird [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:29
Whole grain is flavour. Tommy Aird of Tommy's Wholegrain Bakery in East Vancouver has dedicated his business to the pursuit of flavour in bread and pastry through the use of wholegrain wheat. He accomplishes this by buyi…
Danae Dejong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:29
On this weeks episode we have a follow up with one of the rising stars of BC's culinary scene. We heard from Danae last April about being a young person in the industry and the challenges she faces. Now back from her Eur…
Rebecca Mackenzie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:55
I'm very happy to introduce a major player in the Canadian Culinary Tourism space to the podcast today. Rebecca Mackenzie is the President and CEO of the Culinary Tourism Alliance. A national, not for profit organization…
Jason Ocenas, Poyan Danesh, Johnny Bridge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:52
On today's podcast we talk about COOKSCAMP 2024 and the what it meant to everyone. We have the General Manager, Jason Ocenas, of Bargreen Ellingson major partner to COOKSCAMP and the CTS. Johnny Bridge, Chef and current…
Luke Boswell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:21
On this weeks podcast we have Essex born Chef, Luke Boswell now running and partnered in Bar Corso on Commercial Drive, here in Vancouver. We chat about the importance of travel, great ingredients and humbling need for f…
Andrea Carlson and Gabriella Meyer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:21
On todays podcast we have two of my oldest industry friends. Chef and Co Owner of Harvest Community Foods, Gabriella Meyer and Chef and Owner of Michelin starred Burdock and Co, Harvest Community Foods and Bar Gobo, Andr…
Bruno Marti [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:18:55
Incredibly happy to Have Chef Bruno Marti on today's podcast. At the young age of 15 Bruno set out on his own to learn the craft of cooking and has never looked back. Born in Switzerland, and from humble beginnings, Brun…
Robert Belcham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49:56
On this weeks podcast we do something a bit different. Chef Poyan Dinesh takes the helm and interviews our regular podcast host Robert Belcham. With 30 years in the hospitality industry, tells the stories of his career t…
Kate Siegel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:08
On this weeks podcast we have Kate Siegel, the Executive Pastry Chef of Fairmont's Pacific Rim Hotel. From humble beginnings in small town Ontario, to running the pastry program at the Fairmont's most premiere property i…
Lina Caschetto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:22
So amazing to have my favourite Chef and Sandwich artist on the Podcast today. Lina Caschetto has an inspiring story about finding her own way through life and through our industry. Her background in design and many year…