JOY'S JOURNAL
/(L - R) Lenora Hayman, Bus Fuller, Joy Metcalfe and Bus’s wife Riki at the opening of Earls in Ambleside. (click to enlarge)
HONOURING OLD FRIENDS AND FAVOURITE PLACES
Sunday, October 21 was a day of tears and joy, a day of happy/sad memories. The first event began at the Capilano Country Club as friends and family gathered for a packed Celebration of Life for the late Leroy Earl Bus Fuller, who passed away at age 90. Bus was the founder of Earls and Joey’s restaurants and had a major interest in the Cactus Club Cafes. The combined five West End locations of the three chains are very familiar to West End diners.
Bus was born in Ohio in 1928 and began his restaurant career working for A&W franchises in Edmonton before moving west and launching Earls and Joey’s. Bus was an innovator, determined and dedicated, much along the same lines as another successful restaurant pioneer, the late George Tidball who brought McDonald’s to town and launched the Keg Restaurants.
Bus was also a trendsetter, upscaling his operations to premium casual and sending his chefs and wine people to Europe to scout out the latest culinary taste treats. There are now 68 Earl’s in Canada and the U.S. with more than 5000 employees, many of them at his service on Sunday, chuckling over the memories.
Bus was also one of the first inductees into the B.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame and his career was toasted at the annual gathering of the best in the business later that day
He was such a fun guy, always smiling, craggy and cute with a bit of a bite. He will be missed. Deepest condolences to wife Riki, his four sons and the rest of the family...
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The second event was a packed reunion of former Four Season Hotel employees. As you know, the elegant and highly regarded Four Seasons is closing forever in January, and the alumni gathering couldn’t have been more fun. Some 300 guests lined up to chat, embrace, and laugh, delighted to see their old workmates again. Memories galore!
Handsome Todd Jeannotte, former Four Seasons exec and now director of premium experience with the Canucks organization, and dynamic director of catering, Diane Dillon, were the afternoon’s emcees, with lots of help from two other former top execs, Edel Forristal, former GM at Loden and Susan Gomez, former GM at the Pan Pacific.
One of Susan’s first hires in 1980 was John Sandor who started as a room service waiter, moved to the Pan Pacific for the opening as a banquet captain and ultimately went to the Sutton Place as general manager where he stayed for a record-setting length of time. Nicholas Gandossi also started as a bellman at the Four Seasons and is now GM at John Evans’ tony Opus. Two other former Four Seasons GM’s, Simon Pettigrew and Nicholas Mutton, were enjoying the reunion along with the current general manager, Martin Sinclair.
Other notables attending were P.R. Cate Simpson, former GM of the Four Seasons San Fran Doug Housley, Samantha Geer of Avenue P.R., chef Lisa Ng and patisserie Thomas Haas whose chocolate and pastry shop in North Van has been a resounding success. Moira Fitzpatrick, who is now an international hotel consultant, was on business in Europe.
Also wonderful to see the lovely Debbie Paes-Braga and son Anthony at the soiree. Debbie is the widow of the late Ruy Paes-Braga, longtime VP and GM of the Four Seasons and the man who inaugurated the much-lauded Crystal Ball which raises millions of dollars each year for B.C. Children’s Hospital and stands as a tribute to his memory.
WORKS OF GRACE LIVE ON
In 1995 the indomitable Grace McCarthy created the CHILD Foundation to aid children suffering from Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis and liver disorders by bringing awareness to the IBD cause and raising funds for research into the devastating disease.
Joy Metcalfe (in red) always in the thick of things … here with our city’s great doormen and Doorman of the Year Roger Williams. Mr. Fireworks Ray Greenwood (previous slide show) organized and shepherded the doormen for their participation in the evening, including this photo. (click to enlarge)
There are fund-raising golf tourneys, posh fashion shows, art exhibitions, special performances of Canada’s dazzling Snowbirds flying for CHILD, and the always much anticipated Doormen’s Dinner organized 27 years ago by doormen Doug Edgeworth, Sam Carros and Michael Miller along with Mike’s wife Cathy, to honour one special guest.
The 28th annual Doormen’s Dinner was held last month at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel attended by more than 325 black tie guests who were there not only to enjoy the culinary repast but to salute the new Honorary Doorman of the Year, Roger Williams, the executive director of the Professional Association of Managing Agents.
He was led into the ballroom by 42 doormen from all parts of the province and beyond.
Entertainment was provided by Nearly Neil, which managed to get a crowd onto the floor for dancing that included CHILD board member Michael Rogers and wife Leslie, former Regency Caterers owner Peter Scott and wife Jane Laporte, Wendy and Mel Zajac and Darlene Poole and her date, former PR man Jim Peacock who has just published his first book, Remember The Good Times. Loved it! Great read!
Also spotted Gale Honey, Rick’s widow, Cyndi Charkow, Kathy and Jamie Hunt, Rick Fisher, Ray Greenwood, Sutton Place’s Geoff Argue and Variety’s Bob Stewart and his two sons, VPD’s Bob Jr. and Jim, top exec of the Cactus Clubs. Barbara, unfortunately, had taken a fall days prior and bumped her head, which resulted in a bruised face and black eye. If it had been a Halloween party she would have fit in perfectly. Kudos to CHILD’s Mary Parsons for a well-planned fun evening...
PASSION FOR DR. PETER’S FOUNDATION
The 16th annual Passions gala, a can’t-miss premium foodie event, held last month at Performance Works on Granville Island, was a great success with some 300 guests attending. More than $225,000 was raised for the Dr. Peter Aids Foundation, thanks to the efforts and generosity of 22 chefs, three mixologists, 70 terrific auction items and the dedication, commitment and hard work of co-chairs Michael Barker-Fyfe and Nathan Fong and their team.
Also spotted the ageless and so supportive M.P. Dr. Hedy Fry along with the foundation’s Joy Jennison.
The evening was so popular that guests were signing up to attend next year’s culinary adventure...
A HALL OF FAME FOR CULINARY STARS
The annual B.C. Restaurant and Food Service Association‘s Hall of Fame awards took place last month at the Italian Cultural Centre hosted by the organization’s debonair Ian Tostenson.
Great turnout to applaud a truly dazzling line-up of awardees beginning with Susan Mendelson, chef, author and owner of what was probably Vancouver’s first catering company, the Lazy Gourmet, followed by Meeru Dhalwala of Vij’s and Rangoli; Manuel Ferreira of Miradoro, and former owner of la Gavroche; Ronald St. Pierre, owner and chef of Locals in the Comox Valley; Stephens Cipes of the Summerhill Pyramid Winery; Bruce Fox, Vice President of Brown’s Restaurants; Barb Finley of Project Chef; Frank di Bendetto owner of ABC restaurants, FatBurger Famosa and Ricky’s Restaurants, and finally the late Gary Hynes who was the editor and publisher of Eat Magazine. It was a night of happy celebrations.
THE WEDGEWOOD HOTEL TURNS THIRTY-FIVE
Speaking of celebrations, the most charming hotel in town, the Wedgewood Hotel, is marking its 35th anniversary. I recall so plainly the day Eleni Skalbania threw open the doors to her delightful and quite captivating 82-room property. And I recall all the male reporters ogling over the chintz upholstery, soft colours and the works of art.
It was elegance personified! And truly reflected the owner’s desire to make everyone welcome into this haven of peaceful reflection.
Sadly Eleni passed away a few years ago, but knowing that her hotel would be well-run by her daughter Elpie Marinakis Jackson who is co-owner and managing director along with her aunt, Eleni’s sister, Joanna Tsaparis-Peche who is sales, marketing and P.R. Director. Elpie tells me that they have reinvented the Wedgewood classics in Bacchus, have a new pastry chef and a brand new Fall and Winter menu by Chef Monty as well as refreshing all the lobby furnishings ... Happy 35th!...
Beryl Wilson.
REMEMBERING BERYL
I had known Beryl Wilson since she became involved with John Parker and the Vancouver Little Theatre Association (VLTA) in the 1960’s along with her best friend, Carol Roberts. While we had drifted apart following all our adventures in the theatre, me with my print columns and radio shows, she with The Creek newspaper, we kept in touch via the phone and emails.
She had a sharp wit, a keen intellect and was quite outspoken and always involved in civic, community, social and environmental causes. You always knew where you stood with Beryl.
She was one of the first people to move into the new Spruce Village in South False Creek in 1978 where she resided for 40 years. Upon retiring from The Creek, she was awarded an honourary citizenship to Granville Island, which she treasured.
She loved the sun and a grand adventure, travelling to Mexico every winter, going on the Caribou cattle drives twice, African safaris, tours of the Arctic, Galapagos boat trips, camping in the Kootenays, road trips to the Maritimes, New England and the southwestern U.S. Her last vacation in 2018 was with her niece, Andrea, to see the fall colours in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.
Last May, Beryl learned that she had terminal lung disease. She accepted this devastating diagnosis with courage and dignity, receiving palliative care at home. She’d have been so pleased to see the throngs of friends and supporters who came to her Celebration of Life to pay their respects and to thank her for all she had done for their community over the years.
She passed away feeling treasured and loved by many. Rest in peace, my dear friend.
Time goes by so quickly. Phone someone you care about today. Don’t wait. It may be too late...
COMING UP IN NOVEMBER
This month it’s Canadian Club whiskey at Blue Water, it’s Italian Cuisine of the World November 18 to 24 and Wendy Cocchia hosts her annual fund-raising luncheon for the Pacific Autism Family Network at Parc Vancouver. Tell you all next time.
Cheers!
