Food 'file (aka EAT! Vancouver Part 3): Jane from EAT! Vancouver

She helps run the show at EAT! Vancouver, but for Jane Tang, "[her] job really isn't that exciting. It's the finished product, the on-site festival that is glamorous and exciting... everything pre-festival is just a lot of hard work."

I'll let you decide.

Working year-round to help plan and run some of the Lower Mainland's biggest foodie events as the Administrative Coordinator for Executive Event Production -- the brains behind EAT! Vancouver, Taste of the City (July 18), EAT! Fraser Valley (Sept. 11 to 13), and West Coast Christmas Show (Nov. 27 to 29) -- Jane is the perfect candidate for my first-ever Food 'file: profiles of people with sweet jobs in the food industry sharing their inside look at things that we, the public, don't often get to hear about.

You heard my take on EAT! Read on to get some insights and advice from a real EAT! pro.

---

How did you get involved with EAT!? What's it like to be a part of it? Is everyone on the team a huge foodie?

My professor from BCIT’s Tourism class recommended me to the job. It was perfect timing since I was on a temporary hiatus from working, and was trying to figure out the next step in my career. Working here is probably the best experience I’ve gotten from any job. My bosses are industry experts and I’m forever shadowing them, trying to learn new things. It’s a small office, so everyone is always up to date and is aware of what’s going on. And yes, everyone LOVES food. There’s such a diverse background from all our staff members that we’re forever trying new foods that we either bring in or pick up from Chinatown! If I’m not working, I’m stuffing my face.

What is your exact position, and what does your job entail? What do you like most about it? Do you get any special perks (re. free samples or invitations to food events, rubbing shoulders with Vancouver's big-name chefs (e.g. Rob Feenie, Hideki Tojo, etc.))?

[I actually don’t have a job title, since when I started, we were an office of 3 people, lol, but for the sake of this..] Administrative Co-ordinator – Ensuring exhibitors have all forms and information necessary, posting ads online, scouting for new potential leads, recruiting volunteers…I’m an expert at Excel now with mile long lists of things to do and keep track of!! One of the best parts is because I spend a lot of time reading up on restaurants or new products/ideas, I never run out of new places to try out with my friends. Free food is always a good perk, so I’m not complaining. One of the most memorable celebs on our stages was Lynn Spence, home decor expert at our West Coast Christmas Show. She flew in from Toronto, and we drove her in and around town but she was so down to earth. We took her to HomeSense and as she bought some last minute accessories, she gave us decorating tips – it was like having a private consultation!

It know it's only your second year with EAT!, but can you tell us a bit about how EAT! got started and how it's evolved over the years? How did the other festivals come into being?

Executive Event Production is the company that founded EAT! Vancouver 7 years ago. The producers of the show realized that there was a demand in Vancouver for new products/ideas that were food related but there wasn’t anything truly food specific and consumer driven, and they wanted to act on this opportunity. Vancouver is such a thriving metropolis with a diverse population, it’d be a waste not to showcase this! And it’s growing every year, this year it was at 31k! And it was an exceptionally sunny weekend, so it was a real feat to have so many people choose to stay indoors at our festival instead of enjoy the sun.

The other festivals were created for the same purpose. Vancouverites had EAT Vancouver, but what about everyone in the Fraser Valley? There’s 1.5 million people there and who doesn’t love to eat! The West Coast Christmas Show is a holiday show that showcases new eating, entertaining and decorating ideas. Both are in their 2^nd year.

How do you determine which exhibitors to target/feature, and which countries you focus on for the year?

We always look for new companies who want to gain some ground in the marketplace, but it’s equal opportunity for everyone. There’s always going to be successful companies who want to promote a new line of products and family run businesses who have fantastic products but need more opportunities for exposure. We try to keep a balance so that visitors get a bit of everything. The Travel Culinary Pavilion is growing at a rapid pace as more people are leaning towards experiential travel, and food is definitely a important part of any country’s culture. I know when I plan vacations, I have an infinite list of places I want to try out.

What's your favourite part of EAT! in general, and this year's event in particular?

It’s a toss-up between the Wine, Beer & Spirits Pavilion. It’s loud, rowdy and fun! Everyone in there is wanting to try out new types of liquor and who can blame them when it’s super cheap! This year, I really enjoyed the Master Chef Competitions because every time I walked by, the aromas from their cooking made me super hungry!

You have exactly one hour to spend at EAT (you can choose what day and when). How do you make the most of that hour?

Sunday, before closing. I hit up all the Asian booths only because I’m partial to their food. I never miss out on Kozy Shack (pudding) and the Salmon Farmers (grilled salmon) because their samples are super tasty!

Why is it worth driving over to the Fraser Valley to attend the other festivals and events you put on?

Because the Fraser Valley has just as much to offer as Vancouver! They have a lot of restaurants/companies that aren’t found in the Lower Mainland, so you’d be missing out if you don’t want to head out that way.

What lineup of restaurants can we expect for Taste of the City?

It’ll be a diverse mix, but you can expect the menus to offer a huge variety, from green tea parfaits to citrus thai chicken salads to blackened seared ahi caesars. Don’t miss out!

Just for fun:

What's your secret dining spot/the best place we've never heard of in the Lower Mainland?

I really like The Place on Granville [and 60-something street, you’d hafta google it, it’s by the Granville Bubble World] … It’s a hole in the wall, but if want the most juicy, fresh Shanghai dumplings, that’s the place to go to. Then walk down the street to Bubble World and grab a watermelon slush.

What's your favourite dish, and where can we find it?

One of my favourite dishes is from Empire Seafood Restaurant (Richmond) for fresh, soft egg tarts. But if you go too late for dim sum, they run out!

---

Thanks for the great tips Jane! I knew those last two questions would be worth asking!

If you have any thoughts or questions about EAT! or the other related festivals (or want to probe Jane's Asian-food expertise further), be sure to comment, and I'll do my best to get your responses to her -- maybe even get Jane on here to respond to you personally. :)