~ Lia Crowe ~
91裸聊视频淚t was different,91裸聊视频� Peter Wood says with a smile and a shrug when asked about opening a cafe in the thick of a global pandemic. 91裸聊视频淚n some ways our timing wasn91裸聊视频檛 the worst. For a long time I was thinking, 91裸聊视频榯his is going to be a disaster!91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�
But like any good entrepreneur, Peter quickly pivoted to a pared-down menu focused on takeout and says he91裸聊视频檚 been pretty 91裸聊视频渃huffed91裸聊视频� 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. It91裸聊视频檚 like nothing I91裸聊视频檝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 it91裸聊视频檚 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 Joey91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚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 girlfriend91裸聊视频檚 parents, I saw Victoria and thought, this is a no-brainer. So we started putting the wheels in motion to move here.91裸聊视频�
Now after three years in Victoria, Peter91裸聊视频檚 vision has become a reality with Bear and Joey. Asked to describe how his approach is different, Peter says, 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙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.91裸聊视频�
And what inspired the style of the cafe? 91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�
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?
91裸聊视频淪ervice,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淔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 there91裸聊视频檚 the room91裸聊视频nd when people walk away happy I think, 91裸聊视频榃e did it; job done!91裸聊视频� That91裸聊视频檚 what gives me goosebumps. It91裸聊视频檚 not an ego thing; it91裸聊视频檚 being confident in what you91裸聊视频檙e doing and confident that you can please people, and then delivering an all-round experience. That91裸聊视频檚 what service front row centre is and it91裸聊视频檚 a great feeling.91裸聊视频�
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