10 » OpenRoad Driver
DRIVERS
Against
the Grain
WITH UMBERTO MENGHI
Interview by Christian Chia
Photos by Todd Duncan
»
A true maestro in the
Canadian culinary scene,
Umberto Menghi arrived in
Vancouver in 1969 and noted
the absence of authentic
Italian cooking in the city.
He was determined to
introduce Vancouverites to
the great recipes of his Italian
homeland, leading the way
for fine Italian cuisine, and
mentoring many of today’s
local luminaries.
Today Menghi operates his new ode to
Tuscany, Giardino Restaurant, just steps
from the little yellow house where it all
started in downtown Vancouver. He also
owns Trattoria di Umberto, offering the
rustic elegance of a Tuscan experience in
Whistler Village. Menghi is the author of
five best-selling cookbooks and the former
host of “The Elegant Appetite,” a television
cooking show with 254 episodes broadcast
internationally between 1986 and 1994.
Instantly recognized by first name alone,
Umberto has made an indelible and
unforgettable imprint on Vancouver’s food
scene. The good news is, he’s nowhere near
done.