G'day,

Those in the know, know where to go.

Today, we’re excited to announce our latest episode of Mates on Crates, featuring Claire Livia Lassam, the owner and “Big Cheese” behind Livia on Commercial Drive. Known for her background in pastries and bread, Claire transformed her passion from farmer's markets to a beloved café where brunch reigns supreme. With her husband managing the cocktails and front of house, Livia has become a warm, bustling corner for brunch lovers, anchored by its famous carbonara and decadent pastries. It was fantastic to chat with Claire and dive into her journey and favorite spots - check out the episode below.

Each time we do a Mates on Crates interview, our guests share up to twenty of their favourites with us. For each episode, only a handful of those favourites make it into the final 60-second cut. In order to highlight all of our guest’s favourites, we are happy to share the full list of favourites right here.

See the FULL LIST of Claire Livia Lassam’s Favourites:

Brewery: Strange Fellows Brewing
Cocktail Bar: Dachi
Coffee: Mish Mish
Commercial Drive (Neighborhood): Pepino’s Spaghetti House, Caffé La Tana, Pax Romana
Dying to Try: Niwa (Opening Soon at 875 Powell St!)
Farmers Market: Trout Lake Farmer’s Market
Food Neighborhood: Commercial Drive
Fried Chicken: DL Chicken Shack, Juke Fried Chicken
Hidden Gem: Royal Seafood Palace
Japanese: Sushi Hil
Meal for Families With Kids: Douce Diner (North Vancouver)
Meal That Blew Them Away: Darren’s Pop-Up at Dachi
Pizza: Ragazzi Pizza
Thai: Kin Kao
Out of Town Guest: Delara

Thanks for joining us, Claire!

Headed to Livia? Make sure to try the beloved Carbonara and Cinnamon Currant Loaf which are Claire’s favourites - or the popular Breakfast Sandwich before it sells out!