Mates on Crates Feat. Aaron Surman
G’day,
Those in the know, know where to go.
We’re excited to have just launched our latest episode of Mates on Crates, featuring Aaron Surman, Chef & Operator at Ex Animo Coffee and Pastry in Vancouver. Ex Animo is a coffee roastery and wholesale bakery built around high quality coffee, butter-rich pastries, and a from-the-heart approach to hospitality, with products available online and increasingly across the city. Aaron’s story starts in Brisbane, where he began a pastry apprenticeship at 15 before working through fine dining kitchens in Australia and eventually moving to Vancouver, including time at L’Abattoir. Now leading Ex Animo, he’s known for his pastry precision, relentless work ethic, and deep passion for coffee and hospitality. It was a pleasure to sit down with Aaron to chat about his journey, building Ex Animo, and all of his favourite spots.
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 two minute cut. In order to highlight all of our guest’s favourites, we are happy to share the full list of favourites right here.
What to get at Ex Animo:
Butter croissants
Frozen pastries for home baking
Espresso
Devisor natural Colombian coffee,
The FULL LIST of AAron’s Local Favourites:
Cocktail Bar: Laowai
Coffee: Coyote’s Pop-Up
Fried Chicken: DownLow Chicken Shack
Greek: Maria’s Taverna
Hidden Gem: Squamish Valley
Last Meal That Blew Them Away: ¿CóMO? Taperia
Pastry Program: Maxine’s Café & Bar
Pizza: Belli
Pub: Red Truck Beer
Sandwich: Say Hey Cafe & Deli
Spot for a Family Lunch: The Copper Coil Still & Grill
Take an Out of Town Guest: Squamish Valley
Outside of Vancouver: The Copper Coil Still & Grill
Thanks for joining us, Aaron!
Watch Aaron’s full Mates on Crates Episode below.
