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 Etienne Buddingh, Head Chef at Oddfish in Kitsilano, Vancouver. A neighbourhood favourite that recently won gold at the 2026 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards for Best Seafood Restaurant, Oddfish is known for its seafood-forward menu, fresh and bold flavours, and lively atmosphere. Guests can expect a welcoming room, an extensive wine selection, creative cocktails, and a menu that evolves regularly with the seasons and the daily catch. Etienne has been with Oddfish for just over seven years and has served as head chef for six. A Vancouver local, he began his hospitality career as a dishwasher at Mahony & Sons before attending culinary school at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. He went on to work at Bishop's and PiDGiN before spending almost three years in London, where his time at Michelin-starred Trinity helped shape his approach to leadership and the importance of looking after his team. Today, his cooking philosophy is fresh, straightforward, simple, and bold, with a particular appreciation for the precision and finesse involved in preparing seafood.
It was a pleasure to sit down with Etienne to chat about his culinary journey, the evolution of Oddfish, their rotating menu and happy hour, 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.
Etienne’s favourites at Oddfish:
Snack: Oysters, especially Sunseekers
Pairing: Margarita
Fall Menu: Tuna bolognese with ricotta gnocci
Pairing: A bold white wine or a lighter bodied red
Experience: The $85-per-person Feed Me menu, where the kitchen builds a meal around guests’ preferences and recommendations.
The FULL LIST of Etienne’s Local Favourites:
Brunch: Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
Burger: Street Hawker
Coffee: Radish
Cocktail Bar: June
Cuisine: French
Food Neighbourhood: Main Street, Fraserhood
French: Chez Céline
Fried Chicken: Popeyes
Hidden Gem: Unchai
Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry’s
Last Meal That Blew Them Away: Sumibiyaki Arashi
Neighbourhood Favourites (Main Street): Savio Volpe, Suyo, Published on Main
Pizza: AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza
Post-Work Spot: Lucky Taco
Sushi: Sushi Hil
Take an Out of Town Guest: Bao Bei
Outside of Vancouver: J & L Drive-In (Port Alberni)
West Coast Oyster: Sunseeker
Thanks for joining us, Etienne!
Watch Etienne’s full Mates on Crates Episode below.
