Mates on Crates Feat. Jay Jones

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 Jay Jones, Bar Development Leader at JOEY Restaurants. Jay has spent nearly 30 years helping shape cocktail culture and hospitality standards across Canada, with stops at legendary venues including Araxi, West, Blue Water Cafe, Tableau, and Pourhouse before joining the Joey Restaurant Group leadership team. Born in Richmond and raised around the Lower Mainland, Jay became one of the most respected voices in Canadian bartending culture, helping launch the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association while earning accolades including Vancouver Magazine Bartender of the Year and induction into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame as its first bartender. Today, he leads beverage innovation and development across Joey Restaurants and Local Public Eatery, helping mentor the next generation of bartenders while continuing to elevate hospitality culture in Canada. It was a pleasure to sit down with Jay to chat about the evolution of Vancouver’s restaurant scene, the rise of New Westminster, cocktail culture, mentorship, and the future of hospitality. It was a pleasure to sit down with Jay to chat about the evolution of Vancouver’s restaurant scene, the rise of New Westminster, cocktail culture, mentorship, and the future of hospitality in Canada.

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 Joey:

• 14oz New York Strip & Martini

• Spring Spritz at Joey

The FULL LIST of Jay’s Local Favourites:

• Brewery: Parkside Brewery, Steel & Oak Brewing Co.

• Brunch: Maxine’s

• Butcher: Queen’s Meat & Deli

• Coffee: Neate Coffee & Donuts

• Cocktail Bar: Botanist Bar

• Dying to Try: June, Elem

• Food Neighbourhood: Commercial Drive

• Hidden Gem: Gastronomia Italia

• Last Meal That Blew Them Away: St Lawrence

• Pizza: L'Onore Pizza

• Pub: Lougheed Village Bar & Grill

• New Westminster: El Santo

• Sandwich: Gastronomia Italia

• Sushi: Ikoi Sushi
  

Thanks for joining us on the crates, Jay!

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Watch Jay’s full Mates on Crates Episode below.

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