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PEOPLE | | Given our commitment to creating the perfect dining experience, it’s no surprise that we have built a team of passionate, personable professionals that Joe Fortes himself would have approved of. | | |
Scott Garrett | | General Manager |  Joe Fortes has always been a popular tourist destination and few people have catered to as many tourists as Scott. Seven years leading the charge at Walt Disney Resorts in Florida, Scott ran the company’s food and beverage programs as the Restaurant Guest Services Manager, receiving AAA's coveted Four Diamond Award for service excellence during his tenure. As a wine enthusiast, passionate about food and beverage, Joe Fortes customers look to Scott to create the ultimate dining experience. | | |
Frenchy | | Maitre d'/Manager |  While his role is that of Maitre‘d, in reality Frenchy acts much more like a friend to the scores of regulars and tourists that pass through our doors every day. Inducted to the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame in 2007 for excellence in Front of House, he is the ultimate personification of everything that our famous namesake and our restaurant stand for. Frenchy's warm personality and affable charm guarantee the accent is always on hospitality here at Joe’s. | | |
Chad McKenzie | | Assistant General Manager |  Chad got his start in 1990, training under the direction of Chef Donald Phillips. After numerous apprenticeships and graduating from Vancouver Community College’s Culinary Arts Program, Chad’s passion for the industry shifted focus. He has since helped open and establish a thriving clientele in a 60-seat fine dining restaurant; assisted in the opening of a 160-seat pub from the ground up; and has been the general manager of a 200-seat beachfront restaurant. Chad comes to us after working for The Fish House in Stanley Park, The Cannery, and SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts. | | |
Jennifer Hennessey | | Beverage Manager |  Jennifer's boundless energy and beaming smile infuse the atmosphere at Joe Fortes with a buzz all of their own. As such, Jennifer has left a lasting impression on the restaurants she has graced before returning to Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House, including Goldfish Pacific Kitchen and Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar. Hailing from PEI, Jennifer's passion for seafood makes her a natural on the Joe Fortes leadership team. Look for Jennifer to inspire with her cocktail creations and to make your Joe Fortes lounge experience memorable. | | |
Neil Charlesworth | | Restaurant Manager |  Originally hailing from England and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Neil packed up and headed West to Vancouver in 2007. Following line cook, server, bartender and managerial stints with Prime Restaurants, S.I.R. Corp and Prime Pubs in Toronto, Neil has come to call the west coast home. Passionate about the eclectic Vancouver restaurant industry, he has solidified himself as Restaurant Manager at Joe Fortes, where he thrives on building lasting relationships with Joe's diverse guests. | | |
Norma Cisneros | | Groups & Events Manager |  Norma has been an integral part of the Guest Services team here at Joe Fortes since 2010. This makes Norma a perfect candidate to cover Tanis Glenn's role as our Groups & Events Manager while she is on maternity leave with her son.
When not taking a year off to cover maternity leaves Norma pursues a Bachelor's Degree at UBC in Human Geography (the study of people, communities & cultures.) She loves the restaurant industry and ensuring a pleasant experience for our guests. For her, the ambiance, the crowd and the fast-paced aspect of Joe Fortes makes everything more fun! | | |
Wayne Sych | | Executive Chef |  Wayne Sych joins Joe Fortes as Executive Chef after saying goodbye to the former Cannery Seafood Restaurant in 2010. At Joe’s, Wayne continues the tradition of serving up a variety of regional and imported seafood, blending his vibrant West Coast style with the freshest local ingredients. After attending BCIT, VCC, and the Dubrulle Culinary Institute in the Culinary Arts programs, many years were spent honing his skills at local restaurants.Prior to The Cannery, from 1998 to 2008, Wayne was Chef at The Fish House in Stanley Park. "Spending time with my wife and two sons is my first passion and my other is passing on my knowledge to others”. Wayne spends several evenings a month teaching cooking classes across the Lower Mainland. | | |
Ryan Green | | Executive Sous Chef |  This Vancouver native entered the restaurant industry at the tender age of 16 and wasted no time advancing his career – achieving his first head chef position at just 22 years of age. Having worked in restaurants on the coast and in BC’s interior, Ryan has an excellent appreciation for the numerous fresh flavours that the province has to offer. | | |
Brett Hoglund | | Sous Chef |  Having grown up in a small farming town in rural Manitoba (pop. 2,600) helping his mother cook and bake, it was only inevitable that Brett would eventually end up in the kitchen. After moving to Winnipeg to attend college, Brett decided to venture west to Vancouver to pursue his culinary career and follow global trends. He counts the busy, high-paced, and ever-changing culture of the food industry as reasons for cooking up a storm for a living, and has a soft spot for Southern eats (barbeque, whiskey, and all of their friends). | | |
Jamie Ristau | | Sous Chef |  A part of Vancouver’s culinary scene for more than fifteen years, Jamie Ristau brings plenty of experience to his position as sous-chef at Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House. Before landing at Joe's, Jamie gained hands-on experience in a variety of downtown Vancouver eateries, including Earl’s, Yaletown Brewery, Dix and Sandbar. A culinary purist, Jamie enjoys preparing foods simply and effectively- maximizing their natural appearance and flavour. | | |
Sarah Band | | Sous Chef |  A lot of Sarah's learning has been hands on in restaurants. She got her start in 2004 and quickly knew she had found her passion and purpose. She began her apprenticeship in 2007 and graduated from Vancouver Community College's Culinary Program in 2009. Sarah came to us in 2011 from restaurants in White Rock and has been an integral part of the team since. Sarah loves how the restaurant industry is different everyday. She finds Joe Fortes to be the perfect place to learn all aspects of working in a kitchen and loves the opportunities it presents. Sarah loves food so much she sports more than one culinary inspired tattoo... | | |
David Aisenstat | | Proprietor |  Born and bred into the restaurant industry, steak powerhouse David Aisenstat first learned his chops from his father Hy Aisenstat, founder of the famous Hy’s Steakhouse chain. His ability to recognize and retain talented people, and his passion for art and design, combine for what have been consecutively successful ventures in the industry. He has since continued on to become a legendary restaurateur in his own right, as the owner of The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, Hy’s Steakhouse Cocktail Bar, Gotham Steakhouse, The Shore Club, Ki, and now Joe Fortes. David looks forward to continuing the storied legacy of Joe Fortes and our commitment to hospitality and great food. | | |
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