British Columbia

Greasy Spoon food gets fine dining treatment at Vancouver diner series

The Greasy Spoon Diner Series pairs celebrated Vancouver chefs with menus they're not used to cooking: diner food. Chef Scott Jaeger from the Pear Tree talks to the Early Edition's Elaine Chau about why he's taking part.

Chef Scott Jaeger of Burnaby's award-winning Pear Tree restaurant creates diner menu

Chef Scott Jaeger has been at the helm of Burnaby's Pear Tree Restaurant for over a decade. (Elaine Chau)

Tonight, Chef Scott Jaeger from Burnaby's Pear Tree Restaurant cooks up diner food as part of the Greasy Spoon Diner Series, hosted at Save-on Meats in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

It's a departure for the award-winning chef, who's represented Canada at the Bocuse D'Or, otherwise known as the culinary Olympics.

Jaeger is known for his locally-sourced, inventive cuisine and creating a sophisticated fine dining atmosphere.

"Food is still food. We still cook it with all the love, and the best ingredients we can get our hands on. There's still all the pride that goes into our everyday meals."

But Jaeger admits that this special meal will be a different experience for his team.

"To be able to do it in a diner, allow my staff to have a little more fun, and kick it around a little bit, is kind of exciting. It's a different day for us."

Chef Jaeger will be cooking corned duck hash, meatloaf, pea soup and a crumble for dessert.

The proceeds of tonight's dinner goes to Growing Chefs, and the Strathcona Food Program. Both encourage food sustainability, an issue that's close to Jaeger's heart.

The Greasy Spoon Diner Series kicks off at Save-on Meats with two seatings, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. PT.

Corned duck hash, prepared by Chef Scott Jaeger of Pear Tree restaurant, for the Greasy Spoon Dinner Series. (Elaine Chau)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elaine Chau

Producer, Front Burner

Elaine Chau was born in Hong Kong, and grew up in Montreal and Vancouver. She is the 2008 recipient of the CBC Radio Peter Gzowski internship, multiple RTDNA winner, and Gold Radio Winner in the Health/Medicine category at the 2011 New York Festivals for her series "AIDS: Then and Now".