ROBBIE KANE | Owner
It’s been Robbie Kane’s deft touch and dedication to extending “enlightened hospitality” to each and every guest that comes through his doors that has helped make Café Medina a beloved Vancouver brunch institution since it first opened in 2008.
Originally a photographer and location manager/producer in the film industry in Toronto, Robbie travelled extensively before settling in Vancouver in 2003 and joining the front-of-house team at Chambar. It was Robbie’s single-minded commitment to being a consummate host that held him in good stead when he launched Café Medina and quickly established the quaint café as a hotspot for Vancouverites and visitors alike due to its eclectic, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and inviting, bistro-style atmosphere. In a serendipitous, full-circle twist of fate, it was here where Kane met his future wife, Medina, who was drawn to the eponymous café.
Robbie isn’t just interested in serving a meal at Café Medina. He and his staff pride themselves on “feeding the soul of each one of his guests by providing them with sustenance in every way, shape and form” — through exemplary service, old-world charm and Kane’s pioneering attitude towards café culture.
CHRISTOPHER WEST | EXECUTIVE CHEF
Taking the helm of the Café Medina kitchen is not only an opportunity for Christopher West to continue bolstering the reputation of one of Vancouver’s most beloved brunch destinations but also align himself with a team that embodies his local-centric culinary philosophy.
An Edmonton ex-pat, West stayed true to his family name and headed out to Whistler at the age of 21 to hit the slopes and continue his back-of-house training at The Mountain Club. After a spell in the resort town, he came to Vancouver and took on the role of Chef de Cuisine as part of the opening team at Homer St. Cafe and Bar in 2013, where he helped the eatery land a coveted spot on OpenTable’s list of the Top 100 Restaurants in Canada.
“I think the desire that people have lately to know where their food comes from is truly inspiring both as a chef and a diner,” says West. “It falls exactly in line with the culinary principles that we are proud to showcase on a daily basis at Café Medina.”
