Stir Bedside Table: French-born Vancouver chef Johann Caner
Leading Honey Salt restaurant, the culinary artist talks Le Petit Prince, Bob Marley, and mushrooms
Johann Caner.
Stir Bedside Table is a column where Stir connects with local artists and creatives to hear about some of their favourite reads.
The reader:
Johann Caner
Honey Salt.
What’s your story?
My name is Johann Caner, executive chef of Honey Salt. [The restaurant at Parq Vancouver serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, an all-day menu and kids’ menu, Happy Hour, Rosé All Day and more; special features include a Sunday Pasta Table and a Granville Island Market Celebration. The focus across the board is on soulful, comforting, farm-to-fork cuisine. It’s also famous for its Society Chocolate and Banana Cake.] Born and raised in France, I studied culinary arts for four years in Paris and worked in dining rooms as a server and later a director for 15 years. I became a chef seven years ago when my son was born.
Always passionate about food and creating a culinary experience for the guest, I learned a lot just by watching and listening to the great chefs I worked with. Their advice still guides me to this day.
Today at Honey Salt with the support of Jason Labahn and my team, we put an emphasis on quality and local ingredients. We believe in local producers to create seasonal menus. We want to bring colour and comfort to the plate in a way that activates all the senses. I’m particularly excited about the addition of more vegetarian options this summer, as I am a vegetarian and want everyone to see just how incredible simple vegetables can be when prepared right.
What's on your bedside table right now?
As a reader I always like to have two or three books available. Right now on my bed side is Held by the Land: A Guide to Indigenous Plants for Wellness by Leigh Joseph. A perspective on and knowledge of Indigenous herbalism, from a Squamish author.
There’s also Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake. Passionate about mushrooms, I think this book is essential to understand them.
A book that changed your life?
Le Petit Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
I always found it a fascinating story as a child, and I’m really happy to be able to read it to my son. There are so many different ways to interpret this book as a child or as growing man. The complexity of the characters, the philosophy of the story, a wonderful poetic book for all ages, you just have to understand it or interpret it in your way.
Most inspiring biography or autobiography?
I always read a lot of biographies of Bob Marley, and the last one was by French editor Alexandre Rondeau, Bob Marley: Universal Hero.
Bob Marley has inspired me lot, spiritually and professionally, and helped me in my routine day to day—staying focused on life but always being happy and enjoying what you do as a gift; to never lose ambition; to reach your goals and trust in yourself.
Best beach-read?
Always related to the kitchen. I'm reading right now Bourdain, The Definitive Oral Biography by Laurie Woolever.
Honey Salt.
Working title of your autobiography?
Honey Salt.
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