A group of esteemed Vancouver Island chefs and restaurateurs has come together with a shared goal: to strengthen community, celebrate regional ingredients, and help define Vancouver Island’s evolving culinary identity.
The Island Restaurant Collective (IRC) is a chef-led collaboration founded on friendship, mutual respect, and a belief that Vancouver Island has something truly special to offer the world of food.
What began as a late-night conversation between peers has grown into an initiative focused on connection and collaboration, particularly supporting one another through the unique challenges of running restaurants across a wide, often remote region, while sharing stories that reflect the Island’s landscapes, farms, fisheries, and creative talent.
“The Island Restaurant Collective is about bringing together chefs who share a love for Vancouver Island and its ingredients,” says Warren Barr, chef and co-owner of Pluvio in Ucluelet and a founding member of the IRC. “We want to celebrate the creativity, dedication, and stories of the people who grow, fish, and craft the food that makes this island so special. Together, we can show what our culinary community can achieve.”
Current members of the Island Restaurant Collective include:
- Pluvio restaurant + rooms (Ucluelet): Warren Barr & Lily Verney-Downey
- Wild Mountain (Sooke): Oliver Kienast & Brooke Fader
- Fox & Monocle Café (North Saanich): Tracie Zahavich & Ross Bowles
- Uchida Eatery (Victoria): Yasu Uchida
- Ugly Duckling (Victoria): Corbin Mathany
More restaurants are expected to become IRC members soon.
“We’re constantly inspired by the ingredients and landscapes around us,” says Corbin Mathany, chef and owner of Ugly Duckling in Victoria’s historic Chinatown. “The IRC is a chance to celebrate Vancouver Island’s culinary voice together, and to create opportunities to share it beyond the Island.”
Island Restaurant Collective dinner in Calgary, AB: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
The Island Restaurant Collective is headed to Calgary for its first off-island collaborative dinner event. Hosted by the acclaimed Deane House in partnership with Calgary’s iconic River Café, the evening will showcase Vancouver Island ingredients and the creativity of the collective’s chefs.
The dinner takes place on Wednesday, March 4 at 6 pm, and will begin with a welcome cocktail and canapés, followed by a six-course dinner. Guests can choose optional wine pairings or a non-alcoholic beverage pairing. The guest chefs from Pluvio, Fox & Monocle, Wild Mountain, and Ugly Duckling will also share Island stories throughout the evening.
Dinner is $216 per guest plus GST. The price includes fees and service gratuity.
More information and reservations are available here.
