VANCOUVER — Banda Volpi, the group behind Savio Volpe, La Tana, and Pepino’s, has appointed Alan Tam to executive chef of upcoming Elio Volpe. While Tam works alongside culinary director Phil Scarfone on menu development, guests can enjoy an early taste of his work in the kitchen at Osteria Savio Volpe.
After attending The Art Institute, Tam worked up the kitchen ranks, from stages to stints at renowned Vancouver institutions. Over the course of his 15-year career, Tam was trained and mentored by some of the city’s most respected culinary leaders, including Scarfone, Kristian Eligh, Bryan Satterford, Steve Ramey and Charlie Kunsang, all while building relationships with local farmers, fishers and foragers, for the opportunity to cook with the freshest, highest quality materie prime.
Tam was most recently executive chef at downtown Vancouver’s Nightingale Restaurant, as well as part of the opening team with Scarfone.
“Alan is a true professional — a rock-solid cook and a human being of the highest order. He’s a grinder, a softy, a hard-ass and a stickler for details,” says Scarfone. “He and I have a chemistry and team dynamic fostered by working side by side for years. I can’t wait to jump into this next chapter with Alan and the team at Elio this winter.”
“Banda Volpi’s vision and drive to showcase the region’s best ingredients is inspiring and I’m excited to be a part of the team,” says Tam. “I’m also excited to re-unite with my friend and mentor, Phil Scarfone, and I look forward to bringing a farm-to-table experience to the up-and-coming Cambie Village neighbourhood.”
