We had gotten wind of this possibility back in December – see the post: Is Rob Feenie Joining The Cactus Club? – but now it’s official. Vancouver’s best known celebrity chef has signed on with the CFD chain as their “Food Concept Architect” (dumbest. title. ever). The Vancouver Sun has the full gush gush here.
But wait a sec…remember the Sun last month?
KILL THE FEENIE RUMOURS: Also on [UrbanDiner.ca], there’s talk of a “persistent rumour” that has Rob Feenie joining Cactus Club in some capacity and a corollary rumour that Cactus Club will be purchasing Feenie’s from current owners David and Manjy Sidoo. Feenie says uh-uh. “I’ve been approached by, oh God, a zillion people, but I don’t have anything going. I’m just on holidays. I have to sort out the stuff with David Sidoo before doing anything. I’ve had about 25 different offers but I can’t talk to anyone right now because of my contract with him. I’ve been in Maui. I’ll be heading to Winnipeg and then Palm Springs. Nothing’s going on,” he said, when phoned.
Well, pooh. Good luck to you Rob! You have your work cut out for you.
Update: Your thoughts and the press release after the leap…
Cactus Restaurants Ltd. Welcomes Chef Rob Feenie as New Food Concept Architect
Vancouver BC, February 5, 2008 – Cactus Restaurants Ltd. today announced the appointment of Chef Rob Feenie to its senior executive team as the new Food Concept Architect. Canada’s first Iron Chef will work with the senior management team to shape the restaurants’ growth and product development, creating innovative new dishes and continuously improving long time favourites.
“We are excited and thrilled to have one of Canada’s top chefs join our team. Chef Feenie shares our vision and passion for excellence in the restaurant industry,” said Richard Jaffray, President and CEO of Cactus Restaurants Ltd. “Our team of chefs and management is looking forward to working closely with Chef Feenie to create an exceptional food and dining experience for all of our customers.”
Chef Feenie will also be closely involved in the training and development of young chefs with Cactus Club Cafe, one of the largest employers of chef apprentices in Western Canada. His appointment is immediate.
“I am excited to be working with a British Columbia-based company that is as visionary as Cactus Restaurants,” said Chef Feenie. “An industry leader, Cactus demonstrates its industry leadership through its affiliation with both the Green Table Network and Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program. The company’s globally inspired menu and status as one of Canada’s top employers are indicators of its dedication to excellence. I am really looking forward to being a part of the Cactus team.”
In semi-related news, a traveling blogger from LA shat on Feenies this morning:
January 30th at Feenies on Broadway – Used to be a very good restaurant – rumors had it that they no longer had Chef Robert Feenie – dinner was terrible. We ordered arctic char and received salmon – no explanations – thought we won’t notice the difference – In all my times at this restaurant – this was the worse [sic]. I don’t recommend coming here again.
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We had this issue before, while I was still there. Someone received a rainbow trout and insisted it was salmon. We did not at that time even have salmon on the menu so there was no chance that it could’ve been done accidentally. Our guest insisted that she was a marine biologist and that our trout was in fact salmon. Eventually we just sent out a raw rainbow trout filet so she could see the skin.
She decided to have a steak instead.
gee….I thought Feenie liked White Spot……what people will do for money
I think it’s pretty lame that feenie is working for cactus club but as far as arctic char instead of salmon goes i have to agree with the second entry, having worked in the industry for years and seeing what level most patrons palates are at (had a customer today insist that dragonfruit was passionfruit, wrong!) I think that expectations play much too large a part in peoples’ experiences. Just go out and eat with an open mind and have a good time! Eating out should be fun! If it’s not fun fuck it!
There’s a punchline in there somewhere.
I’ve never understood why some people go out to eat with the mentality that the place is trying to rip them off. If you don’t trust a place, don’t go.
If you know fish, you know that char has spotted skin, and Feenie’s served it skin up. end of story.
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