Lina Caschetto spent seven years working in restaurants in France before opening the sandwich shop of your dreams in Vancouver’s Chinatown, Say Hey Cafe and Deli. When she’s not behind the counter, you can find the chef/owner channeling her contagious energy and culinary expertise into foodie collabs and pop-ups around town. (Colleagues in France used to call her “the Flying Chef” because she was everywhere, all the time, doing everything.) In the rare moments she has to actually feed herself, here’s where Caschetto lands.
Magari by Oca
1260 Commercial Dr.
Right before 5 p.m., there’s always a long line-up at Magari by Oca, the reimagined fresh pasta resto previously known as Oca Pastificio. “I was so heartbroken by the loss of Greg [Dilabio, the late chef and co-owner]. It’s incredible to see the team’s resilience and what they’ve been able to continue to create, on such a high level,” says Caschetto. Her tip: avoid line-ups by going later, around 8:30 or 9. “We’ll get a few plates of pasta, maybe a negroni. Eating out doesn’t have to be about breaking the bank. It should be about feeling nourished—not just with food, with the vibe and experience too. They do that so well.”
Ocean Park Pizza
12822 16 Ave., Surrey
“I’ve been eating here since I was a kid. We’d always get the pepperoni, green pepper and mushroom pizza—my dad’s favourite. When you get it to go, they give you a little bun in the centre of the pizza so it doesn’t collapse. I just love that! The nostalgia. It’s like that classic Greek pan crust, oregano-y tomato sauce, caramelized mozzarella, then super-thin sliced mushrooms on top of the sauce, and an oily crust. I’m always chasing that. There’s no pizza like it.”
The Patty Shop
4019 Macdonald St.
This tiny Jamaican patty shop on the West Side is an epic quick-stop snack spot. “The spicy meat is my favourite patty of all time—I could eat a thousand! But the curry chicken is very good too.” Does she get the big frozen bags to-go, we ask? “I would if I had freezer space… But mine’s full of me doing life mise en place. I make big batches of food and freeze it so my future self can just heat it up. It’s like I have my own freezer section!”
Hawker’s Delight
4127 Main St.
For Singaporean-Malaysian cuisine, this Main Street staple is her go-to. “I remember someone taking me back in the day and I had their chicken curry—I’d never eaten anything like that before. It was mind-blowing. Big fan of their nasi goreng: the flavour hits just the way I want it to. I also love the stuffed tofu puff dish with bean sprout, cucumber and peanut sauce.”
Merci Boulangerie
2879 Commercial Dr.
Although baker/owner Natalie Cumberbirch and Caschetto both lived and worked in Paris restaurants around the same time, they never met until back in Vancouver. “I go here all the time, mostly on the weekends ‘cause that’s when she has the bread. The focaccia is good; the baguettes are excellent. Having lived in France for so long, it’s really hard to find good bread here.”
Ramen Danbo
1833 W 4th Ave.
Yes, there’s always a line-up, but it’s worth it. “It’s one of the only ramen spots where I eat the whole thing. All the broth, all the noodles, everything. It’s so delicious, I can’t stop.” She goes for a spicy bowl of Original Rekka ramen, which gets its heat from a Japanese chili pepper powder.
Duffin’s Donuts
1391 E 41st Ave.
Ah, this old classic—the open-24/7 icon of our times, Duffin’s. “We love getting their spicy chicken and I usually get it with rice and a side of gravy,” laughs Caschetto. “Now that’s a weird one for you!”
33 Acres
5 W 8th Ave.
“It’s always a vibe there!” says Caschetto of the Vanmag Readers’ Choice for Best Brewery. “Their beer is my favourite and I love that they have popcorn and chips and dip. The staff are all so nice; I really appreciate that. It’s like Cheers. Everyone knows your name.” Caschetto’s sip of choice: 33 Acres of Sunshine French blanche.
L.A. Chicken
11780 Thorpe Rd, Richmond
Speaking of fried chicken… “If I have to do a delivery in Richmond, I’ll usually pick up a big bucket of chicken and fries for my staff. Always the coleslaw. Then it feels like I’m not eating, just, a ton of fries. It just cuts it a little bit. And I always get gravy.”
Annabelle’s
620 Quebec St.
Just-opened by Annabelle Choi in Chinatown, this bakery is mere steps away from Say Hey (which is “life-changing” for the sandwich shop team). “I love a little hojicha latte with oat milk and a plain croissant. And Annabelle’s starting to ramp up gelato; her flavours are amazing and unconventional. For example, she made one for the Light Up Chinatown! festival that was plum blossom and Scottish shortbread.” Umm, yum.
