Where does a story on Vikram Vij start?
Is it with him as a neophyte entrepreneur, ringing in a fictitious $2 sale of naan at the end of a day so he could feel good about meeting the daily $100-mark needed to financially survive at his first 16-seat restaurant in Vancouver?
Is it watching the highly successful chef be as naturally at ease in front of television cameras as he is greeting patrons one by one at Vijs?
But after listening to Vijs talk at a recent Creative Mornings gathering at W2 Media Café, the most pressing issue for a journalist is not how to start the story. Instead, as one of his stories flows into another, each as compelling and smart and entertaining, the question becomes, How can this story ever end? How will it be possible not to squeeze in one more anecdote or bon mot?
After all, this is a man who can quote Gandhi about the quest to stay humble and then respond to a question about why he turned down an offer to open a restaurant in Las Vegas by saying, Why would you go to Vegas? Like, fuck.
And, when hes explaining his lifelong quest to introduce the world to the rich and nuanced flavors of Indian cuisine, he says, There is more to Indian food than butter chicken. But then he cant help but add, You know what pancakes are to a white person? Thats what butter chicken is to me.
Thats the thing about Creative Mornings. Once a month it lets you start your day by feeding both your mind and stomach. Its team of volunteers finds fascinating speakers the Vancouver line-up has included designer Omer Arbel and dancer Crystal Pite and asks a sponsor to pay for the delicious breakfast. (Think of it as Pecha Kucha for the breakfast crowd.)
Founded in New York, its now spread to cities around the world. Designer Mark Busse brought it to Vancouver last year with the premise that We are all awesome people and lets be awesome together.
Theres no charge to attend. A few days before the event (which is the first Friday of the month), you go to CreativeMorningsVancouver.Eventbrite.com to get your free ticket. But you have to be fast. The 150 tickets are given away in three batches. You print out your ticket and bring it to W2 Media Cafe the morning of.
The cafés doors open at 8:30am, you grab breakfast a bevy of delicious baked goods and hot items such as frittata take it to the auditorium to snag your seat and then chow down while you wait for the talk to begin. They get you out the door and back to work at 10 feeling enriched and enlivened.
The next Creative Mornings speaker is artist Jeff Hamada, creator of Booooooom.com. Its Nov. 2 at Media 2 café. Tickets become available at 11am on October 29. Go to CreativeMornings.com or CreativeMorningsVancouver.Tumblr.com for details.
