At Tapestry, we believe food is the backdrop to the stories of our lives. When we break bread, we share moments that become memories. Given the importance of food to individual experience, we are very intentional about sourcing ingredients and about how food is prepared and served.

Chef Christopher Krogh, who is the Executive Chef at Tapestry at Victoria Harbour, has worked to build and maintain good relationships with suppliers to help bring local, seasonal, fresh and nutritious food to Tapestry’s dining experiences.

Chef Chris says using local ingredients is important to him for a number of reasons. “It’s better for the environment, and it’s more sustainable,” he says. “Chemicals and pesticides are not good for the environment or for the body. By building relationships with our suppliers, I can understand their products and how they are produced. And in turn, they better understand what I’m looking for,” he adds.

Chef Chris, who joined Tapestry in 2021 as Sous Chef and has been Executive Chef for the last year, has a rich history of high-end dining experience but his education about ingredients and where they come from started when he worked at a Calgary, Alberta butcher shop as a teenager. “That’s where I learned about different cuts of meat and butchering techniques,” he says.

After attending culinary school in Denmark, Chef Chris apprenticed under an award-winning French chef in London. He then followed his mentor to Michelin-star eatery Roussillon where he eventually became Sous Chef. Vancouver restaurant fans will recognize Chambar, Raincity Grill and the Teahouse in Stanley Park as restaurants where Chef Chris continued to hone his talents before joining Tapestry.

Chef Chris now has a list of Victoria area-based, British Columbia and Canadian suppliers that he has nurtured, including 63 Acres in the Okanagan which supplies organic beef steaks, Victoria-based roasters Canterbury Coffee, and Lockwood Farms which supplies organic eggs and vegetables to Tapestry’s kitchen.

One of his key suppliers is Better Seafood Supply, local seafood retailers and wholesalers who embrace the responsibility of preserving our marine ecosystems while providing the finest, ethically sourced seafood.

Anne Best, who co-owns Better Seafood Supply with her husband Greg, says the couple started out their careers fishing and have always understood the importance of the integrity of the wild stock. “As we transitioned from fishing to marketing seafood, we were no longer responsible for sourcing everything that we sold. We’ve always had a choice as to what we’re going to sell, and we’re not going to bring things in that do not align with our values,” she says.

Anne says she appreciates that Tapestry is making the right choices when sourcing food for their restaurants, and she feels that Chef Chris has taken that responsibility to heart. “Something that comes out of the ocean – when it’s properly sourced and sold – is just about as pure protein as you can get,” she says.

Anne also says she and her husband appreciate that Tapestry orders their products year-round, as selling seafood can be somewhat of a seasonal business. And, she says, Chef Chris has surprised her with a few of his orders. “He likes the opportunity to step outside what might be the expected norms and to open the eyes of the people he’s serving a little bit – he’s not just serving salmon, halibut or sole,” she adds.

Chef Chris remembers Anne’s reaction when he ordered octopus for a special menu. “Some of our residents are more curious and more adventurous,” he says. “I like to take advantage of that and have some fun. Every night we have two features, with one being a bit more adventurous,” he adds.

All our suites at Tapestry include well-appointed kitchens where residents can prepare their own meals and snacks. For those times when you don’t feel like cooking, we’re confident you’ll enjoy a meal in one of our restaurants.

Tapestry’s menus support individual wellness by featuring culinary choices that offer delicious and nutritious options, and we also work closely with residents to help accommodate any dietary restrictions or allergies.

Dieticians review our menu selections to ensure that our varied meal choices are reflective of healthy and enticing options reflecting Canada’s Food Guide, which recommends a balanced approach with an emphasis on plant-based nutrients and high-quality proteins to support wellness. According to the guide, healthy eating can help promote and protect health and well-being and prevent or lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

The best way to explore living at Tapestry is to experience it for yourself. Please contact us to learn about our valuable move-in incentives, and we would be pleased to host you for a complimentary lunch and a tour.