About
People
A Passion That Inspires Us
Sal Howell, Founder and Proprietor
British born and educated on both sides of the Atlantic, Sal holds a Fine Arts Degree from Mount Allison University. Both as an artist and restaurateur, her natural style and palate for extraordinary local food have come together in her restaurants.
Sal has been recognized both nationally and internationally for her dedication and persistence in forging new paths to sustainability and for her contributions to Canadian cuisine.
Sal was awarded Independent Restaurateur of the Year 2009 at the Food Service & Hospitality Pinnacle Awards, Best Restaurateur 2014 at the Terroir Symposium Awards for Excellence in Hospitality, and Leader of Sustainability Award 2010 from The City of Calgary, and Earth Day Canada’s Hometown Hero’s Award 2016, and received The Laurie Masterson Award 2016 from Women Chefs and Restaurateurs. YWCA’s ‘She Who Dares’ 2017.
River Café has numerous accolades including, Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants, Best Overall Restaurant, Avenue Magazine and Where Magazine, WHERE Magazine Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood Award for dedicated effort in supporting the Ocean conservation, and inclusion in the international publication ‘The 1001 restaurants you must experience before you die’.
“We make very deliberate choices about how we source local ingredients, and champion producers who care for the land as a renewable resource. We also make very conscious decisions on how we operate. We have created practices to address our source and use of energy and resources, and how we dispose of waste and unwanted materials.”
Bruce Soley, Sommelier and Cellar Manager
Executive Chef Scott MacKenzie
Executive Chef Scott MacKenzie’s passion for sustainability is at the forefront and his dedication to Canadian cuisine, driven by ingredients indigenous to the region.
Inspired by River Café’s mantra of ‘How local can we be?’, Scott’s daily focus at the restaurant is creating a sustainable menu that involves seasonal ingredients, working directly with local growers, foragers and farmers and maintaining environmental practices that continue to reduce River Café’s carbon footprint.
His menu is unconventionally artistic and deliberately highlights local organic produce, Oceanwise seafood and free-range animals raised without added by products or antibiotics. He continually showcases River Café’s culinary garden by using the native herbs, berries and edible flowers grown on the restaurant’s property.
Bruce has been a familiar face for guests and a savvy guide to River Café’s wine list since 1999. A graduate of The International Sommelier Guild, Bruce continues to expand his vast knowledge through regular tasting, reading and—lucky him—travel in wine country. Bruce enjoys maintaining the list’s quality and diversity and believes that the most important part of his job is listening to guests to help them discover new favourites. Like any wine aficionado, his personal preferences change daily depending on mood, temperature, season, time of day and of course, what is on his plate.
BEST OF AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 2017 – Wine Spectator
BEST WINE LIST 2014 – Vancouver International Wine Festival
