Nested within Vancouver's historical architecture, the foundation of Brioche has been built with homemade food and humble generosity since 2003. Our warm service and setting is perfectly paired to our casual gourmet take on traditional Italian flavours.
When Eduardo Bilardello opened Brioche Urban Eatery & Catering in Gastown in 2003, his was the only restaurant in the emerging neighbourhood. Originally from Palermo, Sicily, Eduardo had moved to Vancouver 12 years earlier to teach at a culinary institute in the city.
“It was time to start something of my own,” he recalls. “I hired some of the students from the institute, and I opened Brioche in Gastown, which was not the trendy spot it is today. It was a bit scary, because I was one of the few people venturing into this neighbourhood, which was a bit rundown at the time.”
He was pleasantly surprised, though, to watch his business flourish. “What I started was a much smaller business, because people that worked in the area needed a place to get soups and sandwiches for lunch,” he says, “I never expected it to grow this much, but I had great support from the neighbourhood as soon as I opened.”
Brioche has grown alongside Vancouver’s restaurant scene, and Eduardo has had a ringside seat from which to watch it all unfold. “I’ve seen the culinary arts evolve in Vancouver over the years, and it’s been great,” he says, “Back when we opened, there were many things that people couldn’t get in Vancouver. Even finding some of the ingredients I use wasn’t possible. Now, Vancouver is one of the best places in the world to dine out. I’m very happy to be here and to have been part of that change, and to have learned from it, too.”
