A redefined White Spot

By Kevin Wilson
Managing Editor

VANCOUVER—It’s easy for White Spot president Warren Erhart to see the future of his iconic West Coast eatery chain.

A spanking-new prototype, expected to be the template for future White Spots, recently opened just a stone’s throw away from White Spot’s head office on Marine Drive, and Erhart said new-look restaurant is another step in the chain’s evolution.

“It’s our latest version of the White Spot,” said Erhart. “We’ve refined it and changed from a rustic look to a bit more of a contemporary look,” he added.

The new design features extensive use of brick interior elements and a cozy fireplace as a focal point, blending the rustic feel of the B.C. Interior with the coastal feel of the Lower Mainland.

Now in its 80th year of operation, White Spot’s history often mirrors that of the province where it was founded and now has more than 60 locations, and the new-look White Spot is no exception. In addition to an updated dining room appearance, the chain’s menu has also come in for an update that focuses more heavily on the White Spot’s West Coast history.

 “There’s a half-dozen new menu items, some new appetizers, and some pizza items. That meant we had to also change the kitchen layout,” said Erhart.

White Spot corporate chef Chuck Currie teamed up with award-winning chef John Bishop to develop the chain’s summer menu that has a stronger emphasis on fresh, organic ingredients, as well as a nod to the Pacific Rim, with clear Asian influences.

For example, a halibut stir-fry on the menu comes with baby bok choy, organic carrots, celery, served in a ginger-infused black been oyster sauce over jasmine rice. Another Asian-influenced dish developed by Bishop is a chicken curry dish, complete with naan bread, mango chutney and cilantro.

Erhart said the menu upgrades reflect White Spot’s move up the foodservice food chain, from a sort of casual roadside eatery-type of operation to a more elegant, family-casual dining experience.

“We try to have a really good finger on the pulse with the public and what they’re looking for,” said Erhart.

A further two outlets based on the new prototype are expected to open in the Greater Vancouver Regional District over the next six months.