6 minute read
TOAST TO COAST
A little over a year ago, Toast to Coast arrived on Steveston’s brunch scene and has gained a significant following. It is common to see lineups outside the popular little restaurant as people eagerly await a Korean fusion brunch.
Brian Cho and Marian Yoon are the restaurant’s owners. Marian prefers the title “creative director” as she works behind the scenes to bring forth new ideas and implements menu curation, marketing, and design. Brian is Toast to Coast’s executive chef and oversees the culinary team and kitchen management.
As a single mother of two children, Marian gave up her career as an occupational therapist and moved to Canada in 2007. She was exhausted from her busy life and wanted to take a break.
She explains, “That break turned into a long-haul journey, and here I am doing something I had never thought I could do, and I love it! I’ve always thought of my job as someone who takes a load off our customers; who likes having to cook and clean up? We also provide them with delicious food and a great experience.”
Brian’s father immigrated to Canada in the 1980s as a chef. Brian grew up seeing him cook a variety of cuisines.
He says, “Although I was a junior tennis player and wanted to pursue that dream for a while, I quickly realized my true passion lay in the culinary field. When my father opened one of the first sushi restaurants in Vancouver in 2002, I became his apprentice and started my journey as a chef.”
They have extensive experience in the restaurant industry, having opened their first sushi restaurant in 2010 in Coquitlam. Over the last 13 years, they have had the privilege of serving Ladner, North Vancouver, Steveston and White Rock.
Marian says, "Not many people know this, but we opened Mega Sushi in Steveston. We knew we had to start something here when we visited the area. We fell in love with the sense of community, the people, and the support small business owners have for one another, and we are thrilled to be back. Over the years that we served the community, we donated over $20,000 to various charities and formed lasting relationships. Steveston has a very special place in our hearts.”
In 2022, we took a risk and pivoted to Korean cuisine and returned to our favourite neighbourhood.
The partners felt there was a shortage of places to have brunch in Steveston. Marian remarks, “When we were gearing up for the opening, many people walked in and said they were so happy to see a brunch spot, especially Korean fusion. While several restaurants serve brunch, we provide the unique twist people crave.”
“It’s so nice to be back. Some locals recognize us when they walk in, and it’s heartwarming to be remembered. Local businesses have been amazingly welcoming, sharing about us on their social media and dining in to show their support.”
K- anything is so popular these days, and we are proud to be bridging Korean cuisine with a classic brunch menu. We wanted more people to try Korean-inspired dishes that are still familiar to them.
“We pride ourselves in only using high-quality ingredients and making almost all our menu and sauces in-house. We dry-age our bacon in-house, hand-make all hash blocks and cubes (we 3-D printed the molds!), use absolutely no MSG, use non-GMO ingredients, and use real Prosecco in our pancake batter. We make all our own pickles and sauces and try our best to use locally sourced ingredients. We don’t like cutting corners and want to serve delicious food prepared with care and love.”
There isn’t a Korean restaurant in the area, so the fact that we offer Korean-inspired cuisine makes us stand out.
There are many popular menu items to choose from; one of the most requested dishes is Korean Chicken and Waffles. It’s described as a perfected waffle topped with juicy and crispy Korean-style fried chicken served with a side of maple syrup and honey-infused Korean dipping (or drizzle) sauce. Another top pick is the Korean Eggs Benny, which is bulgogi (Korean sweet beef), kimchi jam, and poached eggs served on top of hand-cut brioche buns served with hash blocks. The bulgogi marinade is an authentic Korean recipe from Brian’s father. Charlotte’s Pancakes (named after Marian’s granddaughter) are another crowd-pleaser. This stack of fluffy pancakes is made with flavours of Prosecco and is served with fresh whipped cream, seasonal fruits, and housemade strawberry coulis.
Brian’s personal favourite is the Hokey Pokey Bulgogi burger. “I love all the different textures with the juicy bulgogi, crispy onion and melted cheese. It’s super filling and well balanced.”
Marian’s favourite is the Tteok-galbi Benny. It has two Korean-style beef patties served on top of rice (instead of their usual brioche bun) with yuzu and kimchi jam and is topped with perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise.
The extensive drink menu spotlights a variety of alcoholic, non-alcoholic and coffee options. Guest favourites include matcha latte, cappuccino brûlée (torched on top!), Toast to Coast’s mimosa, and Brunch Punch.
The rewards of operating their new business are plentiful, and customers’ happy faces are at the top of the list.
Marian says, “It feels so nice to know that we can reach so many people and positively impact our community. It’s also very rewarding to serve Korean food we ate growing up.”
“If you’re new to Korean food, you’ll enjoy the twist to your classic brunch favourites, and I promise, you will want more. We extend a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us through our first year back, and we look forward to many more years of culinary adventures in Steveston,” Brian says.
Toast to Coast Brunch Bar
130-3760 Moncton Street Richmond, BC V7E 3A6
Phone 604-370-5550
Story by Sarah Gordon (Feb 2024) @PALLAMEDIA
