We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paul Natrall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Paul , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
growing as a personal chef, loving what i do. I noticed the huge gap between indigenous food culture and other food cultures. its been a goal and mission to try change that.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am owner of Vancouvers 1st Indigenous Food Truck Mr. Bannock, and i have been focusing on Indigenous foods since 2009-2010. I grew up in the kitchen with my grandmother and mother, where my uncle was a hunter and would bring home fresh wild meats. I guess thats where my fusion style comes from, having modern dishes but with wild meats like deer, elk and moose.
I also went to the world culinary Olympics in 2o12 in Erfurt Germany and showed the world a taste of Indigenous foods on an international stage with the best around the world. I am also a founding member of a National Canadian culinary non profit, Indigenous Culinary Of Associated Nations. That was started in 2019 with like minded Indigenous chefs across canada, who took part of several huge successful event called “Taste of Turtle Island” where we bring in the chefs from across Canada and 2 from down the states. We would gather together and bring a dish, that would be one of our specialties to share, the events were held in Winnipeg, Toronto, White Horse Yukon and more and sold out each time.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
the biggest thing for myself about indigenous food ways has to be growing up in the home kitchen with my grandmothers and mom.
3 qualties that would be impactful on people to be succesful would be
1. culinary school
2. any kind of business classes, training
3. experience in the industry, one of the best things that was said to me, “try your best of with companies” and make the mistakes there. thats where you will perfect your craft.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
you cannot be succesful just as a chef. you have to be personable and a story teller. i also took many differnt business classes, marketing, hr and any other classes that i could take part time. these played a major role into getting to where i am today.
a chef who has traveled turtle island, been on many news, magazines and tv shows, recently also done a documentary with other chefs in canada called “Nourished Lands” my episode is called “Bannock Brotherhood”, it talks about my journey and also a sneak peak at some of the community work that i do with brothers across turtle island. if we dont put in that work to better ourselves, no one will.
Contact Info:
- Website: mrbannock.com
- Instagram: @mrbannockfood
- Facebook: @mrbannockfood
- Linkedin: chef paul natrall
- Twitter: @mrbannockfood
- Other: @chefpaulnatrall also on social media, i work with sodexo canada as well and create indigenous recipes for thier sites across the country,
