Gudrun's is considered a hidden gem by many local foodies, but its owner Patrick Tubajon aims to become a little less hidden and let people know "we are more than just cheese."
With a new chef, new menu and new design the Steveston establishment is hoping the changes will bring in a whole new customer base.
"Change is really important, you know, shake things up," said Tubajon. "That's what we are based on here - bespoke food, which means food catered to you."
Known to most as the place to get wine and cheese platters and tucked in a little alley on Moncton Street, Gudrun's theme now is "bespoke", with local food playing a big part in their menu.
"It's based on how we shop, what we find fresh at butchers, farms, vineyards, cheese shops, all local stuff," said Tubajon.
Speaking of the menu, you usually won't see the same thing twice as new chef Paul Finlay likes to change it up often to keep things fresh and exciting.
"Sometimes we'll run specials for a few days but for the most part it changes," said Finlay. "It's not like we're coming up with brand new things every day, we have specials that we've done and are popular so we keep bringing them back and rotating them.
"There is one dish that will probably never come off the menu which is the sticky toffee pudding." He added.
Finlay is a veteran of the restaurant industry, working as a chef for more than 20 years. He met Tubajon back when they both worked at the Alibi Room in Downtown Vancouver. When Tubajon was looking for a new chef, he knew exactly who to call.
Some examples of the ever-changing menu include slow braised beef shank spaghetti with leeks, slow cooked pork with bacon and cheddar polenta, and Albacore tuna tartare with sweet pepper and olive caponata.
Tubajon moved to Richmond from Vancouver at the age of seven and has been here ever since.
Gudrun has been in business for four and a half years and plans to be here for a long time to come.
When asked why people who have never been should come on by to Gudrun, he only had this to say.
"Comfort food at it's finest." For more information you can visit gudrun.ca, facebook.com/ gudruntastingroom and Twitter at iheartgudrun.
