i. Biography
JC Poirier works Vancouver’s dining room circuit with a style built on exacting repetition and a clear point of view. At Ask For Luigi, that means the restaurant is run with the steadiness of a chef-owner who knows how to keep a room grounded. At St. Lawrence, where he is Executive Chef and owner, the same approach has earned wider notice. The Michelin Guide’s one star for St. Lawrence recognizes what the cooking already makes plain: control, character, and a tight handle on detail.
The Path
Technique in this career was shaped early at Rob Feenie's restaurant Lumière, where JC Poirier worked before his name carried more weight in Vancouver. That experience sits at the start of a line that would move from learning the room to helping define it. By 2013, he was already attached to two of the city’s most closely watched tables: Ask For Luigi, where he is chef-owner / co-owner, and St. Lawrence, where he is Executive Chef and owner. The throughline is accumulation rather than splash—skill, instinct, and the ability to make a plate read clearly.
The Work Today
At Ask For Luigi, the Executive Chef and chef-owner role keeps the kitchen disciplined without pushing it into stiffness. At St. Lawrence in Vancouver, the Executive Chef and owner position carries a more personal weight, but the method stays direct. "I don’t want to call it French or Québécois. St. Lawrence will be a reflection of myself and the things I like." That framing is useful: the work is not about fitting a label, but about building a menu from preference, memory, and control.
Signature
The signature dishes associated with JC Poirier show a kitchen that likes familiar flavors with a hard edge: anchovies & eggs, fried cauliflower and ceci, fried pork rinds with maple syrup and Montreal steak spice, and éclairs filled with duck liver mousse. These combinations work because they keep one foot in comfort and the other in surprise. Richness is checked by restraint, and the contrast does the lifting.
In Their Words “The food was French but on steroids, playing by the rules of French cooking but also breaking them, amplifying traditional French flavours but embracing local ingredients.” “I don’t want to call it French or Québécois. St. Lawrence will be a reflection of myself and the things I like.”
Acclaim
JC's honors include One Michelin Star and Chef of the Year. Taken together, they mark a career that has earned attention for consistency, identity, and a kitchen language that holds its shape. Return JSON {"page_md": "..."}
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of JC
What is JC Poirier's current role?
As of 2026, JC Poirier is Executive Chef.
Where did JC Poirier work before?
JC Poirier's earlier career included Lumière.
What recognition has JC Poirier received?
One Michelin Star (2022).
