Uptown 21′s Nick Benninger

Nick & Nat’s Uptown 21 Food and Drink chef and co-owner Nick Benninger oversees this popular downtown-uptown Waterloo restaurant and has guided the comfortable and relaxed venue into the pages of Where to Eat in Canada and into the hearts of a loyal and growing following who care about where their food comes from and that is cooked imaginatively and thoughtfully.

He is a proponent of using local ingredients wherever possible, but Benninger’s primary touchstone is that the food he cooks must be what he calls “real” food.

Waterloo Region Eats caught up with Benninger recently and posed to him these questions …

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WREats: Best thing you’ve ever eaten?
NB: A two inch thick rib eye from Charles Quality Meats, salt and pepper crusted and grilled medium rare over charcoal. I shared.

Other career you could have pursued?
NB: Rock and roll DJ.

Favourite beverage?
NB: Beer.

Beverage that once just about killed you?
NB: Jagermeister.

Chef you’d most like to meet?
NB: Anthony Bourdain. And I’m just assuming that meeting him comes with a night on the town.

Best footwear (for the kitchen or otherwise)?
NB: Birkenstocks.

Favourite ethnic food in Waterloo Region?
NB: Three-way tie: Cameron Seafood, Pupuseria Latinos, Two Goblets.

What scares you in a kitchen?
NB: Not so fresh food.

Greatest failed recipe?
NB: Ask Nat. She can give you some very passionate descriptions of my failed attempts!

Two of his favourites: Beau's beer and the Benninger beignet.

Something that gives you great pleasure?
NB: Food, may sound cheesy and little fake but i really love food, eating, cooking and sharing my passion for it.

A favourite teacher you’ve had?
NB: Terry Terpoy of Lo Presti’s at Maxwell’s. I worked under him at The Historic Edgewater Manor in Stoney Creek and he was an incredible example of what it takes to be a leader in a tough business.

Do you ride a bike?
NB: Yes, I love mountain biking–only sport that can truly distract me from the day to day.

Good or bad, name a moment in your life you’d like to have back?
NB: Would love to re-experience the birth of my two daughters. Moments like that are too perfect to not want another chance to experience it  (of course without the dirty diapers and sleepless nights).

Where were you born?
NB: Grand River Hospital.

Favourite band?
NB: Rolling Stones; solo artist = Neil Young.

Who would you like to cook for?
NB: Would love to cook for Martin Picard. A meal at Au Pied De Cochon changed our lives and inspired us to open Uptown 21. Would be an honor to show him what that dinner lead to and discuss the power of cheese curd whipped potatoes!

The thing you wish for Waterloo Region?
NB: To continue to grow and evolve as a culinary community (and to put aside its love for cookie cutter big box restaurants and tryout and support all the amazing independent spots).

Go-to late-night snack?
NB: Nachos. Was the first food I fell in love with making and still my fav!

Best thing about being a chef?
NB: I fit in! What else could I do for a living?

Most dumbest purchase you’ve ever made?
NB: “The Smoking Gun.” Concept: A device used to blow smoke over foods, you can trap it in an upside-down glass for cool presentations.Reality: it was cool when it worked, too tedious and precious for our kitchen, put us in the weeds big time. In an open kitchen you never really want to look stupid but I did just that, and it cost me almost $200 to do so!

Favourite city?
NB: Montreal, so far.

TV chefs who annoy you?
NB: Most of them, but I’m awfully judgmental and mostly like to think it should be me on TV and not them. But, seriously, the chef judges from Chopped should be removed and medicated!

Would you describe yourself as sweet or savoury?
NB: Savoury for sure. Ask Nat.

Benninger preps some Jerusalem artichokes on the mandoline.