by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Dwayne Gatacre

Age: 41

Occupation: Assistant head chef

Bio: This amicable Villeray stud was visiting Montreal while on vacation some 10 years ago when, while out drinking in a bar, he came across the head of the kitchen staff at the Old Brewery Mission affiliated Maison Roger Beaulieu. A B.C. native anxiously looking for an opportunity to relocate here, by the end of the evening, Dwayne, who at the time was actively employed cooking “simple food” in a late-night Vancouver diner, had scored himself a primo gig as assistant head chef at the homeless men’s centre. He’s been working there ever since. “I certainly don’t do this for the money, but the benefits are good and, well, I’ve had cancer three times, so their health care program is very important to me personally. But also, when you see people who’ve been down on their luck out working again, it makes you feel good knowing you’ve done something for them.”

If and when Maison Roger Beaulieu diners actually get their lives together, do they ever come back and thank him for all the amazing meals he served them when they were all fucked up? “Yes, occasionally, but if you wished for that all the time you would be very depressed.”

Has he ever been homeless himself? No.

Do people ever turn their nose up at his cooking? Sort of a “What, d’you think we’re animals here, where’s the goddamn foie gras?” type thing? “Oh no, they don’t complain too much because I’m a very good cook. Of course, there’s always going to be the odd complaint, but in the past month-and-a-half I haven’t had even one.”

What’s generally on the menu? “Well, tonight we’re serving pork chops with mashed potatoes and gravy, along with several types of dessert. They eat pretty healthy here. We’re dependent on donations, but we try and keep it as healthy as we can.”

What goes over bigger at La Maison Roger Beaulieu, organic multi-grain bread or Wonderbread? “Wonderbread, of course.”

Can people come back for seconds? Yes.

Do people ever stop by with donations consisting of the remains of their half-eaten apple or last night’s leftover Kraft Dinner? “Yes, every once in awhile, but that always goes straight into the garbage. I won’t serve anything that I wouldn’t eat myself.”

Are diners obliged to say grace for all the good things God has given them before being allowed to eat their pork chops? “No, no, no, we’ve nothing to do with religion here.”

Best part of his gig: “Seeing people succeed.”

Worst: “I guess it can be depressing here sometimes. You do see a lot of people who are really down on their luck. You learn to deal with it though.”

Musical preferences: Shania Twain, Tim McGraw.

Last book read: “I’m not a big reader at all, I’m more of a TV fanatic. And the newspaper is just too depressing for me.”

Fave TV shows: Law & Order, CSI.

Words of wisdom: “Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.”

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