Sobo (Sophisticated Bohemian) started out in 2003 as a purple food truck in the parking lot behind a surf shop, way before food trucks were cool. Despite its remoteness, it attracted rave reviews from food media across North America, with the likes of Saveur magazine calling it: "perhaps the most exciting lunch stand in North America". The back of the staff's t-shirts read: "Quite possibly the second best thing you can do in a parking lot"--and that same fun, authentic West Coast vibe weaves throughout the stories and recipes in this book.
Sobo has since become a destination restaurant, having outgrown its food truck beginnings, with visitors making the pilgrimage to the west coast of Vancouver Island just to taste chef Lisa Ahier's cooking--which is, to use Tofino slang, simply "killer". The restaurant's menu focuses on locally-sourced, seasonally-inspired ingredients from family-owned producers. The dishes are shaped by Lisa's Tex Mex and Southwestern culinary roots, and her experience gained across several US states, including her stint as executive chef of Cibolo Creek Ranch in Texas.
The Sobo Cookbook includes over 100 of the restaurant's all-time favourite recipes--recipes that have fed surfers, hungry locals, curious visitors and die-hard foodies alike.

Lisa Ahier's profile page

Andrew Morrison's profile page

• Winner, Taste Canada Food Writing Awards – Regional/Cultural Cookbooks
• Short-listed, BC Book Prize's Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award
• Winner, Gourmand World Cookbook Award – Woman Chef

Praise for Sobo:

"Sobo lives up to its name attracting a blend of surfers, ecotourists and locals enjoying CIA grad Lisa's flavorful take on Vancouver Island ingredients." --Gourmet

"I could eat there every day." --Vancouver Sun

"Lisa is one of Canada's top chefs...Her food is adventurous, street smart, dripping with freshness, local character and drop dead top of the line flavor." --Calgary Herald

Praise for The Sobo Cookbook:

“Of all the places I have had the privilege to visit and cook, SoBo is one of my favourites. Lisa Ahier is a truly talented chef with so much passion and heart. In this book, she shares her delicious recipes, along with stunning photography and stories that encapsulate the beauty of Vancouver Island. I can’t wait to cook them all!” --Lynn Crawford, Food Network host, Cookbook Author & Chef/Owner of Ruby Watchco

“Lisa Ahier’s passion for the West Coast truly shines at SoBo, making it a culinary destination. She has created recipes that elevate simple, fresh ingredients into balanced, flavorful dishes. I applaud her imaginative, energetic and humble nature as a chef, and highly respect her commitment to using the best local ingredients.” --Chef Rob Feenie, Cactus Restaurants Ltd.

“Having cooked with Lisa in SoBo’s beautiful kitchen, I can attest that their food is as tasty as it looks. This book is an inspiration. Namaste.” --Vikram Vij, Cookbook Author & Chef/Owner of Vij’s

“The SoBo Cookbook showcases authentic flavors from SoBo’s own fresh, local menu, and captures the lifestyle and beauty of Tofino through the amazing photography of Jeremy Koreski. It’s been over ten years since I tasted my first fish taco out of the purple truck; SoBo may have changed locations since then, but the food tastes just as good.” --Peter Devries, Canadian Surf Champion