When the FIFA World Cup™ kicks off across North America this summer, one of British Columbia’s most flavourful tributes will be coming out of a small food truck on Vancouver Island. The truck is painted sky blue and white. The chimichurri is fresh. Argentina is on the screen. And the chef inside, scorpion tattoo peeking out from his sleeve, is folding empanadas by hand.
This is Marcelo Anastasi, known to his customers as the Scorpion Chef, and his Artisan Empanadas are a love letter to two countries, two heritages, and one wife’s family recipe.
“Food is essential for the body, but good food nourishes the soul,” he says.
A Chef With Two Homes, and One Big Argentinian Influence
Marcelo grew up between Italy and Spain, surrounded by long lunches, simmering sauces, and the smell of good bread. He went on to become an award winning Executive Chef, culinary professor, and restaurateur, building decades of professional kitchen experience before landing on Vancouver Island.
Then he met Nancy.
Nancy is Argentinian, and her mother’s traditional beef empanada recipe became the heartbeat of Scorpion Chef. Marcelo took the family recipe and layered in his own training, his Mediterranean instincts, and the local bounty of the Cowichan Valley. He describes the business as a “personal project born from love of craft, family heritage, and a desire to share pockets of joy.”
Folded by Hand, Never Mass Produced
Every empanada is five ounces, crimped by hand, and built around the kind of details that take time. Onions get caramelized slowly. Spanish smoked sweet paprika and roasted cumin balance the spice. The pastry is traditional Argentine style, flaky and golden, the kind you cannot fake in a factory.
The signature is the traditional beef, made from Nancy’s mom’s recipe. From there, Marcelo’s menu opens up: Grilled Lemon Chicken, a Breakfast Chorizo with eggs, cheese, and jalapeños, an Inspired 5 Veggies vegan option, and rotating specials.
“We’re not just another empanada company,” Marcelo says. “We’re a chef driven, artisan craft bringing authentic Latin American tradition with a premium, personal twist to Vancouver Island.”
Local ingredients matter to him. He sources from the Cowichan Valley whenever possible and works in small batches, baking fresh to golden perfection rather than freezing for shelf space.
Pockets of Joy, with a Side of Soccer
For Marcelo, the FIFA World Cup is more than a tournament. It’s a backdrop for his food, his family, and the customers who line up for a taste of home.
“Empanadas are like football,” he says. “You fold in the love, the struggle, the spices of life, and when you bite, you taste pure passion.”
When Argentina plays this summer, expect the truck to lean in. Sky blue and white paint. Messi on the side panel. Chimichurri at every order. And a steady stream of Argentinians, Italians, and curious Canadians, all showing up for what one regular described as the taste of home, only better.
For Marcelo, that mix of people is the point. Empanadas have always been a shared food, eaten standing up, passed hand to hand, made to feed a crowd.
“Expect an experience,” he says.
Where to Find Him
Catch Marcelo and his bright food truck at Farmers’ Markets across Vancouver Island all summer long. He is a regular at the Esquimalt, Duncan, and Cedar Farmers’ Markets, and you’ll often spot his truck at festivals, fairs, concerts, and events up and down the Island. Follow the scent of caramelized onions and smoked paprika. You’re almost there.