Culinary leaders to converge on Vancouver for Distinguished Restaurants of North America’s September Conference
Vancouver, B.C.; May 21, 2013 – Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA), its Board Chair, Joseph DiSalvo, and its Conference Chair, Chef Pino Posteraro, are officially announcing today that the organization will host its 2013 conference in Vancouver from September 15-18. They are also announcing the list of B.C. restaurants to receive DiRoNA Achievement of Distinction in Dining awards this year.
The DiRoNA 2013 conference will bring together North America’s leading restaurateurs and chefs to explore themes that include trends in West Coast cuisine, sustainability, and the future of fine dining. DiRoNA is a non-profit organization that recognizes excellence and promotes fine dining through its inspection and award process. Conference delegates will be from among the 600 North American restaurants that have received a DiRoNA award.
“The selection of Vancouver as host for DiRoNA’s 2013 conference is a testament to our city’s growing prominence on the North American culinary stage,” says Pino Posteraro, DiRoNA Vancouver Conference Chair and Chef/Owner of Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca. “This is an opportunity to showcase the depth and breadth of talent in our culinary community and to celebrate the local restaurants whose dedication to culinary and service excellence have merited them DiRoNA certification this year.”
B.C. restaurants receiving DiRoNA awards in 2013 are:
· Araxi · Bacchus Restaurant at the Wedgewood Hotel · Bearfoot Bistro · Bishop's · Blue Water Café + Raw Bar · Chambar · CinCin Ristorante + Bar · Hastings House · Hawksworth · Kirin Restaurant · La Quercia · Lupo Restaurant and Vinoteca · Maenam · Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek · Sooke Harbour House · Terrace Restaurant at Mission Hill Winery · Thomas Haas Chocolates and Patisserie · Tojo's · Vij’s · West
Award recipients were nominated by DiRoNA’s Vancouver Conference Chair, Pino Posteraro, and were selected on the basis of excellence in ambience, cuisine, and service. Award recipients are certified DiRoNA Restaurants and have earned the right to display the DiRoNA logo on their premises.
"With DiRoNA, we celebrate the art of culinary excellence, and Vancouver is the perfect place to do that,” says Joseph DiSalvo, DiRoNA Board Chair. "The region has a vibrant culinary scene that is second to none."
As part of the award announcement, DiRoNA is also recognizing JJ’s Restaurant at Vancouver Community College for its commitment to excellence in training the next generation of Vancouver chefs.
DiRoNA’s 2013 conference will take place from Sunday, September 15 – Wednesday, September 18 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel. The conference will feature marquee speakers, working group sessions, and a visit to Whistler. The prestigious Mission Hill Winery will supply wine for the conference.
About DiRoNA DiRoNA was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1990 with the goal of raising dining standards and promoting fine dining throughout the US, Canada and Mexico. In 1992, the DiRoNA award was launched to recognize restaurants exemplifying the highest quality standards in all aspects of the dining experience. There are currently 600 restaurants that have been named as DiRoNA award recipients. A comprehensive list of DiRoNA restaurants can be found on DiRoNA’s website at www.dirona.com.