Dynasty Seafood accepting the Restaurant of the Year award from the Vancouver Magazine editorial team Dee Dhaliwal, Anicka Quin, and Neal McLennan. 

Awards show celebrates first-ever Chinese Restaurant of the Year; Joël Watanabe named Chef of the Year

At yesterday’s Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, Dynasty Seafood became the first-ever Chinese restaurant to win the coveted Restaurant of the Year title. During the 28th annual addition of the awards show, 41 gold awards were handed out, as the industry’s top talent gathered to celebrate their own.

“Though Vancouver is renowned for having the best Chinese food outside of China, there has often been a disconnect between Chinese restaurants and non-Chinese diners. Dynasty Seafood has changed all that,” said Neal McLennan, Food Editor, Vancouver Magazine. “Chef Sam Leung has bridged the gap like no other, by reaching out to non-Chinese diners without compromising the integrity of his traditional dishes. We are thrilled to celebrate Dynasty Seafood, and all the talented teams who took home Restaurant Awards this year.”

 Chef of the Year honours went to Joël Watanabe. The award recognizes the triumph of Watanabe’s refined fusion style which Vancouverites have come know, first through his modernized Chinese-French menu at Bao Bei, and now through his Japanese-Italian menu at Kissa Tanto. “Humming with clarity,” “honesty,” and “elegance,” is how the judges described Watanabe’s food. Kissa Tanto also picked up gold in the Best Pan-Asian and Best Design categories.

Fraserhood favourite, Savio Volpe, celebrated top honours in the Best New Restaurant category. This year’s show saw the addition of several new categories, including Best Brunch (Café Medina), Best Sushi (Zest), Best Vegan/Vegetarian (The Acorn), Best Bakery (Thomas Haas), and Best Pacific Northwest (Royal Dinette).

There were surprise upsets in some categories, with CinCin taking Best Italian and My Shanti winning Best Indian. Meanwhile, Hawksworth once again defended its Best Upscale Restaurant title, and Le Crocodile and Maenam repeated for Best French and Best Thai respectively. Best Latin saw La Mezcaleria and newcomer, El Santo, tie for first place. Around the province, Araxi took Best Whistler, Agrius won Best Victoria, and Waterfront Wines was named Best Okanagan.

Uva’s Sabrine Dhaliwal took home Bartender of the Year; L’Abattoir’s Lisa Haley was named Sommelier of the Year;  Pemberton’s North Arm Farm won the Producer/Supplier Award; and Sid and Joan Cross were honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. For five decades, Sid, an oenophile, and Joan, a cookbook editor, have sought out and celebrated the local culinary pioneers who have changed the way we eat and drink. Together, they’ve promoted the region’s up-and-coming city talent to chefs, winemakers, and producers throughout the world. 

Vancouver Magazine's Editor-in-Chief John Burns, Dara Young and David Gunawan of Farmer's Apprentice, and Lori Chalmers, Publisher of Vancouver Magazine

On Tuesday, Vancouver Magazine announced the winners of their 25th Annual Restaurant Awards at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel.  This year marked the event's silver anniversary and hundreds gathered to celebrate the city's finest culinary talent. The festivities were hosted by CBC's Gloria Macarenko and Stephen Quinn and saw Gold awards handed out in 49 categories.  The night's big winner? The Farmer's Apprentice, taking home Restaurant of the Year, Best New Restaurant of the Year, and Best Casual Restaurant.

So who else took top honours? Click through for full coverage on vanmag.com.

Vancouver Magazine announced today select finalists for its upcoming 25^th Annual Restaurant Awards.  Finalists were named in the magazine’s new Best of Neighbourhood award categories including: Best Downtown, Best Yaletown, Best West End, Best Gastown & Chinatown, Best West Side, Best East Side, and Best Richmond.

These categories join Best North Shore in highlighting establishments for diners for whom location is at least as important as reputation, type of cuisine, ambiance, and price. Click here for finalist restaurants.

“For the past 25 years, Vancouver Magazine has been cataloguing the city’s finest rooms and creating a definitive compendium of all that is delicious, masterful, and of the moment,” said John Burns, Vancouver Magazine Editor-in-Chief. “The addition of Best of Neighbourhood awards reflects our judges’ view that for many people, location matters a great deal when deciding where to dine.”

Finalists in the remaining 42 categories won’t be revealed until the gala, to be held at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel on April 22^nd. More than 700 of B.C.’s top chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and food critics will gather to recognize the city’s best. Vancouverites can follow the event live on Twitter and Instagram using #VanMagAwards.

Vancouver Magazine’s May issue includes a 42-page feature on all the award categories. The issue will be on newsstands on April 28^th and digital subscriptions will be available at vanmag.com.

About Vancouver Magazine:

Since 1967, Vancouver Magazine has been informing, guiding, and entertaining people who engage with the city. Mixing quality journalism and service-driven pieces, the magazine chronicles and reflects Vancouver’s emergence as a dynamic, cosmopolitan urban centre. Vancouver Magazine is available as a monthly magazine, through a weekly e-newsletter, The Fix, online at Vanmag.com, and on Twitter and Instagram (@vanmag_com).

Volunteer Opportunity - Event Coordination Event: Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

Date/Time:  Tuesday, April 22nd, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Elettra Communications is looking for student volunteers to assist with Vancouver’s premier restaurant industry event. This opportunity will appeal to students who have an interest in public relations, publishing, marketing, or event management.

Vancouver Magazine’s Restaurant Awards event is the biggest of its kind in North America, and this year marks the event’s landmark 25th anniversary.  Twenty of the city’s top food critics form the judging panel and vote on the best dining experience in more than 40 categories. The event itself includes a reception and awards show. The annual extravaganza welcomes more than 800 restaurateurs, chefs, sommeliers, suppliers, and food and wine critics.

Duties: Volunteers will assist with a range of activities including: ·       Event set up ·       Guest check-in ·       Awards presenting/backstage coordination ·       Coat check ·       Gift distribution

Benefits to volunteering: ·       Event coordination experience. ·       Exposure to the behind-the-scenes workings of a large event. ·       Opportunity to build contacts in the PR, marketing, and publishing industries. ·       Lunch will be provided.

Dress code: All black. No jeans; no running shoes/sneakers.

How to apply: If you would like to volunteer for this opportunity, please contact cassandra@elettra.ca.  In your email please provide a brief introduction of yourself, and include a description of your current course of study and your contact information. 

Another great year for dining in Vancouver, and another great Restaurant Awards to recognize the top culinary talent in the city! Hosts Mike Eckford and Fiona Forbes were on hand to announce the winners at VanMag's 24th annual celebration, which saw both fresh faces as well as some familiar ones taking top honours.  Before and after the awards presentation, guests enjoyed tasty beverages and snacked on delicious bites provided by some of Vancouver's top chefs and the culinary team at the host venue, the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre.

Always such a fun event - we're already getting excited for the milestone 25th year in 2014!

 Top honours awarded to Hawksworth, Wildebeest, La Quercia 

John Bishop, Alain Rayé recognized for mentorship, lifetime achievement

Vancouver, B.C.; April 23rd, 2013 –More than 700 of B.C.’s top chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and food critics gathered at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre yesterday to recognize the city’s best at the 24th Annual Restaurant Awards. For a second consecutive year, Hawksworth was awarded both Restaurant of the Year and Best Upscale, with acclaimed Chef David Hawksworth taking Chef of the Year honours.   “This year’s results reflect a balance between innovation and consistency across Vancouver’s culinary landscape,” said Vancouver magazine Editor-in-Chief, John Burns.  “The city welcomed several exceptional new rooms, while restaurants with longstanding histories and previous award recipients proved they continue to thrive.” Wildebeest took home the honour of Best New, having impressed the panel of 19 distinguished judges with their nose-to-tail cuisine. The room’s interiors also earned them the award for Best New Design.  The judges selected La Quercia as their favourite in the category of Best Casual, citing Chef Adam Pegg’s pasta and the value of their $45 seven-course menu as contributing factors in their voting. Revolver claimed top prize in the new category of Best Coffee House, with their slow-brewed cups edging out other finalists including 49th Parallel and Thomas Haas.  Haas did receive the honour of Pastry Chef of the Year. Perennial favourites demonstrated their staying power, with gold awards going to Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar for Best Seafood, Vij’s for Best Indian, and Phnom Penh for Best Vietnamese.  Meanwhile several rooms made their first appearances at the top of their category including Hoi Tong for Best Upscale Chinese, and Tableau Bar Bistro for Best Casual French. This year’s Mentorship Award went to John Bishop of Bishop’s, for his longstanding commitment to mentoring and developing chefs. Alain Rayé took home this year’s Lifetime Achievement honours for his impressive 40-plus years in the culinary industry. The owner and chef at the North Shore’s award winning La Régalade began his foray into cooking just outside of Paris at the age of 14, with his ambitious cuisine garnering critical acclaim throughout his lengthy career. The Green Award was given to Forage in recognition of the sustainable initiatives that extend through every aspect of their operations. Chef Chris Whittaker has led the drive to reduce their energy consumption and waste, implementing high efficiency equipment and extended composting and recycling programs.

Other notable awards include: Tacofino fr Best Food Cart; Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca for Best Upscale Italian; Dynasty Seafood for Best Dim Sum; Maenam for Best Thai; Cactus Club Cafe for Best Casual Chain; Robert “H” Holl-Allen for Bartender of the Year. Vancouver magazine’s May issue includes a 32-page feature on all the award categories. The issue is on newsstands now and digital subscriptions are available at vanmag.com.

Volunteer Opportunity – Event Coordination Event: Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

Date/Time: Monday, April 22nd 10:30am – 6pm (required) Sunday, April 21st 2pm – 5pm (if available)

Elettra Communications is looking for student volunteers to assist with Vancouver’s premier restaurant industry event. This opportunity will appeal to students who have an interest in public relations, publishing, marketing, or event management.  

Now in its 24th year, Vancouver Magazine’s Restaurant Awards event is the biggest of its kind in North America. Twenty of the city’s top food critics form the judging panel and vote on the best dining experience in more than 40 categories. The event itself includes a reception and awards show. The annual extravaganza welcomes more than 800 restaurateurs, chefs, sommeliers, suppliers, and food and wine critics.

Elettra Communications is the producer of Vancouver magazine’s Restaurant Awards. Elettra is a public relations firm that specializes in event management, media relations, and marketing consulting. For more information visit www.elettra.ca

Duties: Volunteers will assist with a range of activities including: • Event set up • Gift bag assembly and distribution • Guest check-in • Awards presenting/backstage coordination • Coat check

Benefit to you: • Event coordination experience. • Exposure to the behind-the-scenes workings of a large event. • Opportunity to build contacts in the PR, marketing, and publishing industries. • Lunch will be provided.

Dress code: All black. No jeans; no running shoes/sneakers.

How to apply: If you would like to volunteer for this opportunity, please contact cassandra@elettra.ca

In your email please provide a brief introduction of yourself, and include a description of your current course of study and your contact information.

Gary Stephen Ross, Editor of Vancouver magazine stopped by CTV Morning Live to talk about the results of the 23rd Annual Vancouver magazine Restaurant Awards. Check it out here.

Vancouver Sun's Mia Stainsby covers the Vancouver magazine Restaurant Awards.

Hawksworth cleans up at 2012 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

It’s the year of David Hawksworth as far as the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards is concerned.

Judges for the 2012 Awards gave him and his restaurant Hawksworth, five top awards at the annual awards partyMonday: Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Best New Restaurant, Best New Design and Best Upscale Restaurant.

The Best Sommelier award went to Terry Threlfall, who works at — where else? Hawksworth.

“Welcome back, fine dining” said one judge, of Hawksworth. “The former wizard of West roared back to top form in a “triptych of rooms so pretty they’re heartbreaking. And the food’s every bit as good as you’d expect,” enthused another.

In tune with the times, Trafalgars Bistro and the sister bakery Sweet Obsessions took a Green Award for its commitment to reducing waste. The businesses generate about one garbage bag of waste a week.

A Lifetime Achievement Award went to Kimble Chan and Nelson Yeung of Kirin Mandarin Restaurant. “Much as Umberto Menghi, Hidekazu Tojo and Vikram Vij moved their respective cuisines from easy ethnic clichés to sophisticated dining that embraces locality and seasonality, the Kirin Group has long shaped the direction of local Chinese cuisine,” judges said.

There were regular award takers like Tojo’s (Best Upscale Japanese) and Vij’s (Best Indian) and there were some newer kids on the block, Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle (Best Noodle House) and Nicli Antica Pizzeria (Best Pizzeria) — the latter two are new categories.

Re-up BBQ took the Gold for Best Food Cart.

Reflecting Vancouver’s casual nature, the whole notion of “formal” evaporated, says Vancouver Magazine editor Gary Ross.

“Our judges felt Best Upscale Restaurant, based on the price, was a better descriptor than Best Formal with its hint of stuffiness and starched linens.”

Judges declare this the year of Hawksworth,While first ever Best Pizzeria award goes to Nicli Antica

Vancouver, B.C.; April 24th, 2012 –B.C.’s top chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and food critics gathered yesterday at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre to pay tribute to the winners of the 23rd Annual Vancouver magazine Restaurant Awards. Hawksworth won Gold in six categories, including Restaurant of the Year, while several perennial favourites topped their categories once again.

“Hawksworth’s domination of this year’s awards proves that upscale dining is back,” said Vancouver magazine Editor-in-Chief, Gary Stephen Ross. “But equally evident with this year’s group of winners is Vancouver’s continuing love affair with comforting, casual food.”

After a three-year wait, the highly anticipated return of Chef David Hawksworth earned judges’ nearly unanimous decision for Hawksworth as Restaurant of the Year. The room also took top prize in the Best New Restaurant, Best New Design, and Best Upscale Restaurant categories. The room’s Wine Director, Terry Threlfall, was named Sommelier of the Year, while David Hawksworth was voted Chef of the Year.

A Best Pizzeria category was added this year to reflect the recent craze for Neapolitan-style pies that has swept the city. Nicli Antica Pizzeria took Gold. A second new category, Best Noodle House, was also a nod to Vancouver’s demand for casual food. Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle was awarded Gold.

Vancouver magazine’s new Mentorship Award recognizes how vital the training of new chefs is to the city’s ever-growing culinary scene. The recipient was Julian Bond of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, who has taught, mentored, and inspired many of the city’s top culinary talents.

This year’s Green Award went to Trafalgars Bistro, a busy Westside restaurant that produces virtually no garbage. As a result of their intensive recycling and composting program, the restaurant sends zero organic waste to the landfill, and 98 per cent of their remaining waste is recycled.

Kirin Restaurant, which is marking its 25th anniversary, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes the dedication of restaurateurs Kimble Chan and Nelson Yeung, whose impeccably high standards for food, service, and décor have set a benchmark for the industry. Kirin is renowned for world-class Cantonese cuisine, the calibre of which is rarely seen outside greater China.

Other notable awards include: Thierry Busset for Pastry Chef of the Year; Danielle Tatarin for Bartender of the Year; Jade Seafood for Best Upscale Chinese; Re-Up BBQ for Best Food Cart; Vij’s for Best Indian, and Le Crocodile for Best Upscale French.

Vancouver magazine’s May issue includes a 34-page round up of all the award categories. The issue is on newsstands now and digital subscriptions are available at vanmag.com.

by: Sheryl Kristie Yen BC Business Magazine has posted their shots from the Official Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Afterparty at the Joey Bentall One Wine Room.

The Okanagan's new GoGo magazine also covered the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. Click here for the full article.

by: Sheryl Kristie Yen BC Business Magazine has posted their shots from the Official Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Afterparty at the Joey Bentall One Wine Room.

Here are a few, but you can check out the rest here.