Vancouver Magazine took the occasion of celebrating 50 years at yesterday’s annual awards ceremony to reflect on how much has changed in the city — and its restaurant scene.
Nearly three decades ago, the awards spanned 11 categories. At yesterday’s awards (held at Sheraton Wall Centre), 41 were handed out, adding new categories Best Bakery, Best Vegan/Vegetarian, Best Pacific Northwest and Best Brunch to the list.
18 judges had the monumental task of tasting, debating, shortlisting and crowning some of our city’s finest restaurants and newcomers with a Van Mag Award (awards are tabulated and brought to chartered accountant team at Crowe MacKay).
[Sakura wraps by Masayoshi Sushi]
Over rounds of nibbles, craft beer and BC wines, guests made their way to the awards ceremony room where hosts Gloria Macarenko and Stephen Quinn of CBC got the show on the road. Here are the 2017 winners by category. Congrats to all the winners!
Best Brunch
GOLD: Café Medina
Silver: Burdock and Co.
Bronze: Au Comptoir
Best Izakaya
GOLD: Kingyo
Silver: Guu
Bronze: Rajio
Best Sushi
GOLD: Zest
Silver: Masayoshi
Bronze: Sushi Bar Maumi
Best Vegan/Vegetarian
GOLD: The Acorn
Silver: Spicy Vegetarian Cuisine
Bronze: Chau Veggie Express
Best Bakery
GOLD: Thomas Haas
Silver: Bâtard
Bronze: Chez Christophe
[Royal Dinette interior]
Best Pacific Northwest
GOLD: Royal Dinette
Silver: Farmer’s Apprentice
Bronze: Burdock and Co.
Best New Design
GOLD: Kissa Tanto
Silver: Savio Volpe
Best Seafood
GOLD: Blue Water Cafe
Silver: Ancora
Bronze: Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar
[A visit to Tacofino’s food truck in Tofino]
Best Food Truck
GOLD: Tacofino
Silver: Le Tigre
Bronze: Vij’s Railway Express
Best Whistler
GOLD: Araxi
Silver: Bearfoot Bistro
Bronze: Bar Oso
Best West End
GOLD: Nook/Tavola
Silver: Kingyo
Bronze: Amici Miei
Best East Side
GOLD: Burdock and Co.
Silver: Campagnolo Roma
Bronze: Bistro Wagon Rouge
Best Gastown
GOLD: L’Abattoir
Silver: Ask for Luigi
Bronze: Pidgin
Best North Shore
GOLD: Café Ça Va
Silver: Terroir Kitchen
Bronze: Indian Fusion
Best Okanagan
GOLD: Waterfront Wines
Silver: Miradoro
Bronze: Old Vines
Best Victoria
GOLD: Agrius
Silver: Part and Parcel
Bronze: Nourish Kitchen and Café
Best Chinatown
GOLD: Bao Bei
Silver: Bestie
Bronze: Campagnolo Upstairs
Best Downtown
GOLD: Cinara
Silver: Royal Dinette
Bronze: Latab (closed)
Best West Side
GOLD: L’Ufficio
Silver: Au Comptoir
Bronze: Farmer’s Apprentice
Best Yaletown
GOLD: Lupo
Silver: La Pentola
Bronze: Bistro Sakana
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sid and Joan Cross
Sommelier of the Year
Lisa Haley, L’Abattoir
Bartender of the Year
Sabrine Dhaliwal
Best Upscale
GOLD: Hawksworth
Silver: CinCin
Bronze: Bauhaus
Best Chain
GOLD: Cactus Club Cafe
Silver: Kirin
Bronze: Guu
[Vikram Vij of My Shanti, Vij’s, Rangoli]
Best Indian
GOLD: My Shanti
Silver: Vij’s
Bronze: Rangoli
Best Pan-Asian
GOLD: Kissa Tanto
Silver: Torafuku
Bronze: Freebird
Producer/Supplier of the Year
North Arm Farm
Premier Crew
Patrick Patterson, Server, Giardino
Lindsay Otto, Manager, Bistro Wagon Rouge
Sherry Diggle, Server, Nook
Chen-Wei Lee, Manager, Royal Dinette
Jaier Vlessing, Server, Gotham Steakhouse
Best Dim Sum
GOLD: Dynasty Seafood
Silver: Golden Paramount
Bronze: Yue Delicacy
Best Japanese
GOLD: Zest
Silver: Masayoshi
Bronze: Kinome Japanese Kitchen
Best Korean
GOLD: Royal Seoul House
Silver: Hanwoori
Bronze: Maru Korean Bistro
Best Vietnamese
GOLD: Mr. Red Café
Silver: Chau Veggie Express
Bronze: Anh and Chi
Best Latin
GOLD: TIE: El Santo, La Mezcaleria
Bronze: Molli Cafe
Best French
GOLD: Le Crocodile
Silver: L’Abattoir
Bronze: Au Comptoir
Best Chinese
GOLD: Dynasty Seafood
Silver: Chef Tony Seafood
Bronze: The Jade Seafood
Best Italian
GOLD: CinCin
Silver: Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca
Bronze: La Quercia
[Chef Angus An of Maenam at Dine Out 2015]
Best Thai
GOLD: Maenam
Silver: Longtail Kitchen
Bronze: Thai Cuisine by Montri
Best New Restaurant
GOLD: Savio Volpe
Silver: Kissa Tanto
Bronze: Nightingale
Chef of the Year
Joël Watanabe
Restaurant of the Year
Dynasty Seafood
