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Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards 2012 Sheraton Wall Centre April 23, 2012 In a foodie city like Vancouver, it's no surprise the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards is one of the most anticipated events of the year. The event has been going for 23 years strong, and though the party itself is heavenly, with an abundance of food and libations, it's the event's culinary trend-setting power that makes it the enthralling.
Chef and co-founder of Provence Restaurants, Alessandra Quaglia (l), with chef, author and co-owner of Vij’s, Meeru Dhalwala.
Chef David Hawksworth (l) of Hawksworth Restaurant, with celebrity chef and Cactus Club Cafe’s food concept architect, Rob Feenie. Hawksworth took home five of the most-prized awards: Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Best New Restaurant, Best
From left: Erica Pang, media and community relations at Miku Restuarant; Gary Hutton, manager at Miku Restaurant; and Ted Smith, regional sales manager at Squirrel Systems. Miku Restaurant’s sister restaurant, Minami, opens in Yaletown in summer 2012;
Event emcees Michael Eckford (l) and Fiona Forbes of Shaw TV’s Urban Rush.
Bob Kronbauer (l), president and editor-in-chief of Vancouver is Awesome Inc., with food writer and television personality Erin Ireland. Ireland launched her first food product in the summer of 2011, a sweet n’ salty “To Die For Banana Bread.&quo
From left: Tourism Vancouver’s travel media relations manager, Amber Sessions (l), and account executive/sponsor relations, Lucas Pavan, with Spectacular Ink’s PR manager, Liz Sperandeo.
From left: Franck Point, owner of Faubourg Paris; Vito Romeo, general manager at Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver; chef Thierry Busset of Thierry Chocolaterie and Patisserie; and Stephane Mouttet, B.C.’s regional director of Les Clefs D’or Canada and ch
Patrick Patterson (l) of Fraîche Restaurant, with food stylist and writer Nathan Fong.
Gastown restaurateur Mark Brand (l), with business partner Alex Usow of Sea Monstr Sushi. Mark is a partner in The Diamond, Sea Monstr Sushi, Save on Meats and Boneta.
Television personalities Mana Mansour (l) of Shaw Multicultural Channel, and host of CityTV’s Breakfast Television, Riaz Meghji.
Foodie bloggers Richard Wolak (l) and Mijune Pak.
Team from Tojo’s Restaurant, the winner of Best Formal Japanese (from left): chef Hidekazu Tojo, Akira Usui and Masayoshi Baba. Tojo’s has won the category for Best Japanese every year since 1988.
Crystal Kwan (l) of Citizen Relations International, with proprietor and president of Thai House Ventures, Desmond Chen. Chen’s restaurant group includes Charm Modern Thai, Chilli House Thai Bistro, Urban Thai Bistro and Alberni’s new Pink Eleph
In a foodie city like Vancouver, it’s no surprise the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards is one of the most anticipated events of the year. The event has been going for 23 years strong, and though the party itself is heavenly, with an abundance of food and libations, it’s the event’s culinary trend-setting power that makes it the enthralling.
Over 700 guests – including chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers and food writers – flocked to the Sheraton Wall Centre to be the first to tweet the names of the award winners. A panel of 18 food and wine specialists determined the gold, silver and bronze winners for nearly 40 different categories. Three new categories were added this year (Best Food Cart, Best Noodle House and Best Pizzeria) to reflect on the city’s new dining trends.
Chef David Hawksworth was honoured Chef of the Year with a standing ovation, and his eponymous restaurant also won Restaurant of the Year, Best New Restaurant, Best New Design and Best Upscale Restaurant. Hawksworth’s wine director, Terry Threlfall, was also named Sommelier of the Year. An after party at Joey’s Bentall One Wine Room followed the reception, and the rest is a blur for most attendees. Let’s just say, many glasses were raised to celebrate this world-class restaurant city. Cheers! Cin Cin! Kanpai!
For a full list of winners, visit Vancouver Magazine.