107727 Wed Mar 31 08:01:31 -0800 2004 10 24 Canada 0 582530 As a courtesy, especially for our out of town 'Hounds, here are the results as announced in Vancouver on March 29th before about 900 industry attendees. Hopefully this will also provide a decent reference point for some of our friends visiting the city this year. Best regards to all, Jamie Maw Food Editor Vancouver Magazine Results of the 15th Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Best New Informal HM: Guu with Otokomae, 105-375 Water St., 604-685-8817 HM: Japone 8269 Oak St., 604-263-6708 Bronze: Memphis Blues, 1342 Commercial Dr., 604-215-2599 Silver: Umami Tapas and Wine Bar, 572 Davie St., 604-696-9563 Gold: Feenie¹s, 2563 W. Broadway, 604-739-7115 Best New Fine Dining HM: The Quay, 1137 Marinaside Cres., 604-683-5335 HM: Aurora Bistro, 24 Main St., 604-873-9944 Bronze: Parkside, 1906 Haro St., 604-683-6912 Silver: Cru, 1459 W. Broadway, 604-677-4111 Gold: Bis Moreno, 1355 Hornby St., 604-669-2812 Best New Restaurant Design Bronze: Feenie¹s, 2563 W. Broadway, 604-739-7115 Silver: Picnic, 3002 Granville St., 604-732-4405 Silver: Aurora Bistro, 24 Main St., 604-873-9944 Premier Crew Awards (Service) Bobby Copiak, Il Giardino; Trevor Herbert, Gramercy Grill; Michelle Hebert, Quattro on Fourth; Kana Yanagawa, Hapa Izakaya; Izabela Domanski, Earls Sommelier of the Year: Brent Hayman, Raincity Grill Best Producer Supplier: Oyama Sausage Company John and Christine van der Lieck, proprietors Food Wine Book of the Year HM: Wild Sweets ‹Exotic Dessert and Wine Pairings by Dominique and Cindy Duby (Douglas & McIntyre) Bronze Chef¹s Salad by Bill Jones (Whitecap) Silver Lumière Light by Rob Feenie and Marnie Coldham (Douglas & McIntyre) Gold British Columbia Wine Country by John Schreiner (Whitecap) Charitable Donation Cook Studio Café Best Casual Chain HM: The Keg, various locations HM: Tie: Cactus Club, various locations, and Soupspoons, various locations Bronze: Milestone¹s, various locations Silver: Hon¹s Wun-Tun House, 1339 Robson, 604-685-0871, 280 Keefer, 604-688-0871 and 108-268 Keefer, 604-688-0871 Gold: Earls, various locations Best Neighborhood Restaurant HM: Cru, 1459 W. Broadway, 604-677-4111 HM: Tie: Parkside, 1906 Haro St., 604-683-6912 and Tomato Fresh Food Café, 3305 Cambie St., 604-874-6020 Bronze: The Pear Tree. 4120 East Hastings St.. Burnaby, 604-299-2772 Silver: Bin 942, 1521 W. Broadway, 604-34-9421. and Bin 941, 941 Davie St., 604-683-1246 Gold: Feenie¹s, 2563 W. Broadway,604-739-7115 Best Bar/ Lounge HM: Shebeen Whisky House, 217 Carrall St., 604-915-7338 HM: 900 West, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 W. Georgia St., 604-669-9378 Bronze: Gerard Lounge, Sutton Place Hotel, 845 Burrard St., 604-682-5511 Silver: Opus Bar, Opus Hotel, 350 Davie St., 604-642-0557 Gold: Bacchus, Wedgewood Hotel, 845 Hornby St., 604-689-7777 Best Hotel Dining HM: 900 West, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 W. Georgia St., 604-669-9378 HM: Chartwell, Four Seasons Hotel, 791 West Georgia, 604-689-9333 Bronze: Elixir, Opus Hotel, 350 Davie St., 604-642-0557 Silver: Bacchus, Wedgewood Hotel, 845 Hornby St., 604-689-7777 Gold: Diva at the Met, Metropolitan Hotel, 645 Howe St., 604-602-7788 Lifetime Culinary Achievement Award Bus, Stanley, Jeff and Stuart Fuller and George Piper: Earls Restaurants Best of the Americas HM: Las Margaritas, 1999 W. 4th, 604-734-7117 HM: Topanga Cafe, 2904 W. 4th, 604-733-3713 Bronze: The Mouse & The Bean Cafe, 319 W. Hastings, 604-633-1781 Silver: The Reef, 4172 Main St., 604-874-5375 Gold: Baru, 2535 Alma St., 604-9222-9171 Best South East Asian HM: Tangerine, 1685 Yew St.. 604-739-4677 HM: Simply Tai, 1211 Hamilton St., 604-642-0123 Bronze: Phnom Penh, 955 W. Broadway, 604-734-8998 and 244 E. Georgia St., 604-682-5777 Silver: Banana Leaf, 820 W. Broadway, 604-731-6333 Gold: Montri, 3629 W. Broadway, 604-738-9888 Best Indian HM: Akbar's Own, 1905 W. Broadway, 604-736-8180 HM: Ashiana Tandoori, 1440 Kingsway, 604-874-5060 Bronze: Maurya Indian Cuisine, 1643 W. Broadway, 604-742-0622 Silver: Rubina Tandoori, 1962 Kingsway,604-874-3621 Gold: Vij¹s, 1480 W. 11th , 604-736-6664 Best Casual Chinese HM: Mui Garden, 5795 Victoria Drive, 604-324-3665 and 4265 Main St., 604-872-8232 HM: Legendary Noodle, 4191 Main St., 604-879-8758 Bronze: Green Village, 2461 Nanaimo St., 604-258-9018 Silver: Vong¹s Kitchen, 4298 Fraser St., 604-879-4298 Gold: Hon¹s Wun-Tun House, 1339 Robson, 604-685-0871, 280 Keefer, 604-688-0871 and 108-268 Keefer, 604-688-0871 Best Chinese Fine Dining HM: Grand Honour, 110-5701 Granville St., 604-263-3983 HM: Kirin , 102-1166 Alberni St., 604-682-8833 and 555 W. 12th , 604-879-8038, and 200-7900 Westminster Hwy., Richmond. Bronze: Tie: Pink Pearl Chinese Restaurant, 1132 E. Hastings St., 604-253-4316, and Szechuan Chongquing, 2808 Commercial Drive, 604-254-7434 Silver: Tie: Imperial Chinese, 355 Burrard St., 604-688-8191, and President Chinese Seafood in the Radisson Hotel, 8181 Cambie Road, Richmond, 604-279-1997 Gold: Sun Sui Wah, 3888 Main St., 604-872-8822 and 102-4940 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-273-8208 Best Japanese HM: Tie: Japone. 8269 Oak St., 604-263-6708, and Yoshi, 689 Denman, 604-738-8226 HM: Shijo, 1926 W. 4th , 604-732-4676 Bronze: Hapa Izakaya, 1479 Robson St., 604-689-4272 Silver: En, 2686 Granville St., 604-730-0330 Gold: Tojo¹s, 202-777 W. Broadway, 604-872-8050 Best Bistro or Brasserie HM: Feenie¹s, 2563 W. Broadway, 604-739-7115 HM: Elixir, Opus Hotel, 350 Davie St., 604-642-0557 Bronze: Provence, 4473 W. 10th , 604-222-1980 and Provence Marinaside, 1177 Marinaside Crescent, 604-681-4144 Silver: La Régalade, 2232 Marine Drive, W. Vancouver 604-921-2228 Gold: Bistro Pastis, 2153 W. 4th , 604-731-5020 Best Formal French HM: Bacchus, Wedgewood hotel, 845 Hornby St., 604-689-7777 HM: Le Gavroche, 1616 Alberni, 604-685-3924 Bronze: La Régalade, 2232 Marine Drive, W. Vancouver 604-921-2228 Silver: Le Crocodile, 100-909 Burrard St., 604-669-4298 Gold: Lumière Restaurant, 2551 W. Broadway, 604-739-8185 Best Italian HM: Bis Moreno, 1355 Hornby St., 604-669-2812 HM: Cin Cin, 1154 Robson St, 604-688-7338 Bronze: Piccolo Mondo, 850 Thurlow St., 604-688-1633 Silver: Quattro on Fourth, 2611 W. 4th , 604-734-4444 Gold: Cioppino's Enoteca, 1129 Hamilton St., 604-685-8462 Best Other European HM: Ouzeri, 3189 W. Broadway, 739-9378 HM: La Bodega, 1277 Howe St., 604-684-8814 Bronze: Maria's Taverna, 2324 W. Fourth Ave., 604-731-4722. Silver: The Irish Heather, 217 Carrall St., 604-688-9779 Gold: The William Tell, 765 Beatty St., 604-688-3504 Best North Shore HM: Beach House, 150-25th St. W. Vancouver, 604-922-1414 HM: Gustro Di Quattro, 1 Longsdale N. Vancouver, 604-924-4444 Bronze: Marine Drive, 1734 Marine Drive, W. Vancouver, 604-922-2600 Silver: Tie: Beach Side Cafe, 1326 Marine Drive, W. Vancouver, 604-925-1945, and L¹Émotion, 4368 Marine Drive, W. Vancouver, 604-926-1063 Gold: La Régalade, 2232 Marine Drive, W. Vancouver 604-921-2228 Best of the ¹Burbs (not including the North Shore) HM: Globe@YVR, 3111 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, 604-207-3219 HM: Sun Sui Wah, 3888 Main St., 604-872-8822 and 102-4940 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-273-8208 Bronze: Hart House, 6664 Dear Lake, Burnaby, 604-298-4278 Silver: La Belle Auberge, 4856 48th , Delta, 604-946-7717 Gold: The Pear Tree, 4120 E. Hastings St.. Burnaby, 604.299.2772 Best Whistler HM: La Rúa Ristorante, 4557 Blackcomb Way, 604-932-5011 HM: The Rim Rock, 2117 Whistler, 1800-932-5589 or 604-932-5565 Bronze: Quattro at Whistler in the Pinnacle Hotel, 4319 Main St., 604-905-4844. Silver: Bearfoot Bistro, 4121 Village Green, Whistler, 604-932-3433 Gold: Araxi, 4222 Village Square Whistler, 604-932-4540 Best B.C. Destination HM:Brasserie L'Ecole, 1715 Government St., Victoria, 250- 475 6260 HM: Zambri's, 911 Yates St., Victoria, 250-360-1171 Bronze: Fresco, 1560 Water St., Kelowna, 250-868-8805 Silver: Cafe Brio, 944 Fort St., Victoria, 250-383-0009 Gold: Sooke Harbour House, 1528 Whiffen Spit Road, Sooke, 250-642-3421 Best Meat HM: Hy¹s Encore, 637 Hornby St., 604-683-7671 HM: Morton¹s of Chicago, 750 W. Cordova St., 604-915-5105 Bronze: Gotham, 615 Seymour St., 604-605-8282 Silver: 900 West, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 W. Georgia St., 604-669-9378 Gold: Memphis Blues BBQ, 1465 W. Broadway, 604-738-6806 Best Small Plates HM: Parkside, 1906 Haro St., 604-683.6912 HM: Cru, 1459 W. Broadway, 604-677.4111 Bronze: West, 2881 Granville St., 604-738 8938 Silver:Lumière Tasting Bar, 2551 W. Broadway, 604-739.8185 Gold: Bin 942, 1521 W. Broadway, 604-34-9421. Bin 941, 941 Davie St., 604-683-1246. Best Last Course HM: Cin Cin, 1154 Robson St, 604-688-7338 HM: Bacchus, Wedgewood Hotel, 845 Hornby St., 604-689-7777 Bronze: West, 2881 Granville St., 604-738-8938 Silver: Lumière/ Feenie¹s, 2551 W. Broadway, 604-739-8185 Gold: Senses/ Diva at the Met, Metropolitan Hotel, 645 Howe St. , 604-602-7788 Best Contemporary/Regional HM: Lumière Restaurant, 2551 W. Broadway, 604-739-8185 HM: Bishop¹s, 2183 W. 4th , 604-738-2025 Bronze: West, 2881 Granville St., 604-738-8938 Silver: Raincity Grill, 1193 Denman St., 604-685-7337 Gold: C Restaurant, 1600 Howe St., 604-681-1164 Best Seafood Restaurant HM: Provence Marinaside, 1177 Marinaside Crescent, 604-681-4144 HM: Sun Sui Wah, 3888 Main St., 604-872-8822 and 102-4940 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-273-8208 Bronze: Tojo¹s, 202-777 W. Broadway, 604-872-8050 Silver: Blue Water Cafe, 1095 Hamilton, 604-699-8078 Gold: C Restaurant, 1600 Howe St., 604-681-1164 Chef of the Year HM: Thomas Haas: Diva at the Met (Pastry Chef) HM: Scott Baechler: Diva at the Met, Metropolitan Hotel Bronze: Robert Clark: C Restaurant Silver: David Hawksworth: West Gold: Robert Feenie: Lumière Restaurant Restaurant of the Year HM: Raincity Grill, 1193 Denman St., 604-685-7337 HM: Diva at the Met, Metropolitan Hotel, 645 Howe St., 604-602-7788 Bronze: C Restaurant, 1600 Howe St., 604-681-1164 Silver: West, 2881 Granville St., 604-738-8938 Gold: Lumière Restaurant, 2551 W. Broadway, 604-739-8185 Wed Mar 31 08:01:31 -0800 2004 0 Jamie Maw 1 582531 Gosh, 95% are the same year after year...We need new restaurants!!! Wed Mar 31 10:38:52 -0800 2004 582530 0 Grumpus 2 582534 There were significant changes, including the Best Restaurant gold/silver re-switch. Wed Mar 31 10:45:33 -0800 2004 582531 0 cabrales 3 582540 There is a lot to be said for such an awards ceremony. Yes, everyone knows that those who play the p.r. game get better results, but I ask the question to dedicated diners. 'Who would you like to share your favourite dining spot with, poseurs and transient scenesters, eager to have their mind made up for them, or perhaps instead, like minded individuals, with their own sense of cool, making choices based on a thirst for knowledge (and a good syrah).? Wouldn't you hate to have a flock of silicone breasted society 'ladies who lunch' with their gucci clad asses in your face while you try to enjoy your delicately seasoned duck breast over the rank waft of chanel no.5? I sure would. I also don't miss the brokers,bankers,building developers in black, celphones ringing, loud-talking about how good a day they had on the market or who's assistant their banging this week. The Vanmag awards draw a fine line in the sand, and I for one have chosen my side. The beach is cleaner on this side, and I don't feel greasy at the end of the day. Congratulations to all this years winners, despite my issues, they deserve respect for their efforts. Thu Apr 01 19:26:54 -0800 2004 582534 0 David 4 582547 Would you like to share some suggested dining spots from your side of the line? Fri Apr 02 11:30:51 -0800 2004 582540 0 Rubinsky 4 582550 Please, tell us about the restaurants on your side of the line. I don't see all that many restaurants not mentioned in the Vancouver Magazine awards recommended here or on other Vancouver food sites, I'd love to read about other dining options. No silicone, Chanel No. 5 or Gucci here, but I love duck. Fri Apr 02 17:03:02 -0800 2004 582540 0 Anne, Vancouver 5 582633 Hm, there are some things I seriously disagree with from the Vancouver review... I don't know if I'd qualify as "the other side of the fence", but I'm not the type to have enough money to dine at those top establishments very often since I'm still a student. One place I really disagree with is the fact that they give Sun Sui Wah such high praise. It hasn't impressed me. In my experience, problems with Sun Sui Wah include the fact that their dumplings can be overly soupy for dim sum, that their duck and quail dishes were dry when we ordered them, and that in the end the dishes are simply not worth the money that you can dish out (which can be a LOT for chinese food). Chinese eating for me tends to be limited to eating with my family... I can't speak Chinese, but I do appreciate the food when they go to order. A very good place for dim sum is Neptune Seafood restaurant on No. 3 Rd, near a mini-mall with a Chapters (I'm bad with location but it's between Lansdowne and Richmond centres). The dishes there were either properly firm, or moist yet airy -- the preparation was great especially for their lobster dumplings, and the abalone soup was prepared exquisitely. From what I remember, the price was rather reasonable as well. Definitely a place I would go to over Sun Sui Wah. Kirin, I would also favor over SSW. (note: Neptune is NOT very friendly to non-Chinese customers, though... the menu for *everything* in that restaurant is entirely in Chinese) I also wonder about not mentioning places like Modern Club near Dunbar and 18th. I am just in love with okonomiyaki after that encounter, and while this restaurant can't be considered fine dining, the woman who runs the restaurant is just so fun to be around -- she makes you want to return just to talk to her. I also question not putting Fiction down as one of the better small dish restaurants. Granted, Fiction's small dishes are *really* small, but the quality from them is superb (the foie gras parfait with brioche was excellent, their tartes flambe are also nice but a touch oily, I really liked my lobster ravioli entree but my friend found his duck breast entree a bit undercooked for his liking) and I found those dishes to be definitely competitive with Bin 942 when I went there (but maybe I just wasn't enamored with Bin 942 since it was so cramped that eating food was more of a task of logistics than something to enjoy). Another restaurant I found fun to dine at was Chivana. You get *huge* cocktails for $6 and under! And they taste great! The dishes tend to be sometimes a bit overspiced though -- a mussel dish turned out to be a bit humdrum overall, but steamed scallops served with apples was a great dish to me, as was one of their appetizers, a grilled tuna which was done perfectly the first time, the second a bit over-marinated and thus didn't have the same nice taste (so I guess it lacks a bit of consistency). I wouldn't recommend their jambalaya or ribs, but their seafood is done overall, quite well, and the seasonings are bold and explore your palate. Oh yeah -- if you order their desserts, the flavor of them is pretty tame overall but the volume rivals those of their appetizers. Sort of a gluttinous way to end a meal, I'd think, but a fun one. Other restaurants I haven't really explored to the fullest (but want to) include Enigma at West 10th near Sasamat, for the appetizers I did have (chicken wings, edamame, blue crab and yam fritters arranged in a cake and mussels steamed with a spicy tomato sauce) accented each other nicely and impressed me. I've been to some of the restaurants on that list (Montri's, Bin 942, Baru, Banana Leaf, Phnom Penh, En, Provence, SSW, soon-to-add Cru and Le Gavroche) and overall I did find that yes, they offer some of the food I consider the pinnacle of a dining experience, but these other restaurants are fun places to eat with some great attributes. Being a student I guess ambience and service aren't things I am overly concerned with (nor the wine list!) but well, in the end, these are some of the pearls I've found in a few years of living in the Lower Mainland. Sat Apr 17 00:23:40 -0700 2004 582550 0 JL 6 582653 I have been to the Modern Club and Chivana, and like them both. It would be great to hear more about other places that are fun and serve really good food. Dinners at places like West and Lumiere are all night events. Sometimes one wants a tasty dinner with limited time commitment and many places you mentioned seem to fit the bill. One place I am fond of it Moka Cafe on Nanaimo just below Hastings. They serve excellent piri piri chicken, and a variety of tasty game dishes. They don't have a liquor licence, but don't have a corkage fee if you bring your own, either. Tue Apr 20 22:07:00 -0700 2004 582633 0 ms bonne 6 582659 Thanks for your reply. I'll check out some of your suggestions. Wed Apr 21 18:46:23 -0700 2004 582633 0 Anne, Vancouver 1 582533 Thanks, Jamie :) Mighty considerate of you. I did check the Vancouver Magazine website last night, to no avail. I'd have to say that there would be a lot of duplication between Restaurant of the Year and Chef of the Year. What is the giest of the write-up in Vancouver Magazine on why Lumiere/West re-switched places for Gold? Wed Mar 31 10:44:59 -0800 2004 582530 0 cabrales 1 582542 Jamie -- Another interesting thing about the awards is the high general placement of Diva, which you suggested a few days back when I asked about it. Do you have a sense that lunch at Diva would offer the potential for a gastronomic experience, understanding that I would order dishes more likely to showcase cooking ability? (I don't have any dinners unallocated on my next trip to YVR). Thu Apr 01 22:40:14 -0800 2004 582530 0 cabrales