Calamari Challenge Winners

The  Vancouver Foodster Calamari Challenge was successful featuring 7 calamari creations from restaurants around Vancouver and Richmond. Each restaurant featured their calamari creation from June 11 – July 5, 2015. Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.

Our Media judges for this challenge were: Karl Kliparchuk. Louisa Chan and Valerie van der Gracht

The Winners are:

1st Place: Argan Bistro

West Coast Blackened Squid Trio

West Coast Blackened Squid Trio

Created by: Chef Jeff Miller

Description: Citrus-soy marinated sous-vide tube, black sesame and squid ink beer-battered tentacles, mesquite-smoked jerky, kelp and jellyfish salad, sake heirloom, kasu foam, fresh wasabi and avocado crema, golden tobiko, micro-shiso.

Argan Bistro

795 Jervis Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-563-8466

Web: http://arganbistro.com/

Twitter: @ArganBistro

Instagram: ArganBistro

Chef Jeff Miller

Chef Jeff Miller

2nd Place: C Prime Modern Italian Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Calamari

C Prime Calamari

Created by: Executive Chef Elliott Hashimoto

Description: Shrimp and mascarpone stuffed calamari with lobster reduction and spicy greens.

C Prime Modern Italian Steakhouse & Wine Bar

1015 Burrard Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-684-3474

Web: http://www.cprime.ca/

Twitter @cprimesteak

Instagram: cprimesteak 

Chef Elliott Hashimoto

Chef Elliott Hashimoto

3rd Place: American Grille

Calmar Farci

Calmar Farci

Description: Chorizo stuffed squid, pepperade with fresh grape tomato salsa

Created by: Chef Danilo Ibara

American Grille

7571 Westminster Highway, Richmond

Tel: 604-232-2804

Web: http://www.american-grille.com

Twitter: @GrilleYVR

Instagram: grilleyvr

Chef Danilo Ibara

Chef Danilo Ibara

In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Calamari dishes were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.

The Winners are:

1st Place People’s Choice:

vf_award_badge_Calamari_1

Blue Canoe Restaurant

Calamari Provencal

Calamari Provencal

Created by: Executive Chef David Friedman

Description:  Grilled calamari with gem tomatoes, nicoise olives, capers, garlic, lemon zest, parsley and evoo.

Blue Canoe Restaurant

140-3866 Bayview Street, Richmond

Tel: 604-275-7811

Web:  http://www.bluecanoerestaurant.com

Twitter: @bluecanoeresto

 

2nd Place People’s Choice:

vf_award_badge_Calamari_2

Linh Café

Cha Muc - Calamari Cake

Cha Muc – Calamari Cake

Created by: Chef Tai Luong Nguyen

Description: Fresh herbs, fish sauce for dipping.

Linh Cafe

2836 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-559-4668

Web: http://linhcafe.com/

Twitter: @LinhCafeVan

Instagram: linhcafe_yvr

 

3rd Place People’s Choice:

vf_award_badge_Calamari_3

American Grille

Calmar Farci

Calmar Farci

Description: Chorizo stuffed squid, pepperade with fresh grape tomato salsa

Created by: Chef Danilo Ibara

American Grille

7571 Westminster Highway, Richmond

Tel: 604-232-2804

Web: http://www.american-grille.com

Twitter: @GrilleYVR

Instagram: grilleyvr

Thank you to all the chefs, restaurants that accepted my invitation and featured their calamari creations on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.

I encourage you to visit the winning restaurants to try their Calamari creations! See all the 7 Calamari entries here. 

By: Richard Wolak

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