The 25th Annual Vancouver Magazine Awards were held on April 22 at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel and it was another fun event filled with surprises. The Farmers Apprentice took the top spot for Restaurant of the Year and Gold for Best Casual Restaurant which surprised and thrilled owners Chef David Gunawan and his partner Dara Young. Chef of the Year went to Pino Posteraro who took the stage to graciously thank his right hand restaurant chef and his team.

Here is the line-up of winners!

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
The Farmer’s Apprentice

BEST CASUAL RESTAURANT
The Farmer’s Apprentice

BEST UPSCALE RESTAURANT
Hawksworth

CHEF OF THE YEAR
Pino Posteraro

PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR
Thomas Haas

BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
Jay Jones

BEST UPSCALE FRENCH
Le Crocodile

BEST CASUAL FRENCH
Tableau Bar Bistro

BEST UPSCALE ITALIAN
Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca

BEST CASUAL ITALIAN
Campagnolo Roma

BEST UPSCALE CHINESE
Dynasty Seafood

BEST CASUAL CHINESE
Top Shanghai Cuisine

BEST DIM SUM
Dynasty Seafood

BEST UPSCALE JAPANESE
Zest

BEST CASUAL JAPANESE
Kingyo

BEST KOREAN
Hanwoori

BEST THAI
Maenam

BEST INDIAN
Vij’s

BEST VIETNAMESE
Phnom Penh

BEST OTHER ASIAN
Penang Delight Café

BEST OF THE AMERICAS
La Taqueria

BEST STEAKHOUSE
Hy’s Encore

BEST SEAFOOD
Bluewater Café and Raw Bar

BEST PIZZERIA
Via Tevere

BEST NOODLE HOUSE
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

BEST COFFEEHOUSE
49th Parallel

BEST CASUAL CHAIN
Cactus Club Café

BEST FOOD CART
Vij’s Railway Express

BEST DOWNTOWN
Cactus Club Coal Harbour

BEST WEST END
Nook

BEST YALETOWN
Blue Water Café + Raw Bar

BEST GASTOWN AND CHINATOWN
Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie

BEST WEST SIDE
La Quercia

BEST EAST SIDE
Via Tevere

BEST NORTH SHORE
La Regalade

BEST RICHMOND
Top Shanghai Cuisine

BEST WHISTLER
Araxi

BEST VICTORIA
Camille’s

BEST OTHER VANCOUVER ISLAND
Hudson’s on First

BEST OKANAGAN
Waterfront Wines

BEST WINERY/VINEYARD DINING
Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Richard Jaffray (Cactus Club)

BEST NEW DESIGN
Homer St. Café and Bar

MENTORSHIP AWARD
Scott Jaeger (The Pear Tree)

PREMIER CREW
Brian Hopkins (Sutton Place Hotel)
Denisa Johnova (Hawksworth)
Matthew Morgenstern (Ask for Luigi)
Francois Rameau (Don Francesco)

SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR
Mike Bernardo (Vij’s)

PRODUCER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
Sole Food

GREEN AWARD
The Parker

INGREDIENT OF THE YEAR
Gooseneck barnacles

 

Prior to the award presentation guests mingled at a reception with delightful appetizers from the Chefs Showcase where many of the nominated restaurants including all sorts of dishes as well as several appetizers and desserts prepared by the Sheraton Wall Centre’s own Chefs.

The award ceremony was entertaining as usual, this year the MC’s were Gloria Macarenko from CBC TV and Stephen Quinn from CBC Radio.

At the post-reception guests chowed down on nibbles and craft beer.

The after party was hosted my Joey Restaurant at Bental One where they served delicious sushi cones, perogies and ribs along with with wine, beer and cocktails late into the night.

By: Richard Wolak