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
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
Twitter: @ArganBistro
Instagram: ArganBistro
Chef Jeff Miller
2nd Place: C Prime Modern Italian Steakhouse & Wine Bar
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
Twitter @cprimesteak
Instagram: cprimesteak
Chef Elliott Hashimoto
3rd Place: American Grille
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
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:
Blue Canoe Restaurant
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:
Linh Café
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:
American Grille
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