TOP TABLES: Dara Young and David Gunawan’s Farmers Apprentice was the big winner at the 25th annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, the country’s largest awards ceremony celebrating the best in food. More than 700 industry professionals converged at the Sheraton Wall Centre for the Oscars for foodies. The 28-seat West Sixth eatery, across from the Courier offices, took home best new restaurant and the top prize of the night, Restaurant of the Year, besting venerable favourite Hawksworth, who picked up best upscale dining. Other winners included Jay Jones (Barkeep), Zest (Upscale Japanese) and Campagnolo Roma (Casual Italian). Cioppino’s Pino Posteraro earned chef of the year, while Cactus Club’s Richard Jaffray was cited with the Lifetime Achievement Award. More than 45 trophies were handed out.
BEST CHINESE DISHES: More food accolades as the Four Seasons Hotel hosted the Chinese Restaurant Awards. More than 250 guests were on hand for the sixth edition honouring 20 signature dishes by Vancouver and Toronto establishments. Among the local winners: Hoi Tong Chinese Seafood Restaurant (Alaska King Crab, Three Ways), Chef Tony Seafood Restaurant (Sea Cucumber) and Dynasty Restaurant (Geoduck, Two Ways). The awards culminated with the first-ever Chinese Master Chefs Gold Medal Dinner that saw four of the city’s finest chefs, and five powerhouses from Asia, come together for a memorable 10-course fundraising dinner, which cooked up $15,000 for a Vancouver Community College scholarship in the Asian Culinary Program.
ORAL ACTIVITY: Hedley’s Jacob Hoggard headlined the third annual Evening to Conquer Oral Cancer Gala, held at the Terminal City Club. The Juno-award winner performed in front of a packed ballroom following a stellar evening of dining and philanthropy, fronted by event founder Brenda Currie, along with Stephen Wall. Nearly $100,000 was netted for B.C. Cancer Agency’s Oral Cancer Prevention Program. A growing health problem, oral cancer will affect 300,000 individuals worldwide, and 500 in B.C., with an increasing amount of younger people developing oral cancer. Often diagnosed late, survival rate is poor.
