Vancouver Magazine names the city's best

VANCOUVER—Blue Water Café chef Frank Pabst is the 2010 local Chef of the Year according to Vancouver Magazine.

Judges singled out the German born chef for his “crusade for sustainability,” “determination to explore the culinary potential of species that many chefs overlook,” and his “impeccable technique.”

Pabst’s background includes a stint with Rob Feenie at Lumiere, work at the Four Seasons hotel and time as a founding partner at Pastis Bistro.

“He combines West Coast ingredients, Asian flavours, and classical approaches with a sure and delicate hand,” the judges said.

Blue Water Café, owned by Top Table, also won gold for Restaurant of the Year and gold for Best Seafood.

The magazine bestowed its Lifetime Achievement honours on Sinclair Philip, co-owner of Sooke Harbour House with his wife Fréderique, just outside Victoria.

“Long before there was the 100-mile diet, before Bishop’s and Ocean Wise and the word “locavore,” there was Sooke Harbour House,” said Vancouver Magazine.

“Almost from the beginning, everything on guests’ plates cane from local farmers, foragers and fishermen, as well as their ever-expanding garden.”

Best new restaurant went to neighbourhood-friendly Campagnolo, owned by Tom Doughty, Tim Pittman and Robert Belcham, which the magazine said, “thrills the palate without breaking the bank.”  A judge called the space “a truly original room” and “affordably chic, with a slightly hipsterish vibe.”

Shaun Layton, mixologist at George Lounge in Yaletown, is Bartender of the Year, according to the magazine.

Judges named the 27-year-old for his “stamp on bringing back beautifully made classics—Old Fashioneds, Negronis, Aviations—made with hand-chipped ice in his collection of antique glasses.”

The Green Award goes to Andrea Carlson, head chef at Bishop’s. Carlson broke into the business at Sooke Harbour House and moved over to Raincity Grill before catching on with John Bishop’s restaurant.

“When the 100-mile diet was catching on, Carlson (then at Raincity Grill) was the first chef in town to feature a 100-mile menu,” the magazine stated.

Pearl on the Rock, located in White Rock, received marks for its “polished service, wine knowledge and fine-dining flavours,” in taking the top spot in the Worth the Drive category.

Vancouver Magazine said Pearl’s “nails it with dishes such as the house-made charcuterie plate and perfectly-seared Qualicum scallops with spring pea and Alpine Gold agnolotti.”

In second is La Belle Auberge in Ladner, Bruno Marti’s restaurant celebrating 30 years in business in 2010. Taking the bronze is Scott Jaeger’s the Pear Tree in Burnaby.

Tofino’s The Pointe at Wickwaninnish Inn takes the Best Resort Dining title from the magazine’s judges.

“Chefs John Waller and Nicholas Nutting have fashioned a menu that is beautifully suited to the room: elegant, comforting and very much of this place,” the magazine states.

“Duck breast is smoked and glazed with chestnut honey, tender spaetzle finds harmony with sweet squash and mellow roasted garlic, while the simple boiled Dungeness crab is a national treasure.”

Sooke Harbour House took the silver and Fetch at Black Rock Resort won bronze.

Restaurant Design of the Year went to the Market in the Shangri-La hotel. Box Interiors came up with the plan for the space, in which “Box threaded hits of olive green to tie the rooms together, and cleverly positioned the bar smack in the middle of things,” reads the magazine.

Campagnolo, designed by Marc Bricault, landed in the silver position and Mis Trucos, designed by owner Kris Barnholden, nabbed the bronze.

A full list of food category winners is available at www.vanmag.com.