Chinese cuisine is definitely one of Vancouver’s highlights that both locals and tourists love. The Chinese Restaurant Awards (CRA) helps promote the best of the best in the Chinese food business in Metro Vancouver. It has also been used as a dining guide for local and visiting foodies looking for fine Chinese dining

The CRA 2012 ceremony took place in the River Rock Casino theatre which played host to 250 guests including 5 members of the AX3 team, who manned a booth distributing copies of Charged Magazine to the guests. As guests poured into the spectacularly decorated hall, they were treated to a live cooking demonstration of “Sauteed Geoduck with Egg White” made by Tony Luk of the Jade Seafood Restaurant (featured in this month’s issue of Charged Magazine). Guests were also treated to other dishes such as Landmark Hotpot House’s “Stir Fried Glutinous Rice”, Shiang Garden’s “Golden Geoduck” and Rainflower Seafood’s “Durian Pastry”. All of which we enjoyed very much and highly recommend!

The event was hosted by Breakfast TV’s Dawn Chubai for english speaking guests and OMNI Television’s Catherine Chan for cantonese speaking guests. The CRA’s founder, Craig Stowe, gave an inspiring speech before the awards announced and mentioned how the event helped support Chinese culture and contributed a great deal to culinary tourism in Vancouver. Celebrity chef Martin Yan made a special appearance via video as he couldn’t be in person and highlighted how special he felt about the event.

A variety of representatives from the many different companies sponsoring and collaborating with the CRA event presented awards to the many winners. AX3 Director, Shun Lee, had the honour of presenting the final award of the ceremony of best food court stall to Mambo Cafe.

All the award winners are listed below along with their address and contact number, so if you’re in the mood for deluxe award winning Chinese food try one of the restaurants below!

Best of the Signature Dish Dining Festival: (new awards this year)

1. Best Albert Beef Dish:
Stewed Alberta Ox-tail with Red Wine
Golden Swan Seafood Restaurant
5380 Victoria Drive, Vancouver (604-321-6621)

2. Best Albert Pork Dish:
Dongpo Style Braised Alberta Pork with Amoy Sauce
Shiang Garden Seafood Restaurant
2200-4540 No.3 Road, Richmond (604-273-8858)

3. Best Amoy Sauce Dish:
Fried Lobster with Green Onions and Amoy Premium Soy Sauce
Shiang Garden Seafood Restaurant
#2200-4540 No.3 Road, Richmond (604-273-8858)

Gold Awards with Distinction:
(Denotes a restaurant which has won with the same awards winning dish in previous years.)

1. Fried Squab
Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant
3711 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-232-0816)

2. Pan-fried Prawns with Soy
Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant
3711 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-232-0816)

3. Pork Stomach & Gingko Long-boiled Soup
Bamboo Grove
6920 No.3 Road, Richmond (604-278-9585)

4. Sautéed Buddha’s Feast
Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
#108-777 West Broadway, Vancouver (604-876-8388)

5. Stir-fried Glutinous Rice
Landmark Hotpot House
4023 Cambie Street, Vancouver (604-872-2868

New Awards Winning Dishes:

1. Bitter Melon Omelette
Hoi Tong Chinese Seafood Restaurant
#160-8191 Westminister Hwy, Richmond (604-276-9229)

2. Braised Chayote with Minced Pork & Preserved Vegetable
Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant
3711 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-232-0816)

3. Braised Duck with Plums and Taro Root Cakes
Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant
8071 Park Road, Richmond (604-278-0873)

4. Championship Beef Shank with Noodle in Spicy Soup
Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle
1560 Marine Drive, West Vancouver (778-279-8822)
#2800-4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond (604-295-9357)

5. Daliang Fried Milk
Hoi Tong Chinese Seafood Restaurant
#160-8191 Westminister Hwy, Richmond (604-276-9229)

6. Deep Fried Pork in Red Fermented Sauce
Kalvin’s Restaurant Ltd.
5225 Victoria Drive, Vancouver (604-321-2888)

7. Double Boiled Pig’s Shank with Honey Melon Soup
Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant
3711 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-232-0816)

8. Dry Fried Curry Dungeness Crab
James on Hastings Chinese Restaurant
2683 E Hastings St., Vancouver (604-255-3188)

9. Pan-fried Dungeness Crab with Salted Egg Yolk
Big Chef Restaurant
#1060-8580 Alexandra Road, Richmond (604-207-0386)

10. Pan-fried Fresh Oyster with Soya Sauce
Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant
8071 Park Road, Richmond (604-278-0873)

11. Flash Wok Fried BC Geoduck
Landmark Hotpot House
4023 Cambie Street, Vancouver (604-872-2868)

12. Hot Pot Soya Sauce Chicken
Big Chef Restaurant
#1060-8580 Alexandra Road, Richmond (604-207-0386)

13. Pan-fried Spike Sea Cucumber with Green Scallion
Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant
3711 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-232-0816)

14. Pork Belly with Pickled Vegetable and Soy Beans
Hoi Tong Chinese Seafood Restaurant
#160-8191 Westminister Hwy, Richmond (604-276-9229)

15. Sautéed B.C. Dungeness Crabs & Mixed Mushrooms with Amoy Premium Soy Sauce
The Jade Seafood Restaurant
8511 Alexandra Road, Richmond (604-249-0082)

16. Steamed Ginger Milk
Landmark Hotpot House
4023 Cambie Street, Vancouver (604-872-2868)

17. Stir Fried Garlic Bolt with Hunan Smoked Pork
Alvin Garden
4850 Imperial St., Burnaby (604-437-0828)

18. Stir-fried Tiger Prawns with Minced Pork and Eggplant
Bamboo Grove
6920 No.3 Road, Richmond (604-278-9585)

19. Sweet and Sour Pork with Fresh Fruit
Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant
8071 Park Road, Richmond (604-278-0873)

20. Tea Smoked Duck
Landmark Hotpot House
4023 Cambie Street, Vancouver (604-872-2868

2012 Diners’ Choice Awards Winners

1. Best Signature Dish Dining Restaurant
The Jade Seafood Restaurant
8511 Alexandra Road, Richmond (604-249-0082)

2. Best Service – Signature Dish Dining Restaurant
Rainflower Seafood Restaurant
3600 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-821-5555)

3. Best Dining Environment – Signature Dish Dining Restaurant
Grand Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby (604-432-6002)

4. Most Innovative – Signature Dish Dining Restaurant
Fortune House Seafood Restaurant
247-4700 Kingsway, Burnaby (604-438-8686)

Best: *new awards for this year*

1. Xiao Long Bao
Dinesty Chinese Restaurant
160-8111 Ackroyd Road, Richmond (604-303-7772)

2. King Crab Dish
Excelsior Restaurant
6-6340 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-278-2637)

3. New Restaurant (Open less than one year)
Grand Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby (604-432-6002)

4. Fine Dining Restaurant
Kirin Restaurants
1172 Alberni Street, Vancouver (604-682-8833)
2/F 555 W. 12th Avenue, Vancouver (604-879-8038)
350 Gifford Street, New Westminster (604-528-8833)
200 Three West Centre, 7900 Westminster Hwy, Richmond (604-303-8833)

5. Dim Sum Restaurant
The Jade Seafood Restaurant
8511 Alexandra Road, Richmond (604-249-0082)

6. Northern Chinese / Shanghainese Restaurant
Northern Delicacy
2788-4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond (604-233-7050)

7. Szechuan / Hunan Restaurant
Golden Szechuan Restaurant
3631 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-288-9058)

8. Taiwanese Restaurant/BBT Café
Pearl Castle
1128-3779 Sexsmith Road, Richmond (604-270-3939)
1380-4380 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-270-1870)

9. Hot Pot Restaurant
Fatty Cow Seafood Hot Pot
5108 Victoria Drive, Vancouver (604-568-6630)

10. Congee and Noodle Restaurant
Congee Noodle House
141-143 East Broadway, Vancouver (604-879-8221)

11. Vegetarian Restaurant
Spicy Vegetarian Cuisine
132-4200 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-304-3538)

12. Hong Kong-style Café
Cattle Café
1020– 8580 Alexandra Road, Richmond (604-276-2800)
4885 Kingsway, Burnaby (604-430-8686)

13. Bakery
Maxim’s
1136-1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam (604-468-1337)
2226-6060 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond (604-270-8337)
516-5613 Victoria Drive, Vancouver (604-323-1551)
161-4800 Kingsway, Burnaby (604-438-2256)
152-10153 King George Highway, Surrey (604-634-0323)

14. BBQ Shop
HK BBQ Master
145-4651 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604-272-6568)

15. Food Court Stall
Mambo Cafe, Aberdeen Centre
3020-4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond (604-273-3669)

You can check out the gallery below for pictures at the ceremony as well as the food presented at the event. You can also visit the CRA official website for more info and pictures!

Read Original