Newcomers Sweeping Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards
at the 12th Annual Chinese Restaurant Awards
A tidal wave of newcomers has stricken the 12th Annual Chinese Restaurant Awards with ten out of twelve Critics’ Choice Signature Dishes Awards and two Honourable Mentions that highlights regional flavours, authenticity, and innovations. For twelve consecutive years, Chinese Restaurant Awards have been honouring the ever-growing scene of Chinese and Taiwanese culinary excellence. While diners voted, tasted, and celebrated the city’s finest with Diners’ Choice Awards fro February to June, here comes the prestigious Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards chosen by acclaimed critics. This year is especially meaningful because every award and experience (dine-in or take-out) is a heartfelt appreciation for the restaurant industry’s hard work and dedication, as every bite is to remind us that we are all in this together.
Bringing Back the Core Ideals of Chinese and Taiwanese Cuisines
Proudly presented by Canola Eat Well, Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards are judged by acclaimed food critics Lee Man, Alexandra Gill (Globe and Mail columnist), Brendon Mathews and William Ho Wood Kuen (Fairchild Media host). Due of the pandemic, the judging panel took almost a year, since last September, to secretly taste and vote in a secret ballot to come up with the result.
“This year’s judging process was interesting, to say the least. As always, the judges ate far and wide, as anonymously as possible, finding the best new dishes and ideas. Chinese food is incredibly diverse – both across a multitude of regions and levels of sophistication. But the impact of COVID and the struggles of restaurants, their staff, and clientele – have also brought into sharp focus the core ideals of Chinese and Taiwanese cuisines: immediacy, locality, and simple deliciousness. These quiet gestures of nurture and community are more important than ever. So we present our list of dishes that really resonated both with our palates and our hearts, the stories of proprietors, big and small, who strive everyday to connect with us. We are, as always, grateful for their generosity,” said Lee Man, the Chair of the judging panel.
Signature Dish Highlights
Winners of Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards encompass a vast variety of regional delicacies such as Cantonese, Hong Kong, Northern Chinese, Shanghainese, Taiwanese and Xinjiang. One of the highlights showcases a treasured culinary tradition in Vancouver. The Chef’s Alaska King Crab Signature Menu at New Fishport Seafood Bistro is a culinary delight with variations beyond imagination, such as king crab top shell with golden oysters and steamed egg custard, baked king crab puff pastry, Chiu Chow style congee with king crab legs and king crab blood essence, and squid ink tai-chi fried rice with king crab meat. The multi-award winning Chinese Master Chef Sam Leung has once again elevated Cantonese cuisine with his unique vision and tasteful innovation.
Authentic flavours are captured by the passion and dedication of small eateries and honoured by this year’s Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards. One of which is Vitasoy Flavoured Cream Puff by Little Fox Bakehouse. The sense of Hong Kong identity blends with the nostalgic taste of the Vitasoy beverage to provide a sense of unspeakable comfort, reminding us of a better time in the good old days, with cherished memories encapsulated in this sweet sensation. Across the strait, Taiwan takes pride in beef noodles soup, which has also inspired the young Chef Steven Kuan of Torafuku Vancouver to transform the authentic taste of childhood joy to his perfect vision of Beef Noodles Soup to impress the judges. Straight from the heartland of Northwestern China, the unique and fragrant spices of Xin Jiang has fascinated the judges and becomes a Critics’ Choice winner. Braised Chicken and Potato Platter with Biang Biang Noodles by Xi’an Noodle Restaurant in Richmond comes in a large portion for two to four people to share in a cozy atmosphere.
This year’s newly added Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards – Honourable Mentions have blending trending elements with popular food items to create a memorable taste. The temporarily closed Blossom Dim Sum & Grill’s Pineapple B.B.Q. Pork Bun double downs on the simple deliciousness from Hong Kong style cafe and Cantonese dim sum. Salted Duck Egg Yolk Croissant by L’Opera Patisserie in Richmond represents a creative “east meets west” version of an iconic pastry. Due to the pandemic, the patisserie is stated to close after a decade of operation, but their winning of the Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards – Honourable Mention will always remain a sweet memory.
Chinese Restaurant Awards is proud to celebrate the success of exceptional chefs and eateries for their exceptional Signature Dishes, especially during this trying time. The Awards encourages diners to taste and support local restaurants at their comfortable and safety preference. Winners will be invited to the 12th Annual Chinese Restaurant Awards Ceremony at the Vancouver Club. Date to be announced.
Sponsors & Partners: Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office(Canada), Canola Eat Well, Airland Mattress Canada, The Vancouver Club, Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver (Official Hotel), Ocean Wise, Underwater Harvesters Association, Great Bear Scallops, Luxury Alliance Group, Think x Blink Communications Ltd., ChopValue, Fantuan Reviews, Singtao Daily, Pure Luxury Magazine, LifeVancouver.jp, A Bite of Vancouver, Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and Vancouver Community College.
2020 Chinese Restaurant Awards
Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards, presented by Canola Eat Well
12 award-winning dishes in total | *first time winners of the Critics’ Choice Awards component
(In alphabetic order)
1. STEAMED SCALLOP & PEA TIP DUMPLING
Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
108-777 W Broadway, Vancouver (604) 876-8388
2. SWEET & SOUR PORK TENDERLOIN
Emperor’s Kitchen*
Ground Floor, 8511 Alexandra Rd, Richmond (604) 279-9997
3. VITASOY FLAVOURED CREAM PUFF
Little Fox Bakehouse*
8181 Cambie Rd # 1180, Richmond (604) 231-8131
4. KUNG PO LOBSTER/PRAWN, SWEETCORN & WATER CHESTNUT CAKE
Mott 32
1161 W Georgia St, Vancouver (604) 979-8886
5. CHEF’S ALASKA KING CRAB SIGNATURE MENU
New Fishport Seafood Bistro*
620 SE Marine Dr, Vancouver (604) 323-1318
6. CHIU CHOW STYLE OYSTER PAN CAKE
New Mandarin Seafood Restaurant*
4650 Gladstone St, Vancouver (604) 336-9388
7. TRADITIONAL STEAMED DUMPLING SAMPLER
Nine Dumplings*
204-1610 Robson St, Vancouver (778) 246-1199
8. INDIVIDUAL STEAMED BLACK COD IN BAMBOO LEAF
Prince Seafood Restaurant*
2881 Grandview Hwy, Vancouver (604) 430-6808
9. EXQUISITE SILVER SOUP BASE
The Dolar Shop*
5300 Number 3 Rd, Richmond (604) 370-7077
10. TORAFUKU BEEF NOODLE SOUP
Torafuku*
958 Main St, Vancouver (778) 903-2006
11. XIN JIANG BRAISED CHICKEN AND POTATO PLATTER WITH BIANG BIANG NOODLES
Xi’an Noodle Restaurant*
4351 Number 3 Rd, Richmond (778) 654-4566
12. SHANGHAI MOON CAKES
Z&W Shanghainese Kitchen*
2126 W Broadway, Vancouver (604) 423-2999
Honorable Mentions
L’Opera Patisserie*
Salted Duck Egg Yolk Croissant
Blossom Dim Sum & Grill*
Pineapple B.B.Q. Pork Bun
About Chinese Restaurant Awards Founded in 2008, Chinese Restaurant Awards is the longest running Chinese culinary awards event in the world. The Awards are rooted in two challenging yet humble goals; raise public awareness to quality Chinese cuisine throughout Vancouver’s lower mainland and create a platform for cross-cultural culinary exchange, with a deeper understanding of Chinese culinary influence. The team behind the Chinese Restaurant Awards consist of food, media and marketing professionals who are Chinese food enthusiasts, with a passion for promoting regional Chinese cuisine in North America. Over the years, the team has achieved many milestones through several culinary events and campaigns such as the Chinese Master Chefs Gold Medal Dinner in 2014, East Meets West: Paris x Vancouver 2016, DINING by the Awards 2019, Chinese Restaurant Awards Scholarship and the highly popular social influential culinary tourism campaign #Taste city series in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Taipei from 2017 to 2019.
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Media contact: Rae Kung rae@ChineseRestaurantAwards.com
www.ChineseRestaurantAwards.com #Awards2020
