{"id":12,"date":"2015-08-16T13:58:52","date_gmt":"2015-08-16T20:58:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chineserestaurantawards.com\/septstaging\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2026-09-11T15:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T22:56:10","slug":"about-cra","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chineserestaurantawards.com\/septstaging\/about-cra\/","title":{"rendered":"About Chinese Restaurant Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Founded in Vancouver \u00b7 2008<\/div>\n

About Chinese Restaurant Awards<\/span><\/h1>\n
From Vancouver, inviting the world to discover Chinese cuisine.<\/div>\n
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Chinese Restaurant Awards began with a deceptively simple question: What should we eat?<\/em><\/p>\n

We believed the best way to understand a restaurant was to begin with the dish itself. That founding idea grew from a Vancouver dining guide into an international platform celebrating the chefs, restaurants and culinary stories shaping Chinese gastronomy across Canada, the United States and Asia.<\/p>\n

How the Awards Are Decided \u2192<\/strong><\/a>Contact the Awards \u2192<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/12″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]
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One founding idea \u00b7 A growing world<\/div>\n

The journey so far<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” gap=”15″][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_column_text]\n
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2008<\/div>\n
Vancouver<\/div>\n

The Signature Dish guide begins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_column_text]\n

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CANADA<\/div>\n
A national guide<\/div>\n

Recognizing Chinese dining across the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_column_text]\n

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U.S.<\/div>\n
A new chapter<\/div>\n

Discovering distinctive voices in American Chinese dining.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_column_text]\n

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ASIA<\/div>\n
Beyond borders<\/div>\n

Exploring Chinese gastronomy outside Mainland China.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”fadeIn” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-vz-jquery” bg_image_new=”id^1006674|url^https:\/\/chineserestaurantawards.com\/septstaging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/iron-grip-1920×1080-1.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^section-bg-7|description^null” bg_image_size=”initial” bg_override=”full” enable_overlay=”enable_overlay_value” overlay_color=”rgba(5,24,55,.18)”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”65px”][vc_row_inner gap=”35″][vc_column_inner width=”5\/12″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]\n

Why we exist<\/div>\n

Great taste opens the door.<\/h2>\n

From regional traditions and neighbourhood institutions to refined dining rooms and new creative voices, we invite people to experience Chinese cuisine with curiosity and depth.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”7\/12″][vc_column_text]\n

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Discover<\/div>\n

Guide diners towards restaurants, dishes and stories worth seeking out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Recognize<\/div>\n

Give deserving chefs, restaurateurs and culinary leaders a wider platform.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Connect<\/div>\n

Create meaningful exchange between generations, cultures, cities and communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][vc_single_image image=”1008325″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”fadeInRight” css=””][vc_empty_space height=”48px”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]\n

Leadership<\/div>\n

Leading the Awards forward<\/h2>\n

Bringing together brand leadership, culinary judgement, cultural storytelling and memorable experiences.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”40px”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” gap=”35″][vc_column_inner width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”5743″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”7\/12″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]\n

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Chief Executive Officer<\/div>\n

Rae Kung<\/h3>\n
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With experience at leading international agencies in Hong Kong and collaborations with luxury and lifestyle brands across Canada and Asia, Rae Kung brings a global perspective to culinary storytelling and cultural advocacy. Named one of Western Canada\u2019s Top 10 Foodies by Western Living<\/em> in 2019, she creates platforms that bring chefs and their stories to wider audiences, foster dialogue across borders and present the continuing evolution of Chinese food culture with sensitivity and imagination.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”36px”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” gap=”35″][vc_column_inner width=”7\/12″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]\n

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Chief Operating Officer<\/div>\n

Jacob Ung<\/h3>\n
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A former marketing leader for global automotive brands, Jacob Ung brings experience across brand, business and cultures, together with a genuine curiosity about people and ideas. A seasoned traveller from Richmond, British Columbia, he sees the table as an entry point into a city\u2019s history, culture and way of life. As Chief Operating Officer, he combines this perspective with a deep appreciation for the heritage, diversity and human stories carried through Chinese cuisine. In 2025, he received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to Canada and his community.<\/p>\n

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Governance note<\/div>\n

Jacob served as a Taste Advisor for the 2025 and 2026 Awards. The 2026 voting process concluded in June, before his appointment as Chief Operating Officer in August 2026. His votes were submitted during the official voting period and remain valid; his advisory role ended before he joined the organization\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”1012868″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”36px”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” gap=”35″][vc_column_inner width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”1008385″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”7\/12″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]\n

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Vice President, Gala & Events<\/div>\n

Amy Venhuizen<\/h3>\n
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Amy Venhuizen has built her career at the intersection of real estate development and lifestyle curation. As a Director at Vancouver-based Sunwins, she has overseen high-rise residential projects and collaborated with notable talent to create distinctive dining, hospitality and lifestyle experiences. Her approach brings architectural vision and thoughtful programming together, informed by extensive travel and her roots in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where she studied at Lakehead University.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”36px”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” gap=”35″][vc_column_inner width=”7\/12″][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]\n

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Vice President & Chair of Judging Panel \u00b7 CANADA<\/div>\n

Lee Man<\/h3>\n
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A founding judge of the Awards and a prominent Canadian food critic, Lee Man has devoted years to exploring Chinese cuisine and the signature dishes that define great restaurants. He contributes regularly to Vancouver Magazine<\/em> and Montecristo Magazine<\/em>, with work also appearing in Wine Access<\/em>, the Financial Times<\/em> and Time Out<\/em>. His perspective has been featured by the New York Times<\/em>, Los Angeles Times<\/em>, Seattle Times<\/em> and Eater.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”1006163″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”75px”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]\n

Where it began<\/div>\n

The founding vision<\/h2>\n

A shared belief that Vancouver\u2019s Chinese dining culture deserved thoughtful, credible and wider recognition.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” gap=”28″][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”5742″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=””][vc_column_text]\n

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Co-founder<\/div>\n

Craig Stowe<\/h3>\n

Known for producing high-profile events including Luxury & Supercar Weekend and Diamond Rally, Craig Stowe co-founded Chinese Restaurant Awards with Stephen Wong in 2008. By bringing respected critics together around a credible recognition programme, he helped elevate Vancouver\u2019s Chinese culinary scene and strengthen the city\u2019s reputation as a global destination for Chinese gastronomy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”588″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=””][vc_column_text]\n

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Co-founder<\/div>\n

Stephen Wong<\/h3>\n

A respected food and wine authority and author, Stephen Wong helped bridge non-Chinese-speaking audiences with the depth of Vancouver\u2019s Chinese dining culture. His books include HeartSmart Chinese Cooking<\/em> and New World Noodles<\/em>. Through his writing and advocacy, he brought greater visibility to Chinese restaurants and shaped a broader understanding of the city\u2019s culinary landscape.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”80px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_override=”ex-full” bg_color_value=”#0b1f3a” el_class=”wide-ipad”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner el_class=”without-padding”][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″]

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A legacy programme since 2013<\/div>\n

Chinese Master Chefs<\/h2>\n

Skill, creativity and passion are essential for any great chef, but mastery asks for something more: the ability to uphold tradition, deepen a craft and inspire those who follow.<\/p>\n

Since 2013, Chinese Master Chefs has celebrated exceptional culinary journeys while giving emerging chefs and the dining public opportunities to learn from these masters. Milestones include the 2014 Gold Medal Dinner<\/a> at Four Seasons Vancouver and the 2022 MASTERS Finale<\/a> at Paradox Hotel Vancouver.<\/p>\n

Discover Chinese Master Chefs \u2192<\/a>
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Beyond the guide<\/div>\n

Programmes that bring the mission to life<\/h2>\n

Dining, travel and community initiatives create places for chefs, diners and cultures to meet.<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”42px”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” gap=”30″][vc_column_inner width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”1006236″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=””][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”7\/12″][vc_column_text]\n

Community impact \u00b7 Since 2015<\/div>\n

Scotiabank Feast of Fortune<\/h3>\n

Chinese Restaurant Awards has worked with St. Paul\u2019s Foundation to support Feast of Fortune and its vital fundraising. More than 40 award-winning and New Wave chefs have contributed their talent to the gala, reflecting the restaurant community\u2019s generosity. The partnership now supports medical research at the new St. Paul\u2019s Clinical Support and Research Centre on the Jim Pattison Medical Campus.<\/p>\n

Discover Feast of Fortune \u2192<\/a>
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Culinary collaboration \u00b7 Since 2014<\/div>\n

DINING by the Awards<\/h3>\n

From the 2014 Chinese Master Chefs Gold Medal Dinner<\/a> and 2016 Paris \u00d7 Vancouver<\/a> to the continuing DINING and Dim Sum Gala series, these events bring established masters and emerging chefs together to exchange ideas, collaborate and explore new possibilities for Chinese cuisine.<\/p>\n

Past editions: 2018<\/a> \u00b7 2019<\/a> \u00b7 2022 New Wave<\/a> \u00b7 2022 MASTERS Finale<\/a> \u00b7 2023<\/a><\/p>\n

Explore signature dining events \u2192<\/a>
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Culinary tourism \u00b7 Since 2017<\/div>\n

Taste City Series<\/h3>\n

Launched with Taste Hong Kong in 2017, the series takes culinary storytellers beyond familiar dining routes to experience regional flavours, local culture and emerging trends from the inside. Its journeys have included Hong Kong, Taipei, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou and Ningbo\u2014connecting Canadian audiences with the people and places shaping Chinese dining across Asia.<\/p>\n

Explore the journeys: Hong Kong 2017<\/a> \u00b7 Hangzhou & Shanghai 2018<\/a> \u00b7 Hong Kong & Taipei 2018<\/a> \u00b7 Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou 2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Discover Taste City 2026 \u2192<\/a>
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