\nthe comment I hear most often is “Sweet” or “Great gig,” or some
\nvariation thereof, usually followed by “How can I get to be a judge?”\n<\/p>\n
\nAnd yes, it is cool and fun and all of the above, and I’m thrilled to
\nbe asked to help find the best Chinese food in Metro Vancouver.\n<\/p>\n
But the role does come with its own unique pitfalls. For me, it has
\nbeen the needle on my scale that continues to careen relentlessly to the
\nright despite my best efforts.<\/p>\n
\nBetween Nov. 1 – 18, there will be even more eating required when the CRA’s Signature Dish Dining Festival<\/a> \nThe minor quibble of horrifying weight gain aside, however, getting a \nMy fellow judges are wonderful: There’s founding judge Stephen Wong, \nAnd there’s founding director Craig Stowe, who is not a judge but \nAnd, of course, there’s the food. There’s no doubt that this is an \nWe started eating in August and, by the time we’re done in December, \nThis non-stop eating is not the sole reserve of judges. There is also \nIn the end, both groups — judges and diners — are after the same \nIn the past, this hasn’t been the easiest task as Chinese restaurant owners don’t tend to promote themselves or their eateries.\n<\/p>\n \nThe Chinese Restaurant Awards, now in its fourth year, has made \nHere’s a look at a few of the dishes I’ve tasted in the last little
\ntakes place; that’s when 18 restaurants in Vancouver, Richmond and
\nBurnaby will feature special set menus designed to draw customers to
\ntheir restaurants during what is traditionally a slow period.\n<\/p>\n
\nseat at this particular table has been a great experience so far.\n<\/p>\n
\nwho knows so much about Chinese food, past and present, that it’s
\ndownright scary; and Vancouver Magazine<\/i> food writer Lee Man, a
\nself-described “process nut” who sometimes arrives at our suppers
\nbearing little organizational charts for everyone, and who knows Chinese
\nfood like nobody’s business; and Fairchild Radio host Condrea Fung, who
\nvery cleverly works out before<\/i> she eats; and the lovely and generous food writer Joie Alvaro Kent; Brendon Mathews, who’s also a judge for the VanMag<\/i> Restaurant Awards; and Fernando Medrano, who has eaten at every noodle shop in Metro Vancouver.\n<\/p>\n
\njoins us when he can, cracking jokes about gwai-los and threatening to
\norder lemon chicken; and Rae Kung, the CRA’s event manager and head
\nwrangler who keeps everyone in line.\n<\/p>\n
\nexercise not just in heavy-duty eating, but in marathon eating as well.\n<\/p>\n
\nwe’ll have tasted hundreds of dishes from which we will choose 22
\nwinners in eight critics’ choice categories.\n<\/p>\n
\na diners’ choice component to the Chinese Restaurant Awards, in which the public is invited to nominate their favourite restaurant<\/a>
\nin 15 categories ranging from best king crab dish to best food court
\nkiosk. Nominations close Oct. 31, and the public will then vote from a
\nlist of the top 20 restaurants in each category.\n<\/p>\n
\nthing: We want to find the best Chinese food in Metro Vancouver.\n<\/p>\n
\nserious inroads into changing that, shining a light not just on the
\nbiggest and the best, but also on the little-known hole-in-the-wall that
\njust might be serving the best food no one’s ever heard of.\n<\/p>\n
\nwhile that I’ve really loved. Where did I eat them? Sorry — you’ll have
\nto wait until Jan. 17 to find out which restaurants are winners in
\nthe Chinese Restaurant Awards.\n<\/p>\n
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