Best of the city 2016

20 16

FROM THE EDITORS OF

MAGAZINE

THE B E ST

Where to Eat, Drink and Shop (According to the Experts)

BEERS+ WINES IN TOW N

DINING Vancouver's Restaurant Awards + BEST NEW ROOMS

DRINKS Dynamite Cocktails

+ BARTENDERS, MAPPED

FASHION The City's Most Stylish + STORES TO WATCH

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20 16

FROM THE EDITORS OF

MAGAZINE

COVER: MIHAILOMILOVANOVIC; COCK TAILS: PHOTO BY JOA AN PAI, ST YLING BY GABRIEL CABRERA

Five drinks from five cocktail lounges (that you must visit).

58

DINING

DRINKS

FASHION

42 Beer Awards Bottoms up. These kings of their craft reigned supreme.

64 Most Stylish People Five trendy Vancouverites offer fashion advice.

42

13

13 Restaurant Awards Our flagship ranking of the city's top places to eat.

50 Wine Awards Consider this your guide to BC Liqour Stores.

28 Best Dessert We taste-tested chocolate, pies and ice cream, just for you.

58 Best Cocktails The best mixed drinks in the city and where to find them.

34 Fresh Offerings New rooms you need to check out.

36

36 Cheap Eats Good food for an even better price. Here are the city's best deals.

60

60 Mixologist Map We've literally mapped out the top bartenders in town.

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74 Shopping Destinations Where to buy everything from jeans to shoes.

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78 New Stores What’s new to the fashion retail scene.

80 Consignment Vancouver’s best consignment stores.

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

7

ED NOTE

Best of the City

20 16

Editor Trevor Melanson

SOME SAY THAT what’s “best” is merely a matter of taste. But we here at Vancouver magazine believe it’s actually a matter of whether or not Vancouver magazine has written about you.

I’m kidding, I’m kidding.

Well, I’m sort of kidding. The truth is, when it comes to food and drink, we’ve been this city’s authority for decades—and not just because we brand ourselves as such. Forgive the cliché, but we literally put our money where our mouth is. Okay, half-literally (putting money in one’s mouth is highly unsanitary).

The point being: our annual Restaurant Awards, Wine Awards and Beer Awards are major investments.

We hire Vancouver’s most established food critics, who then spend the better part of a year visiting countless restaurants, arguing over them and ultimately casting their ballots. For those in the local industry, the Restaurant Awards gala is Oscar night. The process for Wine Awards and Beer Awards, meanwhile, is similar, as hundreds of glasses and bottles are sipped and savoured by elite teams of judges.

For the winners, the end result is a placard on the wall, a sense of accomplishment and a boost to business. But for you, dear reader, it is this guide. For the first time ever, we’ve bound together all of our award winners into one special issue (cue a heavenly aww).

What’s more, we’ve rounded it out with intel on the city’s best new restaurants, cocktail lounges, fashion retailers and more.

So enjoy our inaugural Best of the City guide. As for you future critics out there, consider it homework.

Contributing Editors Julia Dilworth, Stacey McLachlan, Neal McLennan Art Intern Marina Bender Editorial Interns Daniela Rodriguez Chevalier, Julianna Sonntag, Willem Thomas Contributing Writers Jenni Baynham, DJ Kearney, Anya Levykh, Dominika Lirette, Mana Mansour, Amanda Ross, Michael White

Vancouver magazine General Manager Dee Dhaliwal Editorial Director Anicka Quin Art Director Paul Roelofs Marketing & Events Manager Dale McCarthy Event Coordinator Laura Lilley Ad Traff ic & Off ice Coordinator Kaitlyn Gendemann Production Manager Lee Tidsbury Graphic Designer Swin Chai Advertising Sales Vancouver Office Advertising Sales Director Edwin Rizarri Account Managers Deanna Bartolomeu, Corinne Gillespie, Judy Johnson, Gabriella Sepulveda Knuth, Theresa Tran, Carly Tsering, Address: Suite 560, 2608 Granville St., Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3V3 Phone: 604-877-7732 Advertising email: edwin.rizarri@ypnexthome.ca

Yellow Pages Next Homes Ltd. President Jacky Hill Director, National Sales & Channel Management, Lifestyle Nadine Starr National Sales Manager, National Sales & Channel Management, Lifestyle Ian Lederer National Sales Director Moe Lalani Director of Content Susan Legge Head Office 500–401 The West Mall Etobicoke, Ontario, M9C 5J5 Phone: 855-626-4200 Fax: 416-789-9705 Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Ltd. Vice-President & Chief Publishing Off icer Caroline Andrews VANCOUVER BEST OF THE CITY is published annually by Yellow Pages Homes Ltd. Copyright 2016. Printed in Canada by TC • Transcontinental, LGM-Coronet, 737 Moray St., Winnipeg, Man. R3J 3S9. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept., Ste. 560, 2608 Granville St., Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3V3. Distributed free in areas of Vancouver. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. All reproduction requests must be made to COPIBEC (paper reproductions), 800-717-2022, or CEDROM-SNi (electronic reproductions), 800-563-5665.

The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. This publication is indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index and the Canadian Periodical Index, and is available online in the Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database. ISSN 1920-0668 (British Columbia edition). Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #400068973.

PRIVACY POLICY On occasion, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened organizations whose product or service might interest you. If you prefer that we not share your name and address (postal and/or email), you can easily remove your name from our mailing lists by reaching us at any of the listed contact points. You can review our complete Privacy Policy at vanmag.com.

Trevor Melanson EDITOR

8

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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DINING

Dining

Good food may be a matter of taste, but a little guidance never hurt. Our expert judges dish on where to dine.

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

11

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CIOPPINO’S: Tradition and evolution in the art of fine Italian Cuisine, in the true spirit of Canada West Coast Quality Italian Cuisine from one of Vancouver’s Premier Chefs Chef Giuseppe (Pino) Posteraro

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hef Giuseppe Posteraro feels he has achieved what he set out to do. “The mission was to create a world class Italian/Mediterranean restaurant,” explains Pino, as he is known among locals. “I wanted to provide customers with creative meals and excellent service in a relaxed environment. Vancouverites were behind us all the way.”

Posteraro opened Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca in 1999, following stints at reputed restaurants around Europe and in Singapore. He believes that it is a perfect balance of tradition and evolution that brings people back. “It’s that mix of personable service and familiar faces with the highest standard of professionalism and consistency.”

Of course most would argue that the chef’s extraordinary skill plays a key role in Cioppino’s success.

Renowned for his exceptionally light Italian-inspired dishes, including house-made pastas, the 2008 and 2014 Vancouver Magazine Chef of the Year has long been

garnering attention and acclaim as one of the city’s top culinary talents.

Posteraro believes that Vancouver’s small-town vibe and unparalleled access to local products make working in the city more fun, although he says that ultimately inspiration comes from within. Long list of accolades considered, Posteraro is still most proud at the end of a long night.

“A successful evening with perfect food creations, great service and happy customers; that is what makes me happy,” he shares humbly. You’d be hard pressed to find this award-winning chef without a smile from ear to ear.

“How lucky am I to do what I love and never have to work a day in my life?”

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DINING Restaurant Awards

CARLO RICCI

THE BEST RESTAURANTS Each spring, VanMag unveils its list of the year’s best restaurants. While such rankings are inherently subjective, ours is backed by an elite team of 18 judges representing the top food critics in the city. These judges spend countless hours trying the best food Vancouver has to offer (yes, there are worse jobs), and here in your hands are the results for 2016.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

Maenam WHEN ASKED HIS AGE , Angus An says he’s 36. No, he corrects himself—35. “I feel 46, to be honest with you,” he says. It’s an understandable mix-up. Age is an easy thing to forget for someone like An, who opened his first restaurant, Gastropod, when he was just 26.

Maenam, his flagship restaurant, came three years later, and he’s since opened three casual eateries and won more awards for his work than most chefs

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

13

DINING Restaurant Awards

“

twice his age. Indeed, 35 seems almost impossibly young considering the fact that, according to this year’s Restaurant Awards judges, An has not only been instrumental in putting out amazing food night after night, he’s also reshaped Vancouver’s dining scene in the process.

He also transformed what a Thai restaurant could be, expanding that definition to include modern decor, intimate service and carefully crafted cocktails and wine pairings—features that were traditionally reserved for more continental establishments. But despite pioneering a new category of dining in this city, An—who was born in Taiwan and grew up in Maple Ridge— had very traditional aspirations at the start of his culinary career. “I was determined to be a French chef,” he says. “French food was the pinnacle of what my career would be.” That is, until one day a friend invited him to work at Nahm, the world’s only Michelinstarred Thai restaurant at the time.

The seed that would eventually blossom into Maenam had been planted, and in 2009 he and his business partner, Kate Auewattanakorn (who also happens to be An’s wife), decided to bring something new to Vancouver. It was an instant hit. “We were able to provide ethnic food with slightly…sexier vibes,” he says. “Before, 20 years ago, I don’t think that was there. Even the good ones were not romantic, not a nice night out.

Now there are restaurants where you can go and have a really good night. That’s what was missing.”—Trevor Melanson

14

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

CARLO RICCI

We were able to provide ethnic food with slightly…sexier vibes. Twenty years ago, I don’t think that was there.”

DINING Restaurant Awards

B E S T N E W R E S TAU R A N T

Royal Dinette to say that “business as usual” is not a concept that David Gunawan looks upon favourably. After all, his career has been defined by a seemingly relentless need for change, both in the plates he puts out and the places in which they get served. That sensibility has found its fullest expression at Royal Dinette, where the food that he and head chef Jack Chen are creating is almost defiantly— and always unapologetically—creative.

The products of Gunawan’s unique form of culinary intelligence have always been apparent, but they became impossible to ignore last year. Our Restaurant Awards judges certainly didn’t, given that they named Royal Dinette as 2016’s Best New Restaurant and Gunawan as their chef of the year. Royal Dinette is the fourth in a four-year run of high-end success stories that Gunawan’s name has been attached to—six if you count stints at Maenam and Ouest that came before Wildebeest.

As for the source of his creativity, a clue

CARLO RICCI

it ’ s probably safe

lies in his leadership style. “Dave has a lovely, slightly idealistic, hyper-democratic, round table type of kitchen leadership,” says Wildebeest’s James Iranzad. “Even on a busy Friday night service, Dave could be working in the prep kitchen,” Iranzad adds.

“He didn’t need to lead the line every time.

He was often happy just developing his ideas.”

A recent photo posted to Gunawan’s Instagram gives a sense of how this looks in practice. A paper menu is marked up with ballpoint and Sharpie scribbles.

Items are crossed out and replaced or reordered, and down the right margin is a list of ingredients: kale chip, radish and butter, dehydrated carrot, grilled broccoli, daikon, pickled mushrooms, onion chip.

Who knows how those will coalesce into a single dish? But here you see a cluster of culinary imaginations sparking off one another, opening up the possibilities of what the moment can offer.

—Timothy Taylor

Runners-up

Kudos must be given to Bauhaus (Silver), the German fine-dining restaurant everyone wanted to hate after hearing owner/notorious filmmaker Uwe Boll’s strictures on our dining scene. But the contemporary fare of Michelin-starred chef Stefan Hartmann renders that impossible, thanks to dishes like lightly pickled herring with sauce gribiche and dill, or the reimagined schnitzel.

The four-course tasting menu is a steal at $75.

AnnaLena (Bronze) broke a multi-year curse on its Kitsilano location and established itself as a bastion of Canadian dishes such as foie-grastopped oyster and the buttermilk fried chicken with sesame dasho mayo.—Anya Levykh

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

15

DINING Restaurant Awards

BEST UPSCALE

16 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

(Bronze) is still first in our hearts when it comes to Italian (as its Gold for Best Upscale Italian proves).

owner Tannis Ling, and the small “schnacks,” like the house-made Taiwanese pork sausage and marinated eggplant.

B E S T C A S UA L

Ask for Luigi (Gold) has settled back into being a neighbourhood place after sweeping last year’s awards, albeit still, as one judge states, “with arguably the best Italian food in the city.” This casual, intimate room takes a seasonal approach to Italian comfort food.

Dishes like the anchovies and eggs and the housemade pastas have become bucket-list items for visiting foodies. And, of course, the negronis are killer. Our 2016 Restaurant of the Year, Maenam (Silver), had to be on the list, as did Bao Bei (Bronze) for its fantastic butcher-knife-adorned room, the cocktails from

U P S C A L E I TA L I A N

One might be the loneliest number, but Pino Posteraro, the legendary chef and owner behind Cioppino’s (Gold), seems to be bearing his singular— and long-held—status well.

“His execution is both simple and meticulous, and the results are always, always brilliant,” one judge says. Anyone who’s tried his spaghetti aglio e olio would have to agree.

New restaurant Giardino (Silver) is perhaps not so much new as reborn but gives a respectable showing thanks to owner Umberto Menghi’s dedication to slightly modernized classics, like the porterhouse sliced off

the bone fiorentina-style.

And, after surpassing the quarter-century mark last year, CinCin (Bronze) shows that everything really does get better with age, as it holds its ranking and, quite literally, plays with fire to produce whole branzino and onion ash.

C A S UA L I TA L I A N

After last year’s sweep in four categories, it’s not surprising that Ask for Luigi (Gold) is back on this list, although this year it has to share the laurels with dark horse L’ufficio (Gold), which one judge described as the “quintessential Italian wine bar.” From the room-temperature cheese board to its casual and excellent service, L’ufficio has become an important neighbourhood hangout writing by

Anya Levykh

HAWKSWORTH: CLINTON HUSSE Y; ASK FOR LUIGI: LUIS VALDIZON; CINCIN: JOHN SHERLOCK

This category is almost cruel, as it seems there’s zero chance of anyone ever winning over David Hawksworth for his eponymous restaurant.

Hawksworth (Gold) boasts service executed with balletic perfection, a massive wine list overseen by a team of exuberant sommeliers, and a menu that, according to one judge, “never disappoints, with culinary director Kristian Eligh serving dishes that fully justify his mentor’s reputation.”

Local ingredients like the ever-present hamachi play with Asian flavours (yuzu and black sesame are regulars here) to show off a “real understanding of how to layer flavours and textures.” The burger ain’t bad, either.

Meanwhile, Bauhaus shows its Silver game is strong after placing in both Best New and this category—not a bad place to start. And Cioppino’s

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DINING Restaurant Awards

UPSCALE FRENCH

Le Crocodile (Gold), even after 30-plus years, continues to do no wrong. Under the seasoned generalship of chef/owner Michel Jacob and his dedicated team, the restaurant has kept its stranglehold on this category, thanks to perennial favourites like the frogs’ legs (really), veal sweetbreads and the Provençal lamb. And, yeah, maybe that wine list also has something to do with it.

L’Abattoir (Silver) may be more edgy in presentation, but this Gastown bastion of cocktails and charm excels at the refined technique behind its

18 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

foie gras torchon and what is arguably the best bread basket in the city.

Looking to go old school?

Bacchus (Bronze) justifies its Relais and Châteaux standing with its tableside service and opulent surroundings—the perfect backdrop for its duck rillettes and truffle frites.

C A S UA L F R E N C H

In what one judge calls “the most competitive category in the competition,” Au Comptoir (Gold) stood out by a long mile this year for its quirky, casual room full of vintage touches and classic café cuisine.

Some of the city’s best value is to be had here, whether it’s the omelette aux fines herbes or the stellar bavette paired with a generously poured red. Tableau (Silver) stays strong with its big brassy room and some of the best tartare in the city. And Les Faux Bourgeois (Bronze) makes a surprise appearance on the list this year, thanks to its east-side cool and classic blue-collar menu.

U P S C A L E J A PA N E S E

C A S UA L J A PA N E S E

Zest (Gold) showed that last year’s upset (it tied for Gold with long-standing winner Tojo’s) was more than a fluke with this year’s standalone showing. As one judge puts it, “Sushi master Yoshi Maniwa’s food is, like the room itself, contemporary yet cerebral.” Duck breast carpaccio is a bucketlist item, for sure. Tojo’s (Silver) might have been pushed off its Gold pedestal, but this spacious, elegant room still offers one of the most lavish omakase experiences in the city, especially when chef Hidekazu Tojo himself is in the house. Masayoshi (Bronze) is the baby on this list, but it’s growing fast. In this small room on Fraser Street, exquisite care goes into dishes like the chawan mushi and the finest dashi in town.

Don’t be fooled by the casual atmosphere of this west-side gem. The cold soba noodles at Kinome (Gold), courtesy of chef Ryoma Matarai, are phenomenal, while the elegance of dishes like the dashi-infused omelette and miso-marinated Berkshire pork belies their price point, especially when taking advantage of the $60 omakase menu.

Kingyo (Silver) is “an essential Vancouver dining experience,” according to one judge. This playful izakaya earns its place with chicken karaage served with a trio of dipping salts and “undefeated” tantan noodles. Sister restaurant Rajio (Bronze) is the “casual Osaka beerhouse” that could. Food grilled on sticks best describes the appeal of this cheap and student-friendly hangout.

AU COMPTOIR: ANDREW QUERNER; ZEST: CARLO RICCI

for the West Point Grey crowd. Lupo (Silver) edged out Campagnolo Roma this year, thanks to its “highly finessed classic cuisine” and its superb wine list, overseen by chef Julio Gonzalez-Perini and sommelier Michael Mameli. The octopus mosaic with limoncello vinaigrette still has some of us swooning.

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DINING Restaurant Awards

stuffed with minced pork, woodsy mushrooms and a perfectly runny quail egg. Owner Rose Nguyen’s famed hospitality earned her Restaurant Award recognition in their first year. Hai Phong (Silver) has been quietly serving up excellent nosh on Kingsway for more than a decade. Its sugar canewrapped shrimp cakes and “broken” rice dishes are bested only by their surprising affordability.

The phō ga (fried chicken soup) is legendary at My Chau (Bronze), and it’s not the only reason to go to this bright, clean room where virtually nothing crosses the $10 mark.

While the classics at Dynasty Seafood (Gold) —we love the pan-fried noodles in sugar and black vinegar—reflect the chef’s roots, it’s dishes like the charsui pastries, with their bright hit of lemon, that keep the room packed with loyal clients. The disco-bright lights and Swarovski bling at Chef Tony (Silver) may blind the eye somewhat, but the decor is a good match to an exuberant menu that “reflects the desires of the wealthy clientele to see and be seen,” as one judge puts it. The yin-yang mushroom tarts and black truffle-topped sui mai, however, outshine them all. The veteran team at the Jade (Bronze) “works off of an encyclopaedic

20 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

knowledge of classic Cantonese dishes,” according to one judge, delivered with modern tweaks, like the snake soup livened with citrus peel. Less adventurous palates can settle for their smoked free-range chicken or stir-fried crab.

C A S UA L C H I N E S E

Dinesty (Gold) may not be known for fancy-pants service, but it’s renowned for the xiao long bao, those porky, soupy dumplings that are a mainstay of most casual Shanghainese eateries. This walletfriendly chain is also one of the few places in town where you can get deep-fried ribbon fish as

a snack, and yes, it’s that good. Long’s Noodle House (Silver) makes the grade for their drunken chicken and crispy rice with salted egg sauce, keeping its Main Street clientele clamouring for seats in the tiny room. Ningtu (Bronze) shows that classic Shanghainese dominates in this city, with its eight-jewel rice, seaweedinfused and deep-fried fish, and “live” prawns.

VIETNAMESE

Mr. Red (Gold) gently and permanently entered our hearts two years ago with its stunning Northern Vietnamese bún (soup), deep-fried crab rolls and rice dumplings

Another upset occurred this year as Royal Seoul House (Gold) beat out serial winner Hanwoori (Silver). One judge calls Royal’s beef ribs “sticky masterpieces of Korean barbecue,” and their set lunch is a 15-item stuffer that’s laughably cheap at $20. Hanwoori’s prices aren’t the cheapest, but the knockout jap chae and marinated beef stew with rice cake still garner lineups and happy bellies. Damso (Bronze) consistently makes us drool over their rib-eye bulgogi and tacos with gochujang sauce.

THAI

No surprise that Angus An’s Maenam (Gold) tops this list, given it’s also our Restaurant of the

DYNAST Y SEAFOOD: CARLO RICCI; DINEST Y: LUIS VALDIZON

KO R E A N UPSCALE CHINESE

DINING Restaurant Awards

INDIAN

Who else could beat Vij’s but Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala? My Shanti (Gold) graces South

Surrey with its glittery Bollywood presence. It’s “a culinary tour de force, from the reinvented chaat from Udaipur to the fish-bite pakoras from Goa with onions and jalapenos spiked with green chili crème fraiche,” says one judge.

“Pure fusion genius,” says another. (For the record, Vij’s new location missed the deadline for consideration.) Buried just south of Marine Drive in East Van, Dosa Corner (Silver) is a virtually unsung hole in the wall that turns out what one judge calls “the best South Indian food in the city.”

Fried lentil dumplings and slow-baked biryani match the excellent dosas.

North Surrey’s nod to North India, Sachdeva Sweets (Bronze), is about more than the awesome gulab jamun. “The butter chicken is also unusually good for a dish that’s been thoroughly bastardized

pretty much everywhere,” says one judge.

OTHER ASIAN

The deep-fried chicken wings at Phnom Penh (Gold) are enough on their own to justify the win, but this small, perpetually crowded Chinatown room doesn’t rest on those juicy laurels. The dry tossed noodles and butter beef are both rightly famous, but their Chuichow-style dishes are the hidden gems on the menu. Pidgin (Silver) continues to show well thanks to chef Shin Suzuki’s light take on Asian fusion. One judge swears by the salt-cured mackerel (“gorgeously intense and wrapped in a crunchy sheet of lotus root”). Bronze winner Torafuku has evolved from its food-truck roots into a pan-Asian restaurant of note. “The cooking team rocks with so much energy and style,” one judge says. “It’s like they’re in a Tarantino movie.”

DIM SUM

It’s a three-card monte this year as last year’s winners shuffle around the deck.

Dynasty (Gold), which

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also won for Best Upscale Chinese, serves up its clean, vegetable-focused dishes with flecks of spice and brightness. In Richmond, Chef Tony keeps its Silver standing thanks to dim sum that is “crafted with care.” And one judge calls Golden Paramount (Bronze) “the absolute epitome of real Hong Kong dim sum, with a focus on purity of flavours, restraint and clean execution.”

NOODLE HOUSE

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Gold) boasts some of the longest lineups in the city, thanks to the broth’s “rich porky stickiness that comes from slow, careful simmering,” explains one judge. Call us crazy, but the green melon soda with ice cream is the perfect side. The lighter, slightly more sophisticated chicken-based ramen at Marutama (Silver), with its thinner noodles, “definitely satisfies,” one judge says, “but without being the starch bomb found at other noodle houses.” Consistency rules the roost at Motomachi Shokudo (Bronze), as does its charcoalinfused miso ramen.

MY SHANTI: ANDREW QUERNER; TORAFUKU: FAHIM K ASSAM

Year. Dishes like the snow crab and uni green curry and house-fermented sausage have grown into justified legends. Jitlada (Silver) owner Pam Manasukcharoenporn is the life of the party at this chic South Granville hidey hole that churns out pork- and shrimpstuffed chicken wings like they’re going out of style (which these never will) and pad thai that keeps locals enthralled. In New Westminster, Longtail Kitchen (Bronze) is An’s ode to Thai street food, and it lives up to its condensed milk and roti hype. While the chicken wings in tamarind sauce are addictive, don’t miss the fried rice with Chinese sausage, especially when uni is mixed in.

SPONSORED REPORT

Five Sails Modern classics and spectacular views in an elegant waterfront setting

Proprietors – Gerry Sayers & Chef Ernst Dorfler

T

he Billowing white sails of Canada Place mark the spot where award-winning cuisine and AAA Four Diamond service meet in an utterly magical setting.

Husband and wife team, Chef Ernst Dorfler and Gerry Sayers, bring years of experience to Five Sails, skillfully fusing modern, continental cuisine with European and global influences and warm, inviting hospitality to cultivate a memorable dining experience like none other. “We are able to bring the best of both worlds to our guests,” says Gerry, “balancing a breathtaking hotel setting with the personal touches that only come with private proprietorship.” This year marks the ninth anniversary of Ernst and Gerry taking over sole ownership of this waterfront gem.

Dramatically situated at the luxurious Pan Pacific Hotel, the striking room has been custom-designed to perfectly compliment the breathtaking backdrop of the inner harbour, Stanley Park and the Coast Mountains visible from the large bay windows. A chic lounge area with elevated banquettes, contemporary bar and cozy fireplace offers a relaxed atmosphere to sample from the inspired menu, while the dining room exudes an understated elegance. Just steps from the new Vancouver Convention Centre, Five Sails boasts an elegant and totally exclusive 20-seat private dining room, making it the ultimate setting for locals and visitors alike to host intimate functions or special celebrations.

Chef Dorfler focuses his formidable attention on exciting new menu items each season, while honouring the classics

Roasted Brome Lake duck breast

that have cultivated a strong loyal following. Showcasing the mastery that made him an internationally acclaimed Culinary Olympic World Champion, his signature mountain-style raviolis stuffed with spinach, herbs and ricotta then finished with a drizzle of hazelnut brown butter harkens back to Chef Dorfler’s Austrian childhood. The innovative “Catch!,” a veritable cornucopia of fresh half Atlantic lobster, caramelized Weathervane scallop and a line-caught catch of the day enrobed in a lemongrass sauce perfumed with coconut, displays world-class passion and artistry. Sommelier Ramon Fresneda always brings impressive knowledge and unpretentious flair in providing optimal wine pairings from a list consistently honoured with the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.

The gracious service and exemplary dining combined with sweeping views of ships sailing off into the setting sun against the towering Coast Mountains is an experience that may leave you grasping for superlatives, but the memory will last a lifetime.

Created by the Vancouver advertising department in partnership with Five Sails

“R” Level 999 Canada Place

(located in the Pan Pacifi c Hotel)

604.844.2855 fi vesails.ca

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRUCE LAW (LEFT), PAUL JOSEPH (FOOD)

DINING Restaurant Awards

AMERICAS

Molli Cafe (Gold) has become a regular haunt for off-duty chefs with its marinated pulled-pork tortas, house-made chorizo tacos and lamb consommé.

The latter also results in pulled-lamb tacos every Saturday, guaranteeing this tiny West End spot is consistently crowded. New Westminster’s rep for food finds is growing, thanks

to places like D Roti Shak (Silver). Our judges loved the hand-pulled doubles and roti and the deeply aromatic curries. And the hearty sandwiches at Las Tortas (Bronze), while easy on the wallet, will leave you just stuffed enough to still have room for the tres leches cake.

STEAKHOUSE

With the same winners

as last year, it’s clear that what makes a steakhouse great is not so much innovation as it is consistency. Hy’s (Gold), which underwent a renovation this year, “was already the best before its overhaul,” say one judge.

“Now it’s miles ahead of the next best.” The cheese toast (praise be) hasn’t changed since 1955, nor has the legendary (and

whisper-quiet) service.

And, yeah, those steaks are what fevered dreams are made of. Gotham (Silver) may be the brash bad boy of the steakhouse world, but its legendary Tomahawk could end Meatless Mondays for some. Black and Blue (Bronze) might look like a dark den of iniquity, but the meat is as classic—and classy—as the original Rat Pack.

LUNCH BREAK Downtown Vancouver is a decidedly lunchfocused enclave, and the tens of thousands who toil in its smoked-glass skyscrapers know the lay of the land best. Here are some of their favourite (and newest) fuelling stations.

Burgers Carl’s Jr. (625 Howe St.) opened its first Metro

Vancouver location in 2013.

The menu is a monument to unashamed American gluttony: beef patties precariously supplemented with the likes of jalapeno poppers or a slathering of guacamole. A stone’s throw away, at Granville and Pender, is word-of-mouth sensation Wakwak Burger (facebook. com/wakwakburgerdesu), a food cart offering a teriyakislicked “Japanese-style” burger that is a marvel of restraint and exactingly determined proportions. It’s one of the best burgers in the city, and it costs $3 (or $3.85 with cheese).

Food Trucks Remarkably, it was only in 2010 that the city finally loosened the antiquated laws that permitted few edibles other than hot dogs to be sold on our streets. Six years later, grateful crowds queue most weekdays for burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas and more from Arturo’s Mexico to Go (Cordova and Howe; arturos2go.com); artful mash-up creations like a duck confit Philly

24 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

sandwich or a turducken grilled cheese at Fat Duck (location varies; @FatDuckTruck); and butter chicken schnitzel with a refreshing almondmilk chai via Vij’s Railway Express (location varies; @VijsRailway).

The (Secret!)

Food Court

Arturo's Mexico to Go

Tractor Foods

Seemingly unknown to everyone other than nearby office workers, International Food Fair (530 Hornby St.) is almost entirely populated by independent ethnic eateries whose offerings are often better than typical food-court fare. Among the many purveyors in the dark, narrow space is Pho Express, where harried hordes line up for enormous servings of pho (try the Vietnamese beef stew noodle soup) in proper ceramic bowls and inexpensive bánh mì. If you don’t want to waste your lunch hour searching for a seat, arrive before noon.

Upscale Annexing his

eponymous fine-dining temple, chef David Hawksworth’s Bel Café (801 W Georgia St.) offers sandwiches, salads and pastries that justify a higher price point.

Tractor Foods’ bright space in the Marine Building (335 Burrard St.) sends you on your way with a bellyful of Moroccan chicken stew, a grilled half avocado and lemonade for under $20. And in the Telus Garden, the eager staff at Nosh (510 W Georgia St.) will bring your order of lasagna or tuna niçoise to you while you wait in the airy, spacious atrium.—Michael White

Some things aren’t meant to change. Like Blue Water Cafe staying at Gold for the umpteenth year in a row. Why? Let’s start with an executive chef (Frank Pabst) who still works the line and constantly tweaks the menu in his quest for minimalist perfection.

It might also be because, as one judge puts it, that chef is “backed by a firstrate raw bar team and service staff who know their way around the award-winning wine list.”

Tojo’s (Silver) is known for its jumpingly fresh sashimi and omakase menus, but dishes like the sablefish (baked in a secret marinade) are pelagic delights worth repeating. Fusion is no longer a dirty word, thanks in part to restaurants like newcomer Ancora (Bronze), which marries Japanese and Peruvian flavours with skill and eloquence. The Dungeness crab causa gives a sublime chill to the senses.

ARTURO'S: DAVID STRONGMAN

SEAFOOD

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2016-09-28 3:46 PM

DINING Restaurant Awards

Vij’s Restaurant might have been closed for a large part of 2015, but Vij’s Railway Express (Gold) delivered Bombay street food with a complexity and depth that outstripped the rest of the food truck world by miles. “We love that Vikram Vij finally caved to pressure to make butter chicken—then turned it into a schnitzel,” says one judge. Simple things done well are always hallmarks of success. And the gooey and delicious stuffed buckwheat crepes at La Bohème (Silver) are just that. Le Tigre (Bronze) has moved up this year thanks to cult classics like the Crack Salad, which one judge describes as “addictive for good reason—jacked up with explosive flavours and mouth-popping texture.”

C A S UA L C H A I N

Kingyo (Gold) is everything a casual public house aspires to be. “West Enders are so lucky to have it in the ’hood,” says one judge. Sushi and small hot plates are the rule at sister locations Rajio and Suika, and the corn karaage is forbidden from being struck off any of the menus.

Cactus Club (Silver) embodies “what a chain is: big, dependable, while still having the ability to surprise.” The squash ravioli remains a popular item on the menu, as does the braised short rib. Last year saw La Taqueria (Bronze) expand its tiny

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empire to four locations, including one in Victoria, but the quality of those “pinche” tacos hasn’t suffered. Filling up for $10 has never been so fun.

on your mood—and schedule.

At Milano (Bronze), cutting-edge machines focus on a revolving set of espresso blends created by owner and master coffee roaster Brian Turko.

COFFEE HOUSE

Revolver offers more than just a “perfectly pulled espresso,” which might explain its repeat Gold this year. As one judge says, “it’s a ‘revolving’ choice of world roasts— currently from Berlin, Oslo, Victoria, Portland, San Francisco and Calgary—at this recently expanded Gastown coffee house.” The almost fanatically knowledgeable baristas will tell you the story behind each bean while brewing it three different ways for added hijinks. Timbertrain (Silver) might feature a minimalist design, but roasting one’s own beans is more a solicitous statement of pleasure than an act of expediency.

Choose between the fast and slow bars depending

PIZ ZERIA

Who says an electric oven can’t deliver as good a pizza as one fired by wood? At Bufala (Gold), the pies are marked by their crisp, bubbly crusts and fresh toppings. Despite being in tony Kerrisdale, this casual joint over-delivers on price and quality. Our judges loved the fennel sausage with caramelized onions, olives and pecorino. That being said, wood-fired ovens ain’t all bad.

Via Tevere (Silver) boasts lineups early and late, and our judges insist on your trying the salsiccia and rapini. It seems chef JC Poirier can do no wrong. His Pizzeria Farina (Bronze) makes what one judge calls “the best crust in the city—even without a wood fire.” The Margherita is always reliable, but go early, as this place is open only until the dough runs out.

Bufala co-owner James Iranzad on Bufala’s secret dough and why you should order the bubbly.

What makes your pizza award-winningly good?

We make our sauce with fresh tomatoes as opposed to cooked tomatoes. That allows for this lovely bright and vibrant kind of acidity to come through in the tomato-based pizzas. It works beautifully with the dough we make as well. The dough itself has secret ingredients I’m not allowed to share. Baking dough is incredibly difficult, and when you get it right, it’s pretty revelatory.

Which pizza and drink combo would you choose for lunch?

My personal favourite right now is the Calabria.

It’s just slightly spicy and delicious. For lunch, you have to drink bubbly.

That’s just the civilized thing to do. So a glass of prosecco or lambrusco, which is like a chilled sparkling red wine from Italy. It’s what everybody in Italy drinks with pizza.

You kind of have to wrap your head around it.

We don’t drink a lot of chilled sparkling red wine in North America.

Why Kerrisdale rather than, say, Gastown?

This neighbourhood was under-serviced. It has some good places to go and eat, more so for lunch than for dinner, and we wanted to create a place where all of the people in this neighbourhood could hang out without having to drive across town.—Dominika Lirette

VIJ'S: CARLO RICCI; BUFAL A: @BUFAL AY VR AND @WHENTHE YFINDUS

FOOD CART

Pizza Worth Driving For

DINING Desserts

DESSERTS TO DIE FOR We conducted three taste tests to uncover Vancouver's sweetest treats.

PHOtOS AnD StyLing by

Page and Paper

ChocolaTas This creamy 67% dark chocolate ganache was universally praised by the judges for its superior craftsmanship and the rich flavours it delivered.

1689 Johnston St. chocolatas.com

Chocolate Arts Their entry, a minimalist dark chocolate ball dusted with bitter cocoa powder and filled with sweet chocolate ganache, impressed with its balance and execution.

1620 W 3rd Ave. chocolatearts.com

BEST IN SHOW Beta5 This received the highest marks on technical execution, but it was nearly as popular for its flavour, which featured a nutty undertone that reminded the judges of an upscale riff on a Coffee Crisp bar. “They’ve done a really beautiful job on it,” Williams says. “That one, I’d be proud of.”

413 Industrial Ave. beta5.myshopify.com

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CHOCOLATE

Desserts

This one’s the outlier of the bunch, a delicious chocolate truff le dusted with white chocolate whose slight but still perceptible shell had one judge commenting that it looked a bit like a Death Star. A branding opportunity, perhaps?

DINING

Chez Christophe

For all of the elaborate permutations of and interpretations on chocolate that exist, there’s still no truer test of a chocolate maker's skills than the basic truffle. It’s yet more evidence that the greatest things in life are also often the least complicated.

That’s why we’ve gathered a sampling of truffles from Vancouver’s finest chocolatiers and given them over to three expert judges. Try not to be too jealous.

4717 E Hastings St., Burnaby christophe-chocolat.com

Temper Chocolate and Pastry Thomas Haas’s protege, Dundarave’s own Steven Hodge, has created a simple but elegant truff le with a crisp shell and ganache that has a sweet, almost fruity flavour profile.

Gem Chocolates

2409 Marine Dr., West Vancouver temperpastry.com

A gorgeous hard shell—similar to its Monarch truff le— surrounds a soft and smooth ganache interior. Visually, this one stands out from the pack.

Purdy’s It’s tough to achieve perfection when you’re cranking out so much volume every day, but Purdy’s does an admirable job of balancing the two imperatives.

This one will keep on the shelf and still please your palate.

2029 W 41st Ave. gemchocolates.ca

Multiple locations purdys.com

Thomas Haas The renowned and respected master doesn’t disappoint with this simple but sublime presentation of fudgy ganache that finished a very, very close second.

2539 W Broadway thomashaas.com

AS RATED BY THESE E XPERT JUDGES Peter Van de Reep is the bar manager at Campagnolo Restaurants.

Stacey McLachlan is the executive editor of Vancouver magazine.

Pam Williams is the founder of Ecole Chocolat Professional School of Chocolate Arts.

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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DINING Desserts

PIE

Costco

The set-up: Two of Vancouver’s most acclaimed chefs and one very keen VanMag reader are locked in a room with six of the city’s best pies placed before them. Their task?

Do a blind tasting and let us know whose pie reigns supreme.

Rhubarb strawberry, $12 Thrown in as a control. Though it was cut into small pieces, our testers knew something was amiss: “The crust tastes like Crisco.” Still, they didn’t mind the 2.5-kilo low-priced behemoth.

605 Expo Blvd., costco.ca

Tartine Bread and Pies Blueberry, $20

Apple blackberry, $30 The centre had risen dramatically, making cutting it into recognizable slices almost impossible.

Insides were described as “wet,” but the panel liked that the pie wasn’t overly sweet.

3598 W 4th Ave. organiccafe.ca

770 Beach Ave. tartine.ca

AS RATED BY THESE E XPERT JUDGES Robert Belcham is the chef and coowner of Campagnolo and Campagnolo Roma.

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Quang Dang is the executive chef at South Granville’s West restaurant.

Meighan Makarchuk is the web content manager at the Vancouver Aquarium—and our Twitter contest winner.

PHOTO AND ST YLING: PAGE AND PAPER

The “BB” on the top was a nice touch, but no one was jacked up about the filling. “Tastes slightly weird” was overheard.

Aphrodite’s Café and Pie Shop

Disagree with our esteemed judges?

Let us know your vote for pie champ on Twitter @vanmag_com.

DINING

BEST IN SHOW

Desserts

The Pie Hole

Raspberry cream crumble with lime, $24 The unanimous choice as numero uno. The pretty little pie had “a great combination of textures,” according to Dang.

401 Industrial Ave. vancouverpiehole.com

SILVER

Savary Island Pie Company Cherry, $32

The pricey West Van shop was also the unanimous choice for silver, with the judges fawning over the beautiful crust and homemade taste.

1533 Marine Dr., West Vancouver savaryislandpiecompany.com

BRONZE

The Pie Shoppe

Blueberry and vanilla, $28

The judges loved the lightly sugared top and the texture—and purity—of the filling.

721 Gore Ave. thepieshoppe.ca

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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DINING Desserts

BEST IN SHOW BEST IN SHOW & BEST SWEE T

Rooster’s Ice Cream Bar

Fresh lemon and poppyseed One judge described this as “pure PNE summer,” and no wonder—its refreshing (but not tart) flavour is the quintessence of a long and enjoyable summer day.

1039 E Broadway roostersicecreambar.com

ICE CREAM Ice cream falls into that rare category that even when it comes in a bucket, it’s still pretty good. But when ice cream leaves you speechless, you know it’s entered into the realm of truly great. And that’s what our judges found among the offerings served up by these eight fantastic competitors, who were selected from an even longer list of candidates.

They did the work—now you get to enjoy the fruits of their “labour.”

Bella Gelateria Black sesame

Bella has been wowing local gelato lovers for years, and this flavour sums up why they’re great: sophisticated, nuanced and supremely satisfying.

Amato Gelato

1089 Marinaside Ct. bellagelateria.com

White chocolate raspberry

Mario’s Gelati is an institution in Vancouver, and the Amato Gelato Cafe serves up 72 rotating flavours of the stuff. If you want variety and selection, this is your best bet.

78 E First Ave. amatogelato.com

Rain or Shine

If you like something that’s on the sweeter side, Rain or Shine’s ice cream is probably for you. One judge described it as “the safe word ice cream.” We don’t know what that means, but we think it’s positive.

3382 Cambie St. rainorshineicecream.com

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PHOTO AND ST YLING: PAGE AND PAPER

Blueberry balsamic

Earnest Ice Cream Whiskey hazelnut

People routinely line up around the block for Earnest Ice Cream—its flavours (like this whiskey hazelnut) are both experimental and accessible. And its vegan varieties are remarkably unvegan-tasting, too.

1829 Quebec St. earnesticecream.com

DINING Desserts

BEST CHOCOL ATE

Brown Paper Packages Chocolate balsamic

Perfect texture, “grown-up flavours,” and real pieces of chocolate made it the best of the bunch in this category. Its other non-chocolate offerings are just as good, too.

620 Quebec St. brownpaperpackages.ca

Doolami Dessert Mango

Have you had Chinese ice cream yet? If not, head down to Marpole and grab a scoop of this mango goodness. And if you’re feeling brave, try the durian (but don’t say we didn’t warn you).

8030 Granville St.

AS RATED BY THESE E XPERT JUDGES

BEST SAVOURY

Tangram Creamery

Hojicha (roasted green tea) This flavour won’t be for everyone.

But if your palate’s sophisticated enough, it might just blow your mind—or someone else’s. “That’s third-date ice cream,” one of the judges said. “That’ll seal the deal.”

2729 Arbutus St.

Joie Alvaro Kent is a freelance food writer hopelessly smitten with peanut butter and chocolate ice cream.

Lee Man is a Restaurant Awards judge who believes, like Marco Polo, that the Chinese invented ice cream.

Anya Levykh is the Westender’s restaurant critic, a Restaurant Awards judge and an unreformed cookbook junkie.

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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Anh and Chi

DINING New Rooms

Nightingale

Kissa Tanto

Savio Volpe

While these eateries are too young to have earned a Restaurant Award, they’re sure to be serious contenders in the years to come.

34 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

Savio Volpe

and everything on it is a neighbourhoody $9. The well-curated wine list likewise keeps markups reasonable. Maybe it is a neighbourhood restaurant in the sense that it’s so well done it makes you want to move to the neighbourhood. 615 Kingsway, saviovolpe.com —Neal McLennan 2

Nightingale

Past Nightingale’s lively bar and up the stairs is the wood-clad dining area.

And it’s here, where the army of staff circulate like autumn leaves, that the “everyday food” chef David Hawksworth likes to eat himself is produced and served. There’s a lot more than pizza on this menu, but there’s also no doubt that pizza is a focal point. “I’ve always loved pizza,” Hawksworth says, “and as far back as I can remember, [Vancouver] always had this big, doughy mess—a lot of dough, a lot of cheese.” That has changed in recent years, with the trend toward Neapolitan-style thin crusts and minimal toppings. Nightingale’s

SAVIO VOLPE: LUIS VALDIZON; KISSA TANTO: KNAUF AND BROWN

FRESH OFFERINGS

1

The proprietors behind Savio Volpe— L’Abbatoir’s Paul Grunberg, chef Mark Perrier and restaurant designer Craig Stanghetta—would have you believe that their new venture is just a casual little neighbourhood joint. You know, the sort of place residents of the Fraserhood can pop in for a casual bite. Yeah right. Savio Volpe has instead become the destination restaurant in town, with a forever-full reservation list that doesn’t inspire the words: “Hey honey, let’s go see if Savio Volpe has room.” It would all be a tad annoying if the fuss weren’t so warranted.

The room, designed by Stanghetta, is gorgeous but relaxed, with a big centre bar acting as a hive for tables in each direction. The menu changes with the season, but so far the retro garlic bread all‘Americano, a kale salad invigorated with pangrattato and romano, and a simple but succulent roast chicken cooked in a wood-fired oven have been standouts.

The cocktail list is small and on-point,

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Kissa Tanto

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CAMBIE STREE T

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You walk up a thin flight of stairs into what looks like a dimly lit jazz lounge, find a seat at the bar and order up an amaretto sour. But the dinner menu tells a different story. Tajarin with butter, roasted mushrooms and miso cured yoke? Welcome to Kissa Tanto, a new Chinatown restaurant where the vibe

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pizza is made with a combination of the Type 00 flour that Verace Napoletana pizzerias use and Type 1, a slightly more complex flour with a higher ash content and protein ratio, introduced to the kitchen by resident pizzaiolo Giuseppe Cortinovis. While the food and atmosphere is certainly more relaxed than at Hawksworth’s eponymous flagship restaurant, “the same focus is placed on each dish,” Hawksworth says. “We’re trying to give the same sort of experience [at Nightingale], except much more casual and kid-friendly.” 1017 W Hastings St., hawknightingale.com —Anya Levykh

BU

Juke

Anh and Chi

Juke

New Rooms

4

Siblings Amelie and Vincent Nguyen are shaking up Vancouver’s Vietnamese dining scene with the newly opened Anh and Chi. Building on the groundwork laid by the Nguyen parents and their Main Street mainstay of 30 years, Pho Hoang, Amelie and Vincent have elevated and honoured their parents’ Canadianimmigrant success story with a space that mixes the modern and the traditional.

With Mom still in charge of the kitchen and a number of long-time staff still on-hand, Anh and Chi serves a combination of old favourites from the previous restaurant and more contemporary fare. The cánh gà (fried chicken wings) are a delectable Vietnamese classic, while the pho hoang, one of three noodle soup dishes that require 12 to 18 hours of broth preparation, is named in tribute to their father. The bar program, established by Bao Bei alum Guy Stowell, features beer from Southeast Asia, local craft mainstays, B.C. wines and a cocktail list split into two sections: pre-1975, incorporating Vietnam’s French influence, and post-1975, following the communist takeover (which includes a fresh take on a Pimm’s cup that can be ordered by the pitcher). 3388 Main St., anhandchi.com —Willem Thomas

5

Like many emerging food destinations, Vancouver has a walk-before-you-run approach to cooking. It’s why we had so many places trumpeting their fried chicken and waffles before we ever had a legitimate fried chicken restaurant.

But riding in to right our historical wrongs is Juke, the much-anticipated, much-delayed Chinatown spot that may be our fried-chicken salvation. The restaurant’s starting lineup is promising: former Chambar G.M. Justin Tisdall is a well-loved presence out front, former Hawksworth sous-chef Bryan Satterford is overqualified in the back, and Meat and Bread co-owner Cord Jarvie is a backer.

The 48-seat room is a gorgeous blend of low-fi (cinder blocks, polished concrete) and organic (plenty of natural wood).

All of which means squat if the fried chicken restaurant doesn’t nail fried chicken, which it does. It’s gluten-free, but that has nothing to do with health and everything to do with texture. The result is an exceptionally crunchy skin that will be a pleasant shock to anyone raised on the steam bath that is a KFC takeout bucket. But the best thing may be the price: two pieces of chicken for $6.50 (and an amazing $5.50 for takeout). No news yet on whether they’re working on a chicken and waffles dish, but if they want to, they’ve definitely earned the right to do it. 182 Keefer St., jukefriedchicken.com —Neal McLennan

DINING

evokes a bygone time and place—a Tokyo jazz café from the 1960s, specifically—but with a menu that’s aggressively modern.

After all, it’s practically inventing a new culinary category: Japanese-Italian fusion. “We were worried by saying we were Japanese-Italian that people would automatically come to their own conclusions about what that food would be,” says Tannis Ling, co-owner of Kissa Tanto as well as Bao Bei, the popular “Chinese brasserie” located only a block away from the new restaurant. It was chef Joel Watanabe, the person in charge of both kitchens, who first suggested Japanese-Italian. “It sounded kind of weird at first,” Ling says, “and then I thought about it and realized it could be really interesting because a lot of people are actually already doing it. They’re not actually saying they’re doing JapaneseItalian, but they’re putting Japanese flavours into Italian food.” 263 E Pender St., kissatanto.com —Trevor Melanson

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DINING Cheap Eats

CHEAP EATS You know the places: perennial lines, dedicated fans, head-scratching finances. Year in, year out, they’re the ones that deliver an oasis of value in a desert of high prices.

PHOtOgrAPHS by

Page and Paper

Save On Meats

The Icarus of Vancouver cheap eats never quite fulfilled its promise, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. And the $4.99 traditional breakfast (eggs, hash browns, toast) allows one to dip their toes into the Gastown brunch bonanza without breaking the bank (or waiting in line). 43 W Hastings St., saveonmeats.ca

Jack’s Place at Army and Navy

A lunch counter in the original Gastown pioneer that’s been selling grilled cheese sandwiches for a goofy low amount (they’re now $1.75) since about the time Gerald Ford was president. 36 W Cordova St., armyandnavy.ca

THAI RESTAU RANT ( on Burrard)

Immerse yourself in the great tradition of classic and authentic Thai dining.

Corporate catering, Take-out and Delivery orders available.

Fully Licensed.

Semi-Private & Private Room Booking Options.

102-888 Burrard Street 604.683.7999 www.salathai.ca Friday-Saturday 11:30am-10:30pm Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-10:00pm

DINING Cheap Eats

Wakwak Burger

Yes, it’s no longer the $2.85 that gave birth to its original name (it’s a whopping $3), but this Japanese-influenced bun-and-patty combo is still a steal. Granville and Pender

The Capital

An entire menu at $4.95 can be either a siren call (crispy chicken waff lewich) or a warning to heed (the blackened fish tacos), but this place is a West End temple of cheap eats. Parking will cost you more. 1178 Davie St.

Duffin’s

Random word generators couldn’t come up with a menu as eclectic as the one at this Kensington spot. Grab a machaca torta ($4.24) with a slice of banana cake ($1.70) and wash it all down with a single espresso ($1.75) and a dozen old-school doughnuts to go ($8). 1391 E 41st Ave.

Jethro’s Fine Grub

If you check your pride— and we’re not condoning this, mind you—three can dine on the $10 full stack of four hubcap-sized pancakes. 3420 Dunbar St. and 3455 Fraser St., jethrosfinegrub.com

38 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

A NEW YORK ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE

IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER Vancouver’s newest dining experience reintroduces the city to Chef Bruce Woods. Chef Bruce puts a premium on locally sourced and curated ingredients. His homemade pastas and the finest cuts of beef, guarantee a truly memorable dining experience. Our award winning wine list and wine by the glass program is sure to contain a new gem for discovery.

Located in the Century Plaza Hotel

W W W. C P R I M E . C A

OLD WORLD ELEGANCE...NEW WORLD EDGE!

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FRESH & LOCAL FARE | CRAFT BEER & COCKTAILS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT NIGHTLY

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1015 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y5

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Signature - 2013

Look for our wines at your favourite wine shop or restaurant.

Buy from our OnLine store: closdusoleil.ca Visit our tasting room: 2568 Upper Bench Rd, Keremeos, BC Open 7 days a week | 250-499-2831 @Closdusoleil

DRINKS

PHOTO: JOANN PAI; ST YLING: GABRIEL CABRERA

The Keefer's Bloodmoon cocktail.

Drinks

Whether you're a brewmaster, wine collector or cocktail-loving mixologist, we've got some recommendations.

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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DRINKS Beer Awards

KINGS OF THEIR CRAFT It took two full days, 30 judges, 291 different kinds of beer, thousands of sips (no spitting, either), and more than a few arguments to get it done. But for the second year running, our esteemed panel of hop heads, lager lovers and other craft beer connoisseurs reached a consensus on the best brews that this city has to offer. Drink it up. bOttLE PHOtOS by

Eydís Einarsdóttir

La Pitoune

Le Trou du Diable QUEBEC If you’re not already familiar with the kellerbier family, then let this magnificent bastard serve as your formal introduction. Kellerbier literally means “cellar beer,” and it’s a lager that’s served directly from its aging vessel, which was typically a barrel from the cellar in the days before refrigeration.

It’s not served from a barrel, but this Keller Pils—a cloudy version of a pale, bitter, refreshing German pilsner— possesses both the classic haze of a kellerbier and an inviting, creamy, white head. The flavour profile is de-

42 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

fined by both a subtle note of bread yeast and crisp, drying bitterness.

Despite facing stiff competition, La Pitoune came out on top because of its remarkable versatility. From drinking it on a sunny patio to pairing it with a wide range of culinary dance partners (think everything from shellfish to soft cheeses), this beer is likeable in any context. But it also won’t disappoint those who are just looking to sip and savour their suds—the mark of a true champion.

—Chad McCarthy

BEST IN SHOW

DRINKS Beer Awards

“Well-brewed take on a German pilsner that verges on classic.”

THE JUDGES SAID...

“A very tasty, sessionable beer.”

“Slight sweetness that moves to a crisp finish; could drink several.”

LIGHT STANDARD LAGER Main Street Pilsner

Main Street Brewing Co. VANCOUVER

A low, spicy hop character that finishes nicely.

PILSNER & GERMAN-STYLE LAGER

152 Lager

Easy Day Kolsch Worthy Brewing OREGON

Le Trou du Diable QUEBEC

Stanley Park Brewing VANCOUVER

Subtle fruit, with hints of cotton candy (that’s a good thing, by the way).

Malt forward, with a bready aroma.

Floral, citrus and herbal hop aromas float atop a bed of grainy, cracker-like malt.

Honey sweetness leads, with a trace of crackers and malt underneath.

Big Ridge Brewing Co. SURREY

La Pitoune

“Acid level is fantastic, and hop character is astounding.

Very well done.”

BELGIAN & SOUR Affligem Blonde

Amber

Delicious, rich flavour, with an elegant bitterness.

Clean aroma, nice amount of malt, hops, and a light note of citrus.

Brouwerij Affligem BELGIUM

44 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

Dageraad Brewing BURNABY

Noble Pilsner

33 Acres of Darkness

33 Acres Brewing Co. VANCOUVER

Notes of coffee and dark chocolate balance well.

“Very pleasurable.

A great summertime beer.”

U.K. ALE Nectarous DryHopped Sour

Devil’s Elbow IPA Goddess Howe Sound Brewing Golden Ale

Stonecutter Scotch Ale

The “lemonade of beer.”

Malty sweetness with an herbal hop aroma and caramel undertones.

Malt-forward beer with hints of fruitcake.

Four Winds Brewing Co. DELTA

SQUAMISH

Persephone Brewing Co. GIBSONS

Fresh, with floral hops.

Renaissance Brewing NEW ZEALAND

“A delicious beer— beer very drinkable.”

“A really good malty, toasty and hoppy red ale.”

DRINKS

Ode to Citra Pale Ale Powell Street Craft Brewery VANCOUVER

Notes of pine and orange, with a slight hint of caramel.

“Great tropical hop bomb.

Quite a bitter beer, but definitely would order.”

Chase My Tail Pale Ale

Persephone Pale Ale

Citrus hop flavour with a malt balance at the finish.

Woody aroma with toffee-like caramel malt flavour.

Yellow Dog Brewing Co. PORT MOODY

Persephone Brewing Co. GIBSONS

Central City Brewers SURREY

Tons of hop bitterness up front with a punch of citrus.

NORTH AMERICAN RED, AMBER & BROWN Ambleside Amber Ale

Bridge Brewing Company NORTH VANCOUVER

Bright piney hops balanced with toffee malt makes for a refreshing sip.

Steamworks Heroica Red Ale

Nocturnum Dark IPA

Hard caramel-orange rind with subtle sweetness and a clean bitterness.

A robust but balanced dark hoppy ale that pairs well with red meat and cheese.

Steamworks VANCOUVER

Strange Fellows Brewing VANCOUVER

BEST LABEL “Great example of a North American IPA.”

NORTH AMERICAN IPA Red Racer Super Stellar IPA

Beer Awards

NORTH AMERICAN PALE ALE

Play Dead IPA

Yellow Dog Brewing Co. PORT MOODY

Tropical citrus hops with a clean, lingering grassy bitterness.

Red Racer Indian Pale Ale

Central City Brewers SURREY

Lemon, passionfruit, guava and some herbal notes.

Sometimes, you can judge a book—or a beer—by its cover. While local breweries have set the design bar high, the understated simplicity of the Field House Brewing labels consistently sets it apart from the (growing) pack.

Here, the sum is greater than its parts. From the toothy, uncoated paper stock to the perfectly detailed illustration and well-crafted typography, the design, a potentially tired aesthetic, is instead a timeless classic.

That’s a credit to Field House co-founder Josh Vanderheide, who also helps other local breweries with their branding.

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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DRINKS Beer Awards

“Wonderfully balanced beer with some malt richness and a dry finish that leaves you wanting more.”

“A floral, fresh, thirstquenching beer for the Earl Grey/IPA lover—sign me up for a pint.”

SPECIALTY Earl Grey IPA

Saltspring Island Ales SALTSPRING ISLAND

Citrus hop flavour with a light caramel malt. Floral yet refreshing (and yes, this is possible).

Juxtapose Wild IPA

Four Winds Brewing Co. DELTA

Fruity tropical-citrus hop flavours balance well with a brittle biscuit-y malt.

McLennan’s Scotch Ale

Red Racer Imperial

Export Porter 1750

Big bodied brew that’s both smokey and sippable.

This 9.0 ABV monster offers up notes of grapefruit, tangerine and mango.

A complex mix of coffee, chocolate and dark fruit that would sing alongside a piece of stinky blue cheese.

Mission Springs Brewing Co. MISSION

Central City Brewers SURREY

STOUT Mission Springs Brewing Co. MISSION

Rich flavours play well with an herbal, earthy hoppiness.

46 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

Huyghe Brewery BELGIUM

Light, fruity notes (grape, pear, strawberry), some herbal hop aroma and a bit of spice.

“A very pleasant and balanced warmer.”

“A fantastic example of the style that hits all the marks.”

Fat Guy Oatmeal Stout

Brouwerij Kees!

NETHERLANDS

Delirium Tremens

PORTER & BROWN Postmark Stout Postmark Brewing VANCOUVER

Notes of chocolate, coffee and caramel balance nicely with its malt flavour.

Into The Black Oat Stout

Off The Rail Brewing Co. VANCOUVER

A smooth stout with a bit of bitterness.

Highly quaff able.

Dry Porter

Elemental Porter

Dark Matter

Toasty with a light roast, and hints of caramel and licorice.

Sweet treacle is balanced well by the bitterness of the hops.

An exciting, unconventional and flavourful dark ale.

Saltspring Island Ales SALTSPRING ISLAND

Renaissance Brewery NEW ZEALAND

Hoyne Brewing Co. VICTORIA

DRINKS Beer Awards

“Well-brewed take on a German pilsner that verges on classic.”

THE JUDGES SAID...

“A very tasty, sessionable beer.”

“Slight sweetness that moves to a crisp finish; could drink several.”

LIGHT STANDARD LAGER Main Street Pilsner

Main Street Brewing Co. VANCOUVER

A low, spicy hop character that finishes nicely.

PILSNER & GERMAN-STYLE LAGER

152 Lager

Easy Day Kolsch Worthy Brewing OREGON

Le Trou du Diable QUEBEC

Stanley Park Brewing VANCOUVER

Subtle fruit, with hints of cotton candy (that’s a good thing, by the way).

Malt forward, with a bready aroma.

Floral, citrus and herbal hop aromas float atop a bed of grainy, cracker-like malt.

Honey sweetness leads, with a trace of crackers and malt underneath.

Big Ridge Brewing Co. SURREY

La Pitoune

“Acid level is fantastic, and hop character is astounding.

Very well done.”

BELGIAN & SOUR Affligem Blonde

Amber

Delicious, rich flavour, with an elegant bitterness.

Clean aroma, nice amount of malt, hops, and a light note of citrus.

Brouwerij Affligem BELGIUM

44 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

Dageraad Brewing BURNABY

Noble Pilsner

33 Acres of Darkness

33 Acres Brewing Co. VANCOUVER

Notes of coffee and dark chocolate balance well.

“Very pleasurable.

A great summertime beer.”

U.K. ALE Nectarous DryHopped Sour

Devil’s Elbow IPA Goddess Howe Sound Brewing Golden Ale

Stonecutter Scotch Ale

The “lemonade of beer.”

Malty sweetness with an herbal hop aroma and caramel undertones.

Malt-forward beer with hints of fruitcake.

Four Winds Brewing Co. DELTA

SQUAMISH

Persephone Brewing Co. GIBSONS

Fresh, with floral hops.

Renaissance Brewing NEW ZEALAND

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LIVE MUSIC

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2016-09-13 3:14 PM

www.chefhungnoodle.com Aberdeen Store: 2800-4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, BC Ambleside Store: 1560 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, BC UBC Wesbrook Store: 102-3313 Shrum Lane, Vancouver, BC Kerrisdale Store: 2028 41st Avenue, West Vancouver, BC SFU Univercity Store: Opening in Spring of 2017

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DRINKS Wine Awards

THE PERFECT BLEND We’ve all been there: torn between two $20 bottles with no way of knowing which to buy. Our Wine Awards are judged by 17 expert sommeliers, buyers and critics.

Consider this your guide to BC Liquor Stores. (Start here.) bOttLE PHOtOS by

Eydís Einarsdóttir

Wynns Black Label, $25

Cabernet Sauvignon 2012/13 AUSTRALIA

If a theme of this year’s Wine Awards was change (nine of 10 category champions are first-time winners), our Best of Show wine tells a very different tale. “Wynns Black Label,” as it is affectionately known by wine lovers in 70 countries, is an Australian icon and a serious contender for the world’s bestvalue wine. Much-loved winemaker Sue Hodder, a frequent visitor to Vancouver, has an ever-growing global fan club.

First produced in 1954, Wynns Coonawarra is a benchmark for Aussie cabernet that has a well-deserved reputation for great longevity. It also has a long-established connection with B.C., where it has been sold for more than 40 years. Many shrewd collectors have precious old bottles that would have been purchased for less than $10. Our judges took great delight in the brilliant performance of an old standby—in the

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BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

world of wine, the thrill of the new is equalled only by the thrill of the old.

Coonawarra (located near the South Australian coast, 380 kilometres south of Adelaide) is a legendary wine region, where a thin strip of weathered limestone topped with iron-rich red soil combines with the cooling effect of the Southern Ocean to produce an ideal environment for cabernet sauvignon.

The persistently grey skies so atypical for Australia provide the long, slow growing season that cabernet needs to develop fully ripe flavours.

Wynns Black Label is renowned for great purity of fruit, freshness, elegance and mineral complexity: all characteristics normally associated with the Old World, specifically Bordeaux. If there is a stylistic correspondence, in terms of price there is no similarity whatsoever.—DJ Kearney

BEST IN SHOW

MAJOR SPONSORS

YOUR GUIDE TO GREAT WINING AND DINING Looking for the best wine programs in the city (not to mention BC and Alberta)?

Sponsored by

These awards pay tribute to restaurateurs who have committed to producing an original and creative wine program. Participating restaurants received careful consideration of their wine program by some of the finest, most professional judges in Western Canada.

The 2016 judges were Tom Doughty, Jay Jones, DJ Kearney, Iain Philip and Treve Ring.

METRO VANCOUVER Platinum Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar Chambar Gotham Steakhouse & Bar Hawksworth Restaurant Vij’s Gold L’Abattoir Burdock & Co. CinCin Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca Savio Volpe Zest Japanese Cuisine Silver AnnaLena Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar Brix & Mortar Le Crocodile Fable Kitchen Forage Homer St. Café and Bar Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

WHISTLER

BC INTERIOR

Silver (Continued) Mission My Shanti Nicli Antica Pizzeria Provence Marinaside /The Wine Bar Tableau Bar Bistro West

Gold Alta Bistro

Gold Emerald Lake Lodge (Field)

Silver Araxi Restaurant + Oyster Bar Rimrock Cafe

Bronze La Bussola Restaurant (Kelowna)

Bronze Basalt Wine + Salumeria

Honourable Mention Lakeside Dining, Hotel Eldorado (Kelowna)

Br onze Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio Centre Ice Grill - Rogers Arena LIFT Bar Grill View PiDGiN Tramonto at River Rock Casino Resort

VANCOUVER ISLAND

ALBERTA

Bronze Wild Mountain Food & Drink (Sooke) Zambri’s (Victoria)

Platinum Cilantro (Calgary) Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro (Calgary) The Lake House (Calgary)

Honourable Men tion Beach Bay Café and Patio The Beachhouse Restaurant & Lounge St. James’ Well Via Tevere Pizzeria Napoletana

Honourable Mention Grand Cru Restaurant and Lounge, The Grand Hotel (Nanaimo) Hudson’s On First Restaurant (Duncan) The Pacific Restaurant & Terrace, Hotel Grand Pacific (Victoria) Unsworth Restaurant (Mill Bay)

Silver Vin Room West (Calgary)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE

39TH ANNUAL VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL February 11-19, 2017 | The Wine World Celebrates Canada

Visit VanWineFest.ca to see all our Trade Competition Winners.

Bookmark VanWineFest.ca/page789.htm for your guide to restaurants with great wine programs.

MAJOR SUPPORTERS

TRADE DAYS CONFERENCE AND CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE SPONSORS

CELEBRATING

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Gold Buffalo Mountain Lodge (Banff) Deer Lodge (Lake Louise) Vin Room Mission (Calgary)

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DRINKS Wine Awards

SPARKLING

Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, $51 FRANCE

Quite possibly the greatest champagne value going.

LIGHT WHITE

La Chablisienne Chablis “La Pierrelée” 2013, $29 FRANCE

Steely, lemony, minerally chablis defines light white.

MEDIUM WHITE

The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2013, $23 SOUTH AFRICA

A ravishing wine from the staggeringly beautiful Cape Winelands.

Lemony, crisp light whites pair well with shellfish, while fruity aromatics with a whisper of sweetness will temper spicy cuisine.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, $61 FRANCE

A superior champagne from an iconic house at a terrific price.

Marisco The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2014, $15

NEW ZEALAND

A wine so fresh it should be slapped.

Not just for celebrations, bubbles make terrific food partners. Try with truffled popcorn, crab, sushi or Scotch eggs.

AUSTRIA

If you’ve never tried Austria’s flagship grape, grüner veltliner, buy this.

Medium white wines offer a notable flavour and great adaptability for cheesy risotto, pizza bianca or rosso pasta sauce.

Benjamin Bridge Méthode Classique Brut 2009, $46

Wild Goose Gewurztraminer 2015, $17

CedarCreek Estate Chardonnay 2014, $17

Quickly becoming one of Canada’s cult wines.

Aromatic local hero with a whisper of fruit on the finish.

Gently oaked peachy and crisp chardonnay.

CANADA

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Laurenz V Singing Grüner Veltliner 2013, $21

CANADA

CANADA

“As far as I’m concerned, there are only two really important decisions in a cook’s life: choosing a mate and buying a chef’s knife.

If that seems like an overstatement, you just haven’t found the right knife.”

— Russ Parsons, former L.A. Times food writer

High Performance Japanese Kitchen Knives 4215 Main Street • 604-215-1033 • knifewear.com • @knifewearYVR

DRINKS Wine Awards

RICH WHITE

LIGHT RED BEST SAKE

Louis Latour Ardèche Chardonnay 2014, $16

Red Rooster Pinot Noir 2014, $18

Generous mouthfilling wine from top Burgundy house.

Plums, cherries and a kiss of Okanagan sagebrush.

Monte del Fra Custoza Superiore DOC Ca’ del Magro 2012, $21

Marotti Campi Orgiolo Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC Superiore 2013, $27

Savoury white with creamy texture and sizzling acidity.

Lithe and exotic red from the Marche’s rare lacrima grape.

FRANCE

ITALY

Creamy, full-flavoured wines need weighty food like pot roast, grilled salmon or triple cream cheese.

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

ITALY

Juicy, light reds are thirstquenching and bright.

Try with grilled chorizo or salmon burgers.

Devil’s Lair Hidden Cave Chardonnay 2013, $24

Santa Carolina Reserva Pinot Noir Maule Valley 2014, $12

Elegance and finesse from maritime Margaret River.

Deep cherry flavours with woodsy smoke.

AUSTRALIA

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CANADA

CHILE

SakéOne G Joy Genshu Junmai Ginjo, $18 USA

Sake: is it beer or wine? Actually, it’s both brewed and fermented, but that doesn’t matter. The truth is that sake is brilliant with food—Asian and Western. Sake comes in an array of styles and weights, and our judges loved the balance and hefty flavour of this bold and smartly packaged rice wine. Handcrafted in Oregon using ancient Japanese techniques and premium American rice, it’s a perfect fusion of East and West, like our city.

“Not everyone can carry the weight of the word, but CedarCreek has managed to grin and bear it.”

92 points

-Michael Godel

WineAlign, June 2016

Get it ... at cedarcreek.bc.ca

CedarCreekBESTCITY16HH_lt.indd 1

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2016-09-14 5:07 PM

2016-09-28 10:28 AM

DRINKS Wine Awards

MEDIUM RED

RICH RED

DESSERT/ FORTIFIED

Fontodi Chianti Classico 2012/13, $33

Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2012/13, $25

Cockburn’s Special Reserve, $21

ITALY

Judges praised its fruity, spicy, earthy, oaky layers, all given extra dimension from a warm and generous vintage.

AUSTRALIA

Our Best of Show is the 57th edition of an Australian classic. This is the kind of wine to buy by the case.

Best in a bigbowled glass with robust food: stir-fried beef or steak tartare.

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, $24 CHILE

Plush and polished cabernet from one of Chile’s great valleys.

KWV Roodeberg 2012, $13 SOUTH AFRICA

Seven-grape Cape classic that’s been around since 1949 at an astonishing price.

PORTUGAL

Celebrating 200 years of production, Cockburn’s is now part of the prestigious Symington family of ports.

Sweet wines uplift desserts such as lemon tarts or chocolate truffles.

Pillitteri Estates Vidal Icewine 2013, $22 CANADA

Tropical passion fruit and candyfloss richness for a great price.

Expressive fruit and modest tannins are tame enough for fish yet flavourful enough for pepperoni pizza or meatloaf.

Mezzomondo Salento Negroamaro 2014, $10 ITALY

Soft, fruit-forward red is well-built and well-priced.

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Tinhorn Creek Oldfield Series Merlot 2012, $27 CANADA

Inniskillin Okanagan Riesling Icewine 2014, $28

Dark chocolate, fruitcake and toasty oak combine to great effect.

Green apples, honey and limey acidity equals dessert in a glass.

CANADA

kin’s HEALTHY EATING SINCE 1987

kinsfarmmarket.com

DRINKS

Cocktails

COCKTAIL REVOLUTION While this city hasn’t been shy of cocktail-forward bars in the past, Vancouver recently entered a golden age of properly mixed drinks. These five fine establishments are leading a growing population of bars that have set the new standard, providing not only brilliantly conceived and prepared drinks— but also a sanctuary of great ambiance and service to match.

BY

Willem Thomas

The Showstopper

The Reaper

Led by bartender Sabrine Dhaliwal, Uva’s (900 Seymour St.) cocktail menu has earned the admiration of patrons and industry tastemakers alike. The Matinee Marnier—one of Dhaliwal’s Campari- and juiceforward concoctions—is at first familiar, the touch of soda providing a splinter of carbonation that makes the boldness of the Grand Marnier pop. “It creates complexity without being complex,” says Dhaliwal.

With its gorgeously arranged and expertly curated back bar display, the Keefer (135 Keefer St.) in Chinatown might just be a portal to East London.

Televangelist John Hagee claimed 2015’s blood moons signalled the end of days, and the Keefer’s Bloodmoon cocktail, concocted with gin and blood orange syrup by long-time barman Gez McAlpine, is a supremely smooth apparatus of a drink to welcome the apocalypse—if it means another round.

58 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

The Survivor Giancarlo Quiroz Jesus, one of the Diamond’s (6 Powell St.) cocktail maestros, let his long-time love of disco take the mixology wheel with the I Will Survive, his response to a particularly savage hangover. Utilizing green Chartreuse, a liqueur so complicated you could write a thesis on it (there are 130 ingredients), with tomato and lime juice, the drink is an elevated Bloody Mary. And it might catch on. “I’m on the hunt to spread the word and make the I Will Survive a thing,” says Jesus.

PHOtO by

Joann Pai

StyLing by

Gabriel Cabrera

The Trophy

DRINKS

This one’s for G&T lovers. With gin at the heart of Juniper (185 Keefer St.), lead bartender Olivia Povarchook recommends ordering a Wimbledon, a modern take on the British tennis tournament’s signature beverage.

Made with Citadelle gin, Pimm’s and elderflower liqueur then garnished with a bouquet of local fruit and herbs and topped with a bird’s nest of seasonal berries, the Wimbledon is a trophy of a drink. (Even if you’re not Andy Murray, surely you deserve it.)

Cocktails

The Jokester Crowbar (646 Kingsway) absolutely murders (because, you know, crows) the concept of a dynamic drink list.

With a focus on creativity, the bar plays with ingredients rarely seen in more common cocktails. Take the Walter Sobchak—a nod to The Big Lebowski—in which the herb and citrus notes of the Aperol play foil to the big, smoky, complicated riddle that is the top-shelf mezcal. “It’s a delicious, bold little drink,” says co-owner William Johnson, “done margarita-style.”

Cocktail shaker, bitters bottle and cocktail pick provided by Atkinson's of Vancouver. 1501 W 6th Ave.

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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DRINKS Bartenders & Sommeliers

Fairmont Pacific Rim ES

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RG

IA

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2016 BARTENDER OF THE YEAR Head bartender, Fairmont Pacific Rim

ET

Hawksworth

The Four Seasons

Roger Maniwa

Simon Kaulback

E AS

Lauren Mote

2016 SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR Sommelier, Hawksworth

2015 BARTENDER OF THE YEAR Beverage consultant, the Four Seasons Previously: Bar manager, Uva Wine and Cocktail Bar

Bryant Mao

2015 SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR Wine director, Hawksworth

T HA

ST I N

GS S

TREE

2011 BARTENDER OF THE YEAR Co-owner, Mamie Taylor’s Previously: Head bartender, Boneta

T

MAIN STREET

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Grant Sceney

Mamie Taylor's

WEST GEORGIA STREET

AR LE V

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Samantha Rahn

2013 SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR Manager and wine director, Araxi

False Creek

W

WEST BROADWAY

2014 BARTENDER OF THE YEAR Drinks manager, Vij’s Group

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Mike Bernardo

2014 SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR Wine director, Vij’s Group

E

Each year, we recognize the best bartenders and sommeliers Vancouver has to offer in our Restaurant Awards. Of course, talent doesn’t always stay in the same restaurant (or even in Vancouver). Here is where you can find our recent winners working now—and order a glass of whatever they’re having. by

Vij's

60 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

Whistler

NECTAR OF THE GODS

WEST 6TH AVENUE

Jay Jones

ES

E AV

Araxi

Jenni Baynham

L AUREN MOTE: A ARON AUBRE Y; SAMANTHA RAHN: BRANDON HART; MIKE BERNARDO: JOSEPH DAVID PHOTOGRAPHY

OU

CAMBIE STREET

PAC

B IFIC

SEA TO SKY HWY

LORIMER ROAD

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Enjoy the finest shopping and services surrounded by the stunning architectural heritage of Sinclair Centre.

RETAIL HOURS: Mon-Sat: 10am-5:30pm Sunday: Closed

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Meet Liis Kearney, one of Vancouver's most stylish people.

EVA AN KHERA J

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BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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FASHION Most Stylish People

MODEL CITIZENS Meet five of Vancouver's most stylish people. by

Amanda Ross Evaan Kheraj

PHOtOgrAPHS by

The Chameleon

THERE IS HARDLY ENOUGH room on Diane Gagne’s business card for the litany of fashion titles to her name: model, photographic stylist, fashionshow producer and runway coach, among others. As well, this Montreal-born longtime Vancouverite has honed her local chops with designers like Ron Leal and Zonda Nellis (in roles from fitting model to merchandiser), created a mentorship workshop for models and now also works as a stylist at Holt Renfrew. “I really love fashion’s transformative power,” she says, “when someone tries on a dress and their face just lights up and their energy changes.”

Style Notes Satin bomber: Comme des Garçons spring ’84 team jacket; shirt: Akris Punto; pants: Akris Punto; shoes: Prada; jewellery: “Mine.”

How would you describe your style?

I’m a pretty eclectic dresser—I like being a stylist in my own closet and will rarely wear the same pieces the same way twice.

Earliest fashion memory?

Fashion was a big part of my childhood. I remember loving to watch my mom get ready for her evenings out and parties.

She had fantastic style and I was mesmerized by the ritual of her taking the time to do her hair and makeup and putting her outfit together.

Most days you’ll be spotted wearing…

I’ve had short hair forever and I like to decorate that space between my ears and shoulders. My trademark accessories: I’m a big fan of statement earrings and my favourites are by a designer named Susan Green. And I usually have on a stack of bracelets (like a jelly bracelet made by my niece, Addy) or something I’ve picked up on my travels. All of my jewellery has a connection to someone or something important to me.

If cost were no object, what is one wardrobe piece you’d buy right now?

The perfect Balenciaga jacket. A fabulous McQueen dress. A modernist pair of structured pants by Céline. A liquid luxe cashmere sweater from the Row. How can a girl choose just one?

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What’s your favourite place to shop?

Holt Renfrew has been part of my fashion DNA for over 30 years. I also love cruising off beat areas like Main Street where shops like Barefoot Contessa and Front have created some really enchanting spaces with great, creative energy and fun finds.

Who or what inspires your style?

I’ve always been inspired by designers and their creativity. The combinations of colours and fabrics and how they wrap the body and create new silhouettes or proportions. I love poring over images of the newest runway collections and discovering new ways to wear what I already have in my closet. That’s also how I come up with my must-have pieces of the season.

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FASHION Most Stylish People

The Original

“I LOVE THAT CLOTHES can transform you and give you a sense of confidence that few other things can,” says Liis Kearney. Kearney’s in the business of providing confidence. By day, the 30-year-old works with Topshop/Topman at Hudson’s Bay as national product merchandiser; by night, she parlays her style acumen into consulting: wardrobe overhauls, personal shopping and event styling. Clothes are always the common thread. “They allow you to express yourself without ever having to say a word.”

How would you describe your style?

It can go from super clean and minimalistic to a mash-up of patterns, prints and textures.

What piece of clothing or accessory can you not live without, and why?

I’ve probably gotten the most use out of my classic black-and-white Converse chucks. They’re about 10 years old and barely hanging on, but they go with everything from a formal dress to jeans and a tee.

If you could change one thing about Vancouver’s style, what would it be?

The notion that you need to be going somewhere or doing something noteworthy to dress up.

What’s one fashion tip?

Don’t wear it if it doesn’t fit perfectly.

Your earliest fashion memory?

Oh gosh, I was not a fashionable child growing up. I was very much a tomboy and was more into Ninja Turtles over dressing up Barbies.

The first time I really thought of clothing as a form of self-expression and was aware of trends was when the Spice Girls arrived on the scene. I went from not considering what I wore at all to wanting crop tops, platform shoes and shiny plastic jackets.

Is that what inspired you to take a fashion path? If not, what was your light-bulb moment?

Definitely not. I didn’t have that light-bulb moment for a very long time. As I grew up, I slowly started getting more creative with my fashion choices and really enjoyed building outfits. However, I never considered it as a career path. I finished UBC with a fine arts major and had no idea what to do with it, and like many other graduates, I went travelling and started working in restaurants.

After getting into management, I was allowed to stray from the all-black uniform and was getting a lot of compliments from co-workers and guests on my style. It was the positive feedback and gentle nudges from the people around me that helped steer me toward the fashion industry.

The least you’ve ever spent on a style piece, and what was it?

A leather pencil skirt straight from the ’80s from a vintage shop. I think it was under $20.

What’s your shopping style?

Anyone who knows me will probably say I have too many clothes and can’t possibly need more . . . so I never really have a shopping list or “need” anything, but I spend a ton of time in and out of stores because of my job. Without fail, something (or many things) will catch my eye and if it’s a unique piece and can add a new element to my wardrobe, I’ll get it.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

My fashion guilty pleasure would be putting on sweatpants as soon as I get home.

What or who inspires your style?

Olivia Palermo, Jenna Lyons, Leandra Medine from Man Repeller and the stylist Law Roach, who looks after Zendaya and now Céline Dion (she’s killing it!).

If cost were no object, what is one wardrobe piece you’d buy right now?

Gucci Princetown leather slippers.

Your go-to comfy-day outfit?

A rocker tee, Levi’s 721s or 501s and chucks. It’s simple, flattering and classic but still has a bit of edge.

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Style Notes Earrings: DIY; blazer: Topshop; blouse: Zara; leather trousers: vintage Prada; shoes: No. 21 by Alessandro Dell’Acqua.

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FASHION Most Stylish People

In your opinion, what “makes” an outfit?

The shoes! You won’t believe how many times a bad pair of shoes has ruined someone’s otherwise impeccable outfit.

If cost were no object, what is one wardrobe piece you’d buy right now?

A Brunello Cucinelli suede jacket.

Style Notes Purple suit and pocket square: Indochino; shirt: Uniqlo; tie: Club Monaco; shoes: Christian Louboutin.

The least you’ve ever spent on a style piece?

I once spent $30 on vintage Allen Edmonds burgundy loafers that I still wear now.

What’s your favourite place to shop?

I have an unhealthy obsession with Uniqlo these days.

What’s one fashion tip?

Don’t try too hard.

Your earliest fashion memory?

It was an art project in high school: everyone else was designing buildings and houses.

I made sketches of dresses.

What or who inspires your style?

Thom Browne.

If you could change one thing about Vancouver’s style, what would it be?

People need to learn the difference between effortless chic and no effort at all.

What inspired you to take a fashion path?

Early seasons of America’s Next Top Model—ha!

The Trendsetter

INDONESIAN - BORN Vancouverite Viranlly

Liemena calls himself a “menswear enthusiast,” which is really just an understated way of saying he lives and breathes clothes. He works at Vancouver’s own Indochino, handling the stylish upstart brand’s social media, and then can often be found moonlighting as a fashion authority (like judging this year’s Deighton Cup Style Stakes). At night, he’s all about “carbs, caffeine and cocktails,” but either way, he says, “I’m that guy you see running around in a suit, making my way from the coffee shop to the office to happy hour and occasionally a spin studio”—all, of course, in sharp garb.

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What’s your shopping style?

I’m trying to be as strategic as I can, but that rarely happens.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Mr. Porter’s end-of-season sale.

What piece of clothing/accessory can you not live without?

A white oxford button-down shirt. It really is that essential, plus it goes with quite literally everything.

How would you describe your style?

Classic with a twist.

Most days you’ll be spotted wearing…

On warmer days: a lightweight sports jacket, shorts, a crewneck T-shirt and sneakers.

When it gets colder: a suit, an oxford shirt, a tie and brogues.

What’s one item you can’t bear to throw out?

I have a pair of cashmere pants that are almost worn out, but they’re very soft and comfortable. I feel like it’s about time for me to throw them out, but maybe I’ll keep them around for another winter.

What do you love about fashion?

It’s a dynamic industry. There’s always something new, and anything can be “new” again.

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FASHION Most Stylish People

The Sophisticate

“APPRECIATION FOR SARTORIAL quality and craftsmanship (along with food, wine, art and music) is what got us out of living in caves,” says Tim Ellison.

“Looking good elevates everything.”

Ellison should know a thing or two about elevating tastes—or taste buds, that is: he’s spent almost five decades honing his skills as chef de cuisine and certified sommelier, and now dovetails those roles as director of food and beverage service at the Vancouver Club.

One of his greatest passions?

Travelling to the world’s best wine regions—provided there’s also a fashion centre nearby.

“London has a growing credible sparkling wine trade in Sussex!”

How would you describe your style?

Savile Row business professional.

What piece of clothing or accessory can you not live without?

A good pen. It is an accessory a gentleman should not be without and most people overlook.

Imagine you have a killer outfit with all the bells and whistles, someone needs to borrow a pen, and you hand them a Bic.

What inspired you to head down the fashion path?

When Salvatore Ferragamo opened a store on Robson in 1988, I went to buy a tie. The store had a locked door and security guard (something new for Vancouver at the time) and as I was in jeans and a T-shirt, he didn’t really want to let me in. I went home, changed into a suit and then he opened the door and greeted me warmly.

The only difference was the clothes. I learned right there that I could use appearance to my advantage.

Your earliest fashion memory?

My father, Jack Ellison, getting heck from my mom for spending $20 on a pair of boxers in the 1960s.

If cost were no object, what’s one wardrobe piece you’d buy right now?

A Van Cleef and Arpels Midnight Planétarium watch or a bespoke Tom Ford suit.

What’s one fashion tip?

Get a decent watch (for God’s sake, not an Apple).

Your go-to comfy-day outfit and why?

Jeans and a T-shirt. Because that has been my off-work uniform since day one. You can dress it up with a blazer or take in a punk show with the addition of a motorcycle jacket and your Fluevog Angel boots.

So versatile.

What’s one item you can’t bear to throw out and why?

The two silk suits I had tailored in the ’80s. I was enjoying some success as chef of my first restaurant and wanted to reward myself. I barely fit in them now (24-year-old chefs are pretty skinny) and they look a bit dated, but I am convinced they’ll have a sartorial reincarnation.

The least you’ve ever spent on a style piece?

I was in Paris and wanted a Hermès tie, but they were the same price in euros as they were back at home in Canadian dollars so I decided to wait. I was visiting a neighbourhood car-free day and noticed some ties hanging in the window of a really sketchy second-hand store. I went inside and asked how much the ties were. The guy told me they were $2 each. I told him I wanted to see the blue silk one with the embroidered gold H's. He said that tie was actually $5. I said there is no tie worth that much. He said the boss told him it had something to do with the “herms” label—I discovered (as suspected) that that was second-hand-store speak for Hermès. We split the difference and I gave him $3.50, but no tax.

What’s your shopping style?

I wander through shops relentlessly and if I see something that I like, I buy it, no questions asked. Even if it means they have to take it down off a window mannequin.

If you could change one thing about Vancouver’s style, what would it be?

Make spandex a privilege—not a right.

Actually, just outlaw it altogether.

Vancouverites could dress to the occasion a little better. Plus, if you can’t find clothes that fit, get them tailored for crying out loud.

Baggy chinos and blousy shirts? Really.

What’s your favourite place to shop?

Jermyn Street, London, England.

Most days you’ll be spotted wearing…

Suit, shirt and tie, and polished shoes.

What or who inspires your style?

I love watching the top fashion houses and what their designers are up to. Hedi Slimane (formerly Dior), Tom Ford, Richard James, John Varvatos, Christopher Bailey (Burberry), Vivienne Westwood and for accessories, Sarah Burton (Alexander McQueen).

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Style Notes Blue herringbone suit: Indochino; watch: vintage Omega; leather and crocodile shoes: Magnanni.

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FASHION Most Stylish People

How would you describe your style?

A marriage of New York edge with classic Parisian flair. Essentially, a little bit rock and roll, a little bit LBD, a whole lot of attitude.

Most days you’ll be spotted wearing…

Last week I wore a black leather pencil skirt with chunky-heeled sandals and a crisp white linen shirt by Eliza Faulkner because it seemed like something a sci-fi female superhero might wear.

Your go-to comfy-day outfit?

Mom jeans (yep), a sweatshirt by a local brand called Brunette the Label that reads “COFFEE NOW Please” and Adidas sneakers.

What or who inspires your style?

Women of New York. Jenna Lyons. Eva Chen.

The Storyteller

“YOUR CLOTHES CAN tell people so much about you in a split second,” says Shannon Heth. “I like to make every second count.” One of Vancouver’s most notable PR mavens, Heth definitely has her own signature glam style that turns heads every time she walks in a room. But it wasn’t always this way: before starting Heth PR in 2008 (recently rebranded to Milk Communications), she was unsure of which career path to follow after finishing an undergrad in history. Turns out, sartorial savvy would be the key: she soon learned that “in good clothes, the shy me became a sociable storyteller.”

Style Notes Jacket: Marc Jacobs leather moto; top: Phillip Lim tank; skirt: Mary Katrantzou; heels: Miu Miu.

One item you can’t bear to throw out?

A vintage dress, black with multicoloured polka dots, worn when Artforum’s publisher, Knight Landesman, introduced himself to me in Chelsea and said, “I like your dress.”

Looking at it now, the dress is absolutely ridiculous (too big, too loud and a bit like something you might wear to a barn dance), but it charted a course for me like only a memorable dress can. Anything with polka dots is a great conversation starter.

One piece of clothing or accessory you cannot live without?

My Saint Laurent Sac de Jour. It’s a beast, but it holds my life: laptop, too many lipsticks, Moleskine, oversized iPhone, baby wipes, you name it.

What’s your shopping style?

Fast and furious. I refuse to shop online.

Your earliest fashion memory?

Tom Ford’s landmark autumn/winter 1995 collection for Gucci. Velvet pants, jeweltoned satin shirts, those horsebit leather loafers. I was just out of high school and up until then hadn’t thought much about fashion. That collection made me look at fashion in an entirely new way because it embodied so much of the woman I aspired to be: strong, powerful, sexy.

What’s your favourite place to shop?

I enjoy the service at Nordstrom and the eclectic selection at the Room. I also love to support local independent shops: Rebecca Bree, One of a Few, Lynnsteven and Nouvelle Nouvelle are a few of my favourites.

What do you love about fashion in general?

I still remember slipping on a dress by Roland Mouret for the first time and finally understanding power dressing. The right clothes have the ability to make you feel invincible. I get a lot of strength from what I choose to wear, and I consider fashion to be my not-so-secret weapon.

What’s your guilty pleasure, fashion-wise?

I have an unhealthy addiction to jackets.

If you could change one thing about Vancouver’s style, what would it be?

Can we just press reset and go back to a time before yoga pants?

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FASHION Shopping Destinations

THE MISSING PIECE Whether you’re in the market for that perfect-fitting pair of jeans or a winter jacket that will hold in the heat, knowing where to go is half the battle. by

Amanda Ross

Look We Love Source bold and beautiful Missoni pieces at Boboli in upscale South Granville.

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The Apex shoe comes in grey, brown and blue.

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FASHION Shopping Destinations

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Shoes

Vancouver loves shoes that march to a different beat.

First, it was the out-there designs of our own 1 Fluevog Shoes (837 Granville St., 65 Water St., fluevog.com)—one part Doc Marten, one part Bruno Magli, one part unicorn.

Then we got seriously egalitarian with 2 Native Shoes (sold widely, nativeshoes.com)—initially foam-injected, all-weather slip-on kicks but now an entire line leading the sneaker-as-fashion trend. And when we just have to have that made-in-Italy style, we get them imported for us by 3 Kalena Shoes (1526 Commercial Dr., kalenashoes.com).

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High-End

While downtown is all about chain brands, South Granville is where locals head for high-end boutiques. If your tastes run to Dries van Noten, Lanvin or Rick Owens, 4 Bacci’s (2788 Granville St., baccisvancouver.com) is for you. If you’re more Paul Smith, Maison Margiela or Stella McCartney, it’s the Craig Stanghetta-designed Boboli (2776 Granville St., boboli.ca) next door. And, just up the street, Canadian upstart 5 Want Apothecary (2956 Granville St., wantapothecary.com) sells its own exquisite line of bags, shoes and other soft leather goods.

Local Designers

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Vancouver’s de facto uniform may be Lycra, but its local design street cred goes beyond yoga pants. 6 Herschel backpacks (sold widely, herschelsupply.ca) have made their way across the pond to Liberty of London, while 7 Aritzia (various locations, aritzia.com), the young, upstart womenswear brand originally born in Kerrisdale, counts Rockefeller Plaza as one of many North American outposts. As for men, 8 Motherland (various locations, motherland.biz) sells its made-inVancouver National Standards line, ideal for those in the market for a slim-fitting, youthful yet classic dress shirt.

BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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FASHION Shopping Destinations

Moncler sells a range of formfitting jackets.

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This T-shirt dress is made with Kit and Ace's technical cashmere.

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Outerwear

We may not live on the freezing plains of Saskatchewan, but we still need protection from the elements. When it’s wet, nothing beats local brand 9 Arc’teryx (2033 W 4th Ave., arcteryx.com)—which also has an under-the-radar factory in North Vancouver—or a classic Canada Goose jacket, available at 10 Atmosphere Kitsilano (1625 Chestnut St., atmosphere.ca). Or, for a French take on staying chaud, consider the new 11 Moncler store (748 Thurlow St., moncler.com) in the upscale Alberni retail district.

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Athleisurewear

This is the birthplace of athleisurewear, so it's no surprise that Lululemon spinoff 12 Kit and Ace (2235 W 4th Ave., 151 Water St., kitandace.com) has gone global with cozy basics that look more sophisticatedstreetwear than workout-chic. It’s in good company with another local brand, 13 Reigning Champ (2119 W 4th Ave., reigningchamp.com), and their innovative hoodies, tees and sweats in neutrals. The newest local challenger, 14 RYU (1745 W 4th Ave., ryu.com), comes courtesy of Marcello Leone (formerly of luxury boutique Leone), with cool technical workout wear.

FASHION

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Shopping Destinations

Denim

It’s not surprising that a city that embraces casual has a love affair with denim. The most exhaustive selection, from Cheap Monday jeans to ultra-high-end options, is found at Gastown’s 15 Dutil (303 W Cordova St., dutildenim.com). For those who want a pair that moves like they’re yoga pants (thanks to proprietary technical designs), head to local brand 16 Dish and Duer (118 W Hastings St., dishandduer.com). And brand-new on the scene is Kickstarter phenom 17 Boulder Denim (boulderdenim.com), which seeks to follow the flexibility lead with jeans that can be climbed in.

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BOULDER: RICH EMMERSON

Patch It Up

Explorer’s Press is essentially a oneman brand, but that hasn’t stopped it from garnering a growing legion of fans online and through various stores abroad.

Started in 2012 by Vancouverite Brendan Megannety, who now runs the company full-time, the brand’s lapel pins and patches explore themes such as adventuring, nostalgia and the great outdoors—always with its tongue in its cheek. More recently, Explorer’s Press expanded to include pennants, clothing and jewellery.

Megannety says he is always in idea mode. “Usually it starts with a tag line,” he explains. “Any time one

pops into my head, I write it down. I have a massive list on my phone.”

He stresses that his work is 100-percent original (“We don’t make pop-culture reference products, which feel kind of cheap to me”) and also affordable. “I’ve seen companies selling pins for $20 and crazy stuff like that,” Megannety says. A typical Explorer’s Press pin or patch retails for $5. explorerspress.com —Willem Thomas

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FASHION New Places

NEW TO THE SCENE If you haven’t already, consider trying on these five recently opened clothing stores for size.

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Amanda Ross

Simons

Across the Lions Gate Bridge in West Vancouver sits Simons, a 176-year-old Quebec department store transplant, now offering West Coasters its signature high/low mashup of fashion, accessories and home wares, all with a local bent.

Find an edited collection of international designers like Rick Owens (for a $3,200 peacoat) along with Twik, the store’s younger, contemporary in-house brand (for $9 marbled-stone earrings). Part of the family-run brand’s magic is how it sees fashion and local art as symbiotic.

Coast Salish artist Jody Broomfield has created a sandblasted granite relief on the exterior entrance of the store that says Kayachtun, meaning welcome. And no Vancouver art forum would be complete without Douglas Coupland, whose giant Bow Tie sculpture fills the two-storey atrium as an engineering marvel. Grab lunch at Eve, Simons’s 50-seat café, which serves a French-Canadian-inspired menu (chicken fricassee, beignets)— with, of course, that local focus: views of Ambleside Beach. 1060 Park Royal South, West Vancouver, simons.ca 2

Saint Laurent

Although creative director Hedi Slimane departed Saint Laurent this year, the brand’s only Canadian bricks-and-mortar store continues to star in the retail firmament of Vancouver’s new Alberni luxury district. Slimane helped design the space (which, at 5,000 square feet over two floors, is one of the brand’s biggest in

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North America) to highlight simplicity over elaborate decoration—all in a vibe that reimagines Art Deco for the 21st century. Shop the storied brand’s men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections, as well as accessories and footwear in a predominantly monochromatic space.

Here, the clothes feel elemental and glamorous against slabs of luxurious noir soie, or black silk, and blanc statuaire marble with veining set in opposition to concrete. The dramatic visuals echo the simple, elevated drama of the clothes themselves. 746 Thurlow St., ysl.com 3

Brunello Cucinelli

The Italian fashion maestro of all things sartorially bespoke landed in our fair city this past year. Another addition to the Alberni luxury district, the cult-fave boutique chose Vancouver for its first North American foray. “When I started the company, it was important to me that I put an emphasis on creating a beautiful work environment for my employees,”

says Brunello Cucinelli. “The tranquil, serene environment of Solomeo, the heart of where we work and where product is created, allows our creativity to flourish.

Vancouver is a city that values nature and has a respect for its environment.”

The brand is known for classic, earthtoned materials like cashmere and suede, stitched together in a manner that celebrates tradition and an old way of life that still finds resonance today.

Plus, 20 percent of Brunello Cucinelli’s proceeds go to supporting charitable causes and cultural pursuits—a beautiful brand with beautiful clothes to boot.

765 Thurlow St., brunellocucinelli.com 4

Strellson

The innovative menswear brand known for its clean lines and modern detailing set up shop in Vancouver earlier this year. The Swiss retailer offers attainable luxury with a men’s line that includes suits, jackets, pants, shirts, knits, denims and outerwear along with accessories like belts, watches

NORDSTROM: GO TO VAN

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FASHION New Places

Nordstrom's threefloor downtown location couldn't be more central (left).

Strellson's style is dressy yet youthful (top right).

Simons has reshaped Park Royal (lower right).

MARINE DRIVE

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and sunglasses. “The reception to our Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen jostle Vancouver store on Alberni has been with exclusive collaborations and lines great,” says Mark Altow, president of previously unavailable on the West Coast.

Strellson North America. “Our Swiss-style Find local brands expertly dovetailed in, suits, shirts and outerwear have been like Herschel, athleisure line Reigning bestsellers, but casual items including Champ and jewellery designer Leah jeans and knits continue to resonate Alexander, while Pop-In@Nordstrom, well with local customers.” For fall/ the store-within-the-store concept winter 2016, the brand launches its “We curated by Olivia Kim, stocks a rotating Are One” campaign, which blends its selection of soap, sweatshirts, sneakers premium and sportswear lines into a and more. While you’re there, grab lunch single collection targeted at the 22- to at Bistro Verde for haute tacos, burgers 35-year-old buyer, who thinks more and elegant pasta dishes; Habitant, the in outfits than categories. Look for a in-store bar, serves up cocktails for liquid focus on black, white and grey techretail courage. On the first floor, Canada’s forward fabrics as the defining look this first Sugarfina boutique stocks sweet season. 1108 Alberni St., strellson.ca treats for on-the-go, while Nordstrom’s storied beauty department continually 5 Nordstrom adds new lines to its expansive mix (Sisley At 230,000 square feet, Nordstrom’s arrives on shelves this fall). The brand is glossy, modernist three-floor space in big on customer service: perks include downtown Vancouver is the Seattlefree delivery within a two-hour zone, based luxury retailer’s third and largest men’s $2.50 shoeshines on the third floor, Canadian outpost. Inside, a temple to and in-store alterations and hemming. all things designer prevails: Céline, 799 Robson St., nordstrom.ca.

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BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

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FASHION Best Consignment

FROM ONE CLOSET TO ANOTHER If your heart is aflutter at the mere sight of the names Jimmy Choo or Diane von Furstenberg—but stops at the price tag— then allow us to introduce you to designer consignment. Unlike thrift shops, these stores offer shoppers a well-curated collection of almost-new pieces that are timeless collectibles or trending now.

What’s more, the options in this city have never been better.

Mana Mansour

Turnabout Luxury Retail

Turnabout Luxury Retail opened its first store more than 30 years ago and now has six Lower Mainland locations to satisfy the designer-hungry shopper, including a new spot on West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano. From day one, Turnabout has offered only like-new pieces from brands such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, Céline and Balenciaga while also stocking contemporary streetwear from the likes of Aritzia, J Brand and Club Monaco. Their expansive dress selection is full of pieces suitable for weddings and formal functions, plus there’s that added bonus that you won’t end up wearing the same thing as everyone else. Six locations, turnabout.ca

80 BEST OF THE CIT Y 2016

Front and Company

Originally a small vintage store, Front and Company has become a major shopping destination along the Main Street boutique corridor. The elaborately whimsical window displays are just a taste of what’s inside. Front and Company is packed with racks of unique consignment, new pieces, accessories, shoes and home wares tailored to the edgy East Van crowd (in other words, mostly millennials).

Perhaps the most budget-friendly option on this list, Front and Company also carries a small selection of highend designer consignment clothing and accessories from brands such as Alexander Wang, the Row and Marni.

3772 Main St., frontandcompany.com

Mine and Yours

The newest member of the pack, Mine and Yours is the brainchild of Vancouverite Jigme Love, who wanted to bring home the stylish pieces and trends she fell for while travelling in Europe and the U.S. Having recently expanded into a new location downtown, Mine and Yours specializes in on-trend, almost-new women’s clothing and accessories. But the brand has become known for its selection of lust-worthy designer purses, which are documented daily on Mine and Yours’ popular social media accounts. Love says she even visits the closets of some celebrities to get pieces for the store. A Chanel double-flap with a juicy backstory? Now that’s consignment.

1025 Howe St., mineandyours.com

ANA PAT TRICE

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VISIT THE MEMBERSHIP OFFICE IN-PERSON O R O N L I N E T O D AY AT E Q U I N OX .C O M / W E S T G E O R G I A S T

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Bespoke Interiors Bring Luxury to Life Steps from Coal Harbour’s legendary seawall, moments from Stanley Park, Cardero’s meticulously curated interiors stand among the finest in the world.

Imported Italian kitchens are crafted by master artisans, and innovation is integrated throughout for enhanced form and function.

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604.568.5888 bosaproperties.com Cardero is developed by Bosa Properties (Cardero) Inc. Renderings, sketches, layouts and finishes are representational only. E. & O. E.